So it's been over two months since the release of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." The hype has simmered down. Merchandise has gone on clearance. Now is the perfect time to reflect upon the movie.
I just want to preface this with the fact that I am a lifelong Star Wars fan. In saying this, the article will be undoubtably biased, but when is an article not? Also, by now, most of you reading this already know the plot, so I will not summarize the movie. If you are looking for a plot summary, check out the "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" page on IMDb.
The latest movie in the Star Wars franchise was praised highly by critics. The opinion seemed to be different among the fan base, however. Most user reviews on IMDb give the film one to four stars out of 10, claiming that the film was something of an unimaginative remake. This seems to be the general consensus among angry fans. I can totally understand their points, too. The film's plot was pretty much the exact same as the original Star Wars film. It was predictable. Even the environments were rehashes of what we've seen before. As I said, I can sympathize with this argument.
However, I can understand why J.J. Abrams and the crew decided to pursue this route. Not only did it have that sense of nostalgia and an overall "Star Wars feel," but it also reintroduced the franchise to a younger audience. It was a safe move for them, which is what many fans were upset about. But it's this familiarity that brought us back into the Star Wars universe and immersed us there.The fact that the plot was something we've seen before shouldn't deter you from liking the movie; we've seen history repeat itself in Star Wars many, many times. Besides, many people begged to see another Star Wars movie that was like the originals. Well, here it is. But you can't please everyone.
Look past the similarities. We have brand new characters who are relatable and dynamic and exciting. They are not stiff, and neither is the acting, like much of it was in the prequel trilogy. Rey and Finn are fantastic, much welcomed characters with rich personalities. The returning cast members are as great as ever, especially Harrison Ford with his revival of Han Solo.
Many people were upset with the movie's main villain, Kylo Ren. They thought he was whiny and not badass enough for the film. They criticized the fact that he looked like a kid. When I first saw the movie and saw him take off his mask, I also felt disappointed. But after a few more viewings, I realized that he is a great character. Hear me out on this. He isn't a stiff villain. He has real emotions and struggles. We can feel and see his struggle between the light and dark side. He has anger problems. He is a Sith-in-training, so he still has much to learn. He is a real character with real problems. Honestly, he is much more compelling than Darth Vader, even though I prefer the latter.
The ending battle was something of a small controversy, as well. Fans demanded how in the world an untrained force user (and most likely future Jedi) could defeat Kylo Ren. If you think about it, Kylo never wanted to kill Rey. He defeated Finn (even though he didn't kill him), and he could have easily Force-pushed Rey off of the cliff they stood on the edge of. But he didn't. He told her she needed a teacher. Okay, but how was she able to defeat him still? First of all, Kylo was shot with Chewbacca's bowcaster, a weapon that can send stormtroopers flying. He merely took a knee when he received his wound. Secondly, Rey seems to be the descendent of a strong Force-user or Jedi, so her new strength in the Force is not as strange and forced (bad pun) as it may seem. And last of all, Kylo is still in training. He is immature. And, especially in the last scene, he is angry. He lashes out in anger at the end and his focus deters. All in all, the battle was raw, excellent, and entertaining. If this explanation is not sufficient enough, I don't know what else would be.
Fans were also upset about Captain Phasma's small role in the film, but this is only part one of a trilogy. She will be in Episode VIII, as will many of the unanswered questions fans are constantly asking. Don't worry. Seriously, this has all been thought out and planned by the Star Wars crew. Everything in the film was done for a reason. Things were left out for a reason. Characters will grow and develop over the course of three movies. "The Force Awakens" works as a stand-alone film, but ultimately it's only part of a much larger story.
The scenery and restricted use of CGI make this film feel real. It gave me the feeling I was missing when I watched the prequel films. I felt that sense of adventure, that sense of excitement. I sympathized with the main characters. Most importantly, I felt that Star Wars feeling again, a feeling I haven't felt since I was a kid. And that's what Star Wars is ultimately about. The feel. True fans will know what I'm talking about. And "The Force Awakens" captured that feel.
At the end of the day, it's just a movie. It's made for entertainment. I love Star Wars, but that's what it is. If you loved the new movie, awesome. If you hated it, well, that's OK too.
Final rating of the film after much thought: 8.5/10
