Star Wars: The Force Awakens
(A- or 3.5/4 stars)
It's heeeeerrrrre! 38 yrs. ago, George Lucas brought us Star Wars IV: A New Hope, an epic space opera that exploded onto the scene. Since then, there's been 5 other films (Episode V, VI, and then the prequels, I, II, & III). And now we've got J.J. Abrams’ 'Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens'. The frenzy surrounding this particular movie has rarely been seen in cinema. So. Does it live up to the crazy hype? I'd say so. Is it some game-changing masterpiece? No. But it's such a fun, beautifully-executed entertainment that any nitpicking that may ensue in this review can be taken with a grain of salt. Opening with the rolling scroll explaining that the legendary Luke Skywalker has disappeared, 'The Force Awakens' takes place in a galaxy {yes, far far away}, roughly 30 yrs. after end of The Empire in Episode III's Return of the Jedi. Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the last surviving Jedi, has gone into hiding, allowing the remnants of the old evil regime to grow into a malevolent military force called the First Order, led by the mysterious Supreme Leader, Snoke (motioned-captured by Andy Serkis), his 2nd-in-command, Kylo Ren (Darth Vader-like Adam Driver) & head of the Stormtroopers, General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson, in an unsettling, scenery-chewing Hitler-like portrayal).
The First Order captures the Resistance's most daring/hotshot pilot, Poe Dameron (a Han Solo-like Oscar Isaac), in hopes of securing a secret map which would lead to Luke Skywalker's whereabouts -- but rogue, conscience-stricken Stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega) helps Poe escape. After Poe is assumed dead in a spectacular crash, Finn ends up in the Jakku Desert and teams up with a skilled, feisty scavenger, Rey (Daisy Ridley), who - unbeknownst to her - is protecting Poe's adorable droid, BB-8 {move over R2-D2 & C-3PO}. Finn & Rey don't know much about each other than that they're in danger and that they need to get BB-8 (with Skywalker's map) back into the safe hands of the Resistance. Enter a lovingly familiar duo, smuggler Han Solo (Harrison Ford!) & his Wookie co-pilot, Chewbacca, who agree to lead these new young heroes to the no-nonsense Resistance leader ... General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher, yay). Intergalactic mayhem ensues as our heroines aim to defeat the First Order before they can locate Luke and destroy the Republic.
Star Wars fanatics can rest assured -- J.J. Abrams didn't mess it up. In '09, Abrams faithfully re-booted sci-fi classic Star Trek and, he's done it again with Star Wars. Do I think he's as successful now as he was with the surprisingly superb Star Trek? No. THAT film was my favorite of 2009. But 'The Force Awakens' is still a stellar, swiftly-moving adventure flick chock full of fantastic action sequences, universal themes of the original trilogy, & iconic characters (both old & new). Direction-wise, it's clear that Abrams wants to connect the 1977's Episode IV with this one. He uses a lot of George Lucas' techniques - camera wipes as a way to transition from scene to scene, etc.. Character traits inhabited by the old cast are echoed in the new. John Williams' enduring score booms over the proceedings. The sets/costumes call back to Episodes IV-VI; whereas, Episodes I-III (made in 1999-2005) contained a very different visual aesthetic. I am ecstatic that this film looks & feels like the original trilogy. I also loved this film's new droid, BB-8 {to rival R2-D2 & C-3PO}. He's suitably cute, & I enjoyed his interactions with Poe, Rey, Finn, et al.
Finn & Rey are, like Luke Skywalker was in the 1977 film, appealingly naive, but also highly proactive when thrust into action. They're both loners in a vast world. Finn: because he was brought up as a Stormtrooper with only one skill {to kill}; and Rey: because she was torn from her family as a young girl & lives a lonely scavenger existence. Like Leia & Han before them, they banter/argue, but they also encourage each other. Daisy Ridley & John Boyega share a chemistry that's sweet, with even a touch of possible romance -- I enjoyed their portrayals greatly. As for our older beloved characters, well, this film basically belongs to Harrison Ford. Ford inhabits Solo's risk-taking, smirky, wise-cracking smuggler, but mixed with heightened vulnerability; his reunion with Carrie Fisher's Leia is poignant, to say the least. As for the other characters, I enjoyed the wry sense of humor & derring-do of Oscar Isaac's Poe; just wish he were in it more. Though she's a CGI creation, I loved Lupita Nyongo's goggle-wearing, Yoda-like Maz Kanata. And Adam Driver creates an interesting, self-doubting, temper tantrum-prone villain in Kylo Ren.
