To celebrate the DVD release of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” I wanted to force you into buying it educate you on why you need to own this movie. Even if you think you “don’t like 'Star Wars.'”
1. Rey slays
There has never been a female lead in a "Star Wars" movie. There have been a ton of kick-ass female characters throughout the years, but never a leading heroine. Before “The Force Awakens” premiered, in order to keep the fact that a woman was the lead character, Disney actually released so little merchandise that there was a huge shortage (and subsequent outrage) of Rey merchandise after the movie premiered. That’s how big of a deal she is.
Rey is strong, determined, loyal, and she basically is one of the strongest and most-natural Force-wielders in history. She is, without a doubt, the best part of “The Force Awakens.”
Also, I may or may not already have my Halloween costume planned around Rey.
2. Finn and Poe are the best kind of boys that you could hope for
They’re both the best mix of dorky-cute that you could ever ask for. Poe Dameron is a super-slick Resistance member from the get-go, automatically lovable. Finn is a dark horse who grows throughout the movie, so that you really connect with him. They also have the best bromance since Chandler and Joey from “Friends.”
3. Kylo Ren is the best and worst villain in the entire galaxy
At first, Kylo seems to be just a Darth Vadar fan-girl groupie. I actually think Kylo’s similarities to Darth Vadar contributes a lot of the nostalgia that made “The Force Awakens” so successful. But by the end of the movie, I personally ended up feeling a *tad* bit of sympathy towards angsty Kylo Ren and I am extremely excited to see how he develops in the next two parts of the trilogy. Plus, Adam Driver is strangely attractive??? (If you haven't seen his "Saturday Night Live" sketch on Kylo Ren, do yourself a favor.)
4. BB-8
I really shouldn’t need to say a lot about this little cinnamon roll of a droid. BB-8 is arguably (not that there is a ton of competition) the cutest thing to ever come out of the "Star Wars" franchise (Sorry R2-D2, but it's true). The above GIF should clear up any further confusion on BB-8’s adorableness.
5. The Hype
“The Force Awakens” was destined to be a huge hit no matter what. The legions of middle-aged fans wanting to relive their childhood were enough to shatter box office records. But the best part of the success “The Force Awakens” experienced is the fact that it brought the excitement to a new generation. Just this past week I saw a little girl walking around the dining hall on campus in a full-on Rey costume. At 10:30 in the morning. That pretty much made my week, to say the least.
Before “The Force Awakens,” I would have never called myself a "Star Wars" fan. Sure, I’d seen bits and pieces of the first two trilogies, but this one was different. All of the excitement and hype surrounding the premiere and its success just sucked me in, even though I had no intentions of ever becoming a complete "Star Wars" freak.
I’ve had “The Force Awakens” pre-ordered for months. I buy cereal based on which "Star Wars" character is on the box. I bought the complete box set of the first two trilogies on Blu-Ray. As a broke college kid, that is now my most prized possession (I’m only kind of joking). Hi, my name is Hannah, and I have a "Star Wars" addiction.
The "Star Wars" franchise is one of the most successful movie dynasties in the history of cinema. “The Force Awakens” has made over 1 billion dollars in sales since it was released and has welcomed a whole new generation of fans to the franchise. I am so happy to have been welcomed home into this galaxy (far far away).
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” releases April 5, 2016 on Blu-Ray and DVD.
