The arrival of “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens” (the seventh installment in George Lucas’s global Sci fi phenomenon, directed and co written by J.J. Abrams Lawrence Kasdan and Michael Arndt) brings a combination of excitement and skepticism.
On the one hand, we're getting another freaking "Star Wars" movie! the first one in nine
years--something nerds have been dreaming about for years. Yet there’s plenty
to be suspicious about; the stench of the prequel trilogy (Episodes One, Two
and Three) still lingers. While each picture has a handful of great sequences,
overall they are disappointments and while they will always be a part of the
“Star Wars” mythos they’re the black sheep of the family. Additionally this
latest installment comes with extremely high expectations—everyone has their
own ideas about what they want to see from another “Star Wars” film—will the
final product live up to those hopes and dreams or be another crushing
disappointment?
“The Force Awakens” excels the most in its focus on character,
(over special effects or action sequences) specifically the new blood. Abrams
assembles an array of extremely talented, up and coming actors and wisely
situates them front and center. Heading this youthful band is Daisy Ridley
playing Rey, a scavenger who lives on the desert planet of Jakku. In short, Ridley is phenomenal and is in many
ways the core of the entire film. Rey is tough, both physically and mentally
(she can hold her own against the various figures she encounters along the way)
yet raw and vulnerable at the same time, making her a three dimensional character.
In a genre that’s still very much dominated by males it’s refreshing that
Abrams and co. allow an unknown actress to shine in such a major cinematic
event. Ridley also joins the pantheon of badass action heroines in 2015 that
also includes Charlize Theron from “Mad Max: Fury Road” and Rebecca Ferguson in
“Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol.”
In addition to Ridley there’s also John Boyega (another
relatively unknown actor) as Fin, a storm trooper who’s having second thoughts
about his line of work and Oscar Isaac as hotshot pilot Poe Dameron. Also
strong here is Adam Driver as the picture’s main baddie Kylo Ren--sporting an
intimating mask and black cloak, along with a tri bladed light saber. Going
into the film, I was worried that Ren would be a one-note villain; cool to look
at sure, but hollow. Driver brings a surprising amount of depth and humanity to
the role, taking Ren far beyond a simplistic “I’m-evil-and-I-want-to-rule
the-world” bad guy, revealing a damaged and insecure man. There are plenty of
other supporting characters, (too many to name here) some more fleshed out than
others. However the quartet of Rey, Fin, Poe and Ren form a solid base that
more than adequately supports the movie for the duration of its running time.
As to be expected “The Force Awakens” contains its fair
share of nostalgia-- references to the original films (when we first meet Rey
on Jakku she’s scavenging parts from old decaying Galactic Empire ships buried
in the sand) as well as the return of “Star Wars” veterans Han Solo, (Harrison
Ford) Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Chewbacca (Peter
Mayhew). However--in a year of multiple sequels and reboots of popular movie
franchises that bang on the nostalgia drum too much without any good
reason--the nostalgic bits in “The Force Awakens” rarely feel forced. Abrams
and co. incorporate these various characters and references organically and in
some cases they play a rather substantial role in the central storyline.
Is “The Force Awakens” flawless? Of course not. Without nitpicking I think the picture’s biggest issue is redundancy in regards to story. Structurally, the script is a little too reminiscent of the inaugural episode “A New Hope,” which eliminates some tension and surprise. There’s a new galactic empire called the First Order and a rebellion and a droid storing valuable information that both parties want. This issue becomes most problematic in the film’s third act during a lengthy climactic battle. Not only is this particular sequence redundant, it’s flat out boring and feels more like an afterthought. The unfortunate, unavoidable quandary the prequel movies found themselves in was, no matter how many characters, gadgets or exotic planets Lucas introduced the outcome (Anakin Skywalker turning to the dark side and becoming Darth Vader) had to be the same. Meanwhile, this new trilogy has no preset ending and could go in virtually any direction. The possibilities are endless so to see Abrams and Kasdan hit one too many familiar beats is mildly disappointing.
And yet, for all the familiar beats it hits and the occasional underwhelming sequence, “The Force Awakens” has a number of surprising weighty moments scattered throughout. In an age where so many PG-13 action films feel watered down and insubstantial, it’s nice to see that Abrams and co. aren’t afraid to take risks and up the stakes within such a culturally treasured franchise. For the most part, “The Force Awakens” manages to be respectful of the original features while also realizing the need to move away from them, something I hope will continue on in the next two.
There’s more I could discuss but I would be doing a major disservice to readers. “The Force Awakens” will no doubt play extremely well with fans and should do big business at the box office so its best to let them discover the film’s best moments on their own. As for myself? The former “Star Wars” fan boy, the film lover and the film critic in me walked away satisfied. The picture serves as a great starting point for the new trilogy, featuring a group of fresh and talented faces that will (hopefully) take it in bold new directions.
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