Star Wars: The Force Awakens

photo fair use from starwars.wikia.com

 It has been 38 years since the original Star Wars was released in theaters and met with universal acclaim. What started as a risky endeavor that was never expected to succeed, managed to spawn five sequels, several spinoff TV shows, and an overwhelming number of fans. In short, it became the largest, most successful franchise in the history of filmmaking.

This makes it difficult to overstate just how significant this day is. The release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens is perhaps the biggest cinematic event of the decade, if not the entire 21st century thus far.

I grew up loving Star Wars, and it is extremely near and dear to my heart. But when reflecting on the franchise, it’s sad to think that the last great film in the series was Return of the Jedi in 1983. George Lucas’ prequel trilogy was disappointing to say the least, and The Force Awakens has the immeasurable pressure of making up for it. But people can rest easy because Star Wars: The Force Awakens is phenomenal. It’s so much better than it has any right to be as the seventh entry in a franchise. Director J. J. Abrams managed to achieve the impossible; he has made Star Wars great again.

The Force Awakens is set 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi. From the ashes of The Empire comes a new tyrannical army called The First Order, led by the terrifying Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis). The film follows Rey (Daisy Ridley), a scavenger on the desert planet of Jakku, and Finn (John Boyega), a Stormtrooper who defects after witnessing the cruelty of The First Order. Harrison Ford’s Han Solo also returns as a major player.

To say anything else would be a disservice to any audience member. The marketing team behind The Force Awakens has worked extremely hard to keep the story under wraps and out of the trailers, something rarely seen with today’s blockbusters. All you need to know before going in is that there is a terrific tale told here: one that simultaneously harkens back to previous films and paves the way for a new generation of Star Wars fans.

photo fair use from polygon.com

Unlike the prequel trilogy, The Force Awakens is full of wonderfully well realized and likeable characters. Rey and Finn, as well as X-Wing pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), are all great new additions to the series. They are interesting and extremely likable protagonists.

Driver’s Kylo Ren is also a fantastic villain—one that could possibly even rival Darth Vader. Ren is a fascinating character whose history just begging to be expanded upon more in later films. He’s a conflicted character that often appears more vulnerable than Vader, as well as more emotionally unstable. He is quite possibly the best, most intimidating villain since Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, and Driver is terrific in the role.

In fact, the acting across the board is excellent. Newcomers Ridley and Boyega are superb in the first big roles of their careers. In addition to Isaac, they are all stars in the making. The original cast is also great, with Harrison Ford appearing to be actually having fun for the first time in many years. Unlike his fourth turn as Indiana Jones, this older Han Solo is still a blast to watch, maintaining the endearing qualities of the character while still exploring new territory. Other cast members Domhnall Gleeson, Carrie Fisher, Lupita Nyong’o, and Andy Serkis are also great.

J. J. Abrams has crafted a beautiful film. His electric direction and screenplay (co-written with The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi writer Lawrence Kasdan) adds some much needed excitement back into the Star Wars franchise. Abrams uses kinetic camera movement and dazzling practical and digital effects to bring Star Wars into modern times. Like Lucas’ originals, The Force Awakens is overflowing with creativity and imagination. This galaxy far, far away is still full of new and interesting alien creatures full of detail. It’s a spectacle, one befitting of a blockbuster of this magnitude.

“This will begin to make things right,” are the first words spoken in The Force Awakens. It’s incredibly appropriate, acknowledging past failures ever so cleverly. This is a remarkable achievement, reigniting a franchise desperately in need of new talent and hopefully inspiring a new generation of Star Wars fans. It embodies the mentality of the original trilogy, becoming a fun, exceptionally well made film with terrific characters and imagination. It’s wonderful to see this beloved franchise back in full force.

The Verdict:

Star Wars: The Force Awakens serves as a fantastic love letter to fans of the original trilogy, while also passing the torch on to a new generation of people. The magic has returned to this colossal franchise.

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