“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.”
As soon as those iconic, blue words popped up on an expansive screen of black, I braced myself for the inevitable. Sure enough, as soon as the trumpet fanfare sounded and that all-too familiar title screen appeared, I felt my arms rush with goosebumps and heart skip a beat. I was home.
According to the thousands of reviews appearing on every media platform available, the feelings I experienced sitting in my local movie theater last Thursday night were not uncommon. For those who saw the original Star Wars movies in the 1970s, seeing the Millennium Falcon outrun countless laser blasts often brought back feelings of childhood wonder, and this nostalgia is exactly why Star Wars: The Force Awakens is going to shatter box office records.
Let’s start with the positives.
The Force Awakens masterfully combines vibrant, new faces such as Rey, Finn, and Kylo Ren with our old friends Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Leia Organa. The mission is simple – Luke has gone missing and it’s up to our cast of heroes to locate him. The key to his whereabouts lies in the hard drive of an adorable droid named BB-8 who must be returned to the Resistance at all costs. New enemies are also looking for the lost Jedi and have constructed a fresh weapon of mass destruction that makes the Death Star look like child’s play.
The plot of the new movie sounds very similar to the events in Star Wars IV: A New Hope; however, the two movies have strong parallels for good reason. After witnessing the moderate letdown of the prequel trilogy, the creators of this sequel surely wanted to get back to the magic that made Star Wars such a pop culture phenomenon. Thus, we again find our heroes sneaking on to enemy premises to rescue the girl and exploiting the new Empire’s flaws rather than focusing precious time on tedious trade regulations.
Of course, the movie also makes countless references to the events of the original trilogy, some of which only the most diehard fans will get, but most being relatively sizable allusions that continue to connect the movie to its iconic past. Events like the reuniting of Han and Leia are not only memorable because of the importance to this movie’s plot but also because of the events in the original trilogy. Nonetheless, this crucial meeting is also perfectly interrupted by another old friend, and it feels so familiar and wonderful to those of us that love the older films.
All of the new characters, and particularly Daisy Ridley’s Rey, hold their own beside industry legends like Harrison Ford. I absolutely love that the series is choosing to focus on a female protagonist, especially one that has already established herself as a force to be reckoned with (pun intended). Finn, the Stormtrooper with a conscious, also adds dimension to the plot. Other characters such Lupita Nyong’o’s wise Cantina owner Maz Kanata and General Leia Organa, performed by the reputable Carrie Fisher, also shine even in their smaller roles. Undoubtedly, this acclaimed cast will be able to carry the new trilogy.
Even so, perhaps one of the most distinguished entrances comes in the form of Kylo Ren, the new Sith villain that’s out to dominate the universe and emulate the great Darth Vader. Without going into too many spoilers, Ren proves to be a very interesting new antagonist. His backstory adds plenty of intrigue to the plot, especially concerning the time between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. Naturally, more of his story is sure to be revealed in the rest of the trilogy. Ren’s struggle between the sides of light and dark also adds another twisted parallel to Luke and his decisions in the old movies. A certain, climatic scene between him and another character will have fans reaching for tissues, and I cannot wait to see how his character grows over the next two movies.
Director J.J. Abrams knows a thing or two about reviving old sci-fi franchises; his work on the new Star Trek reboot has earned him much critical acclaim and love from the “Trekkies.” In many ways, it’s easy to see the director’s style in the new movie. The Force Awakens has a lot more humor than its predecessors (excluding Jar Jar Bink’s childish jokes). While not every joke hits the mark, the humor works enough that it adds, rather than distracts, from the experience. CGI is used only when absolutely necessary, completely contrasting George Lucas’ philosophy that led him to add extra effects even to the original trilogy. It feels far more traditional than the prequels, but still appears quite modern.
While The Force Awakens is remarkable, it is not flawless. The plot, considering its similarities to the original Star Wars movie, does feel fairly repetitive. When a movie creates a weapon that is considered the most destructive in the galaxy, the sequel usually has to introduce something that is even more devastating, thereby creating a cyclical effect. Such is the case with the so-called Starkiller Base, which, at times, feels like nothing more than an enormous Death Star. Personally, I also would have liked to see a bit more character development. The movie moves at a breakneck pace as our heroes jump from one fight to another and that action leaves very little time for slower, character building scenes. I do like the fresh faces, but I didn’t learn enough about them, especially Finn and Poe, to really empathize or become attached to them.
Even with these minor shortcomings, Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens lives up to its enormous hype and definitely signals a rebirth for the franchise. If you haven’t yet seen it, do yourself a favor and go enjoy a fantastic adventure in that beloved galaxy far, far away.