Now, for as much fun as I had watching this, I don't think it's as effective as it could have been. I reallllly don't want this to come across as me disliking the film; not at all. I think it's one of the year's most fulfilling entertainments. I'm just nitpicking. For instance, while I loved Daisy Ridley & John Boyega's portrayals - as well as the genuine warmth btwn. their characters - I felt like the propulsive storytelling & action prevented this duo from having some lengthy, significant interactions. That issue never surfaced for me in 2009's Star Trek. The camaraderie & depth btwn. those characters was full-bodied & wonderful. So that's basically the bulk of my hesitation with this film. Brilliantly executed space battles, fast-paced happenstance, startling reveals, tragic turns, humor, nostalgia ... it's all in there. There are no colossal missteps {hello there, Jar Jar Binks}. And the movie is just a grand success - a magnificent space opera with enough wit, thrills, & nostalgia to overcome some recycled plot elements from Episode IV, as well as my unfulfilled desire to spend more time with these characters.
The First Order captures the Resistance's most daring/hotshot pilot, Poe Dameron (a Han Solo-like Oscar Isaac), in hopes of securing a secret map which would lead to Luke Skywalker's whereabouts -- but rogue, conscience-stricken Stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega) helps Poe escape. After Poe is assumed dead in a spectacular crash, Finn ends up in the Jakku Desert and teams up with a skilled, feisty scavenger, Rey (Daisy Ridley), who - unbeknownst to her - is protecting Poe's adorable droid, BB-8 {move over R2-D2 & C-3PO}. Finn & Rey don't know much about each other than that they're in danger and that they need to get BB-8 (with Skywalker's map) back into the safe hands of the Resistance. Enter a lovingly familiar duo, smuggler Han Solo (Harrison Ford!) & his Wookie co-pilot, Chewbacca, who agree to lead these new young heroes to the no-nonsense Resistance leader ... General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher, yay). Intergalactic mayhem ensues as our heroines aim to defeat the First Order before they can locate Luke and destroy the Republic.
Star Wars fanatics can rest assured -- J.J. Abrams didn't mess it up. In '09, Abrams faithfully re-booted sci-fi classic Star Trek and, he's done it again with Star Wars. Do I think he's as successful now as he was with the surprisingly superb Star Trek? No. THAT film was my favorite of 2009. But 'The Force Awakens' is still a stellar, swiftly-moving adventure flick chock full of fantastic action sequences, universal themes of the original trilogy, & iconic characters (both old & new). Direction-wise, it's clear that Abrams wants to connect the 1977's Episode IV with this one. He uses a lot of George Lucas' techniques - camera wipes as a way to transition from scene to scene, etc.. Character traits inhabited by the old cast are echoed in the new. John Williams' enduring score booms over the proceedings. The sets/costumes call back to Episodes IV-VI; whereas, Episodes I-III (made in 1999-2005) contained a very different visual aesthetic. I am ecstatic that this film looks & feels like the original trilogy. I also loved this film's new droid, BB-8 {to rival R2-D2 & C-3PO}. He's suitably cute, & I enjoyed his interactions with Poe, Rey, Finn, et al.
Finn & Rey are, like Luke Skywalker was in the 1977 film, appealingly naive, but also highly proactive when thrust into action. They're both loners in a vast world. Finn: because he was brought up as a Stormtrooper with only one skill {to kill}; and Rey: because she was torn from her family as a young girl & lives a lonely scavenger existence. Like Leia & Han before them, they banter/argue, but they also encourage each other. Daisy Ridley & John Boyega share a chemistry that's sweet, with even a touch of possible romance -- I enjoyed their portrayals greatly. As for our older beloved characters, well, this film basically belongs to Harrison Ford. Ford inhabits Solo's risk-taking, smirky, wise-cracking smuggler, but mixed with heightened vulnerability; his reunion with Carrie Fisher's Leia is poignant, to say the least. As for the other characters, I enjoyed the wry sense of humor & derring-do of Oscar Isaac's Poe; just wish he were in it more. Though she's a CGI creation, I loved Lupita Nyongo's goggle-wearing, Yoda-like Maz Kanata. And Adam Driver creates an interesting, self-doubting, temper tantrum-prone villain in Kylo Ren.
Now, for as much fun as I had watching this, I don't think it's as effective as it could have been. I reallllly don't want this to come across as me disliking the film; not at all. I think it's one of the year's most fulfilling entertainments. I'm just nitpicking. For instance, while I loved Daisy Ridley & John Boyega's portrayals - as well as the genuine warmth btwn. their characters - I felt like the propulsive storytelling & action prevented this duo from having some lengthy, significant interactions. That issue never surfaced for me in 2009's Star Trek. The camaraderie & depth btwn. those characters was full-bodied & wonderful. So that's basically the bulk of my hesitation with this film. Brilliantly executed space battles, fast-paced happenstance, startling reveals, tragic turns, humor, nostalgia ... it's all in there. There are no colossal missteps {hello there, Jar Jar Binks}. And the movie is just a grand success - a magnificent space opera with enough wit, thrills, & nostalgia to overcome some recycled plot elements from Episode IV, as well as my unfulfilled desire to spend more time with these characters.