This piece is not meant to be a very outgoing entry. This is mainly due to the fact that I was away from my computer for the evening, and am only now gathering my thoughts. As I did a heavy reflection in my earlier piece, I figured that this would be a simple review on my thoughts after seeing Star Wars: The Force Awakens for the first time.
It is true: Tonight was the first time that I saw this movie. I was not among the nostalgic or sentimental of my peers who got their tickets early and saw it at midnight on the 18th. I was focused on other tasks and was more than ready to rid myself of the charge of final papers and exams, and go on Christmas break. I was in no way anxious to see it as soon as possible because of this, and also because I had it spoiled by social media. But then again, I have to say that I wasn't trying to avoid this fate either. As such, I saw it rather objectively and for what I thought it was as a movie. Rest assured that I won’t give any spoilers in this stead.
Visually, I thought that the movie was sophisticated in its entirety. The film was not truely ground-breaking in its CGI and or its story aims (I will say that The Force Awakens strongly resembles the original A New Hope in this way, a fact that I struggle with at the moment). But it was of a stock on par with its predecessors (not including the prequels) on a few levels. While the plot hinged heavily on nostalgia, the film seemed to resonate with "geriatrics" who saw the ground-breaking original, and also with the new generation. But the plot, to me, was wholly action-driven, perhaps assimilating it to newly developed standards of violence and sentimentalism that have developed in filmmaking. But I felt that the film demonstrated a revival of the saga, and it promised focus and purpose from J.J. Abrams and the new team that has taken on the universe of George Lucas’ creation. This comes even as the film moved at a pace that did not encourage a whole lot of reflection.
In this, there is some criticism that I would quickly provide for The Force Awakens. This lies in the relative ambiguities in the film, perhaps to be treated as a set-up for future films. It should be no misunderstanding that J.J. Abrams and LucasFilm are taking the franchise to new and interesting heights, but the frustration of apparent plot holes in the film is no less problematic. Many questions are left unanswered to consequential and dramatic plot twists, with no explanation or background to clarify their importance. While I understand the intention of The Force Awakens as a continuation of the Star Wars vision, many things have changed since the Battle of Endor, and the audience is left wondering how it all occurred up until this point. Of course, only so much background can be included in the final cut. And this lack of information begs the necessity to keep the franchise going in new films. Still, the cliffhanger disappointed me.
I leave this very quick and unspecific assessment with time as a consideration, with a want for readers to go see the film for themselves. Ultimately, the movie moved past my expectations and fears of a watering-down by Disney; indeed, it was far removed from that. As such, I am enthusiastically awaiting a move to see more from Abrams. If there is any doubt in readers’ mind as to the quality and aim of The Force Awakens, I ask them that they see the film with an objective outlook. I can say that they will not be disappointed, and they will be pleasantly surprised.
