Have you been able to watch Disney and Lucasfilm's new bundle of joy? Star Wars: The Force Awakens seems all too familiar instead of 100% original. However, it did remind me of "A New Hope" which for those who are unfamiliar is Episode IV in the Star Wars Universe. The Force Awakens is definitely still "Jenny from the Block." If you are not familiar with that reference (JLo's "masterpiece") click here to listen to it. Back? Great, let's discuss.
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
Again, there WILL BE spoilers. I would prefer not to end up in this predicament. (Though that is a satirical article, the danger is real!)
What makes this Star Wars Different (The "Rocks that it's got")
- We meet new characters such as Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron, Kylo Ren, and my personal favorite BB-8.
- We were able to explore more outer rim planets such as Jakku and see Maz's turf.
- We see the original "scooby gang" older and note their transitions as time has progressed.
- The Force calls to Rey and shows her what we can only decipher to be quick snippets of the past and possibly visions of the future (during what producers are referring to as a "forceback" rather than a flashback or a flashforward) after she touched Anakin's/Luke's Light Saber. We have never seen this in the prior movies with the exception of perhaps Luke's vision during his training. (Her vision felt like a cryptic montage of familiar Jedi voices calling out to her all at once.)
- Stormtroopers are no longer completely seen as mindless clones. (And they can actually shoot their intended targets!)
- There are now female Stormtroopers and their captain (Phasma) is also a woman who you may recognize from everyone's favorite family show Game of Thrones.
- Kick-ass females like Rey have evolved into the role of protoganist and even Princess Leia is now at the forefront of the resistance as their general.
- Han and Leia were everyone's favorite galactic couple, but their son got a little too hopped up on the Vader juice thus driving a wedge between them--ensue major sadness!
- The villain is still related to the gang; however instead of an older parental figure, it's Leia and Han's bouncing baby boy.
- BB-8 feels human emotions and is so easy to empathize with--definitely the droid we were looking for.
What makes this Star Wars Similar (It's "still Jenny From the Block")
- The movie opens similarly to Episode IV: A New Hope with a battle that results in the arrival of the main antagonist.
- The beginning starts in a similar setting as Episode IV: A New Hope, in a desert-like planet, Jakku, instead of Tatooine this time.
- Poe is basically being groomed to be a fast-talking, wise-cracking pilot like ... Han Solo.
- Rey is practically a combination of Han, Leia, and Luke.
- There's a giant ball of planetary death that must be destroyed.
- A big baddie who is related to the protagonists i.e. Kylo Ren.
- Maz = Yoda 2.0.
- C3-P0, R2-D2, BB-8 are the perfect trifecta of cute and funny comic reliefs. Droids rock!
- The Han Solo and Chewie bromance is back in full force!
- The flight patterns and respective combatants were also pretty similar and very entertaining as the previous installments.
I was excited to see the movie had surprises and "rocks," but I am so pleased that in the end it was still "Jenny from the Block."
