The force has awoken and it’s great to have it back! For those of you that know, I’m a huge Star Wars fan. While Jurassic Park Is my favorite movie, Star Wars is my favorite way of life. So, naturally, I’ve been anticipating this moment since Disney first announced that they bought Lucasfilm and were continuing the franchise with a new trilogy. The hype was real. So since then, I’ve been patiently waiting and counting down the days prepping myself for its release, and now I can proudly say that I have seen Star Wars: The Force Awakens and I am super satisfied with what I saw! Though it may be a little vague, let the spoiler free review begin!
Long ago, but after shit went down…:
The film takes place about 30 years from where episode 6 left off, (I will say that if you still haven’t seen the original movies, 1. What is wrong with you? 2. Some moments might go over your head, and 3. You don’t need to worry about the prequels right now; Ep 1-3) the First Order has basically risen from the ashes of the fallen Empire and are continuing to make trouble for the galaxy. Our heroes get together in a way, which as a Star Wars fan I can say, was only possible by the will of the Force. With our new generation of heroes teaming up with the OGs, we embark on a new adventure to take down this new and very powerful enemy (like I said, vague).
The force is strong with this cast, New and Old:
If you are worried about the new heroes coming in, don’t be. The chemistry between these characters is fantastic and believable. Daisy Ridley (Rey) and John Boyega (Fin) have the strongest interaction in the film and it’s a ton of fun to see them together when they share the screen. And don’t worry the OG heroes such as, Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and the now General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) aren’t just flashy cameo appearances. They’re important, they’re utilized well and they’re involved in the action. My favorite character has to be Rey. Ridley did an absolutely fantastic job to make you fall in love with her. She is likable, effing adorable and she had my attention every time she made an appearance on screen. The antagonist, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) did a wonderful job as well. If you’re expecting a mini Vader, that’s not what you’re going to get here. It seemed like this was the first villain in the franchise that was fleshed out and felt human. There is an obvious conflict within him that he must face, however, expect him to be ruthless and powerful.
The dark side and the light…it’s real:
Star Wars: The Force Awakens Ph: Film Frame ©Lucasfilm 2015
Okay, so here’s what I wasn’t too thrilled about, this will be brief. Certain characters are over-hyped and underutilized. There was one specific character in particular that I was very excited to see in action, yet they really didn’t do jack shit. That was a big disappointment. However, seeing as this is going to be a trilogy I can only hope that in next films they will be used with prominence.
Final notes:
Overall, Star Wars is back and here to stay! J.J. Abrahams has restored my faith in the franchise proving that not all is lost and we have a found our “new hope.” While this film is plenty of fun for a new generation of SW fans, it beats you over the head with nostalgia from left to right, in a fantastic way. Seriously, from start to finish I was in a plethora of emotions ranging from excitement, astonishment, happiness, sadness, back to excitement, and with a twist that literally takes you back to when you first learned Vader was Luke’s father, you bet your ass there was shock. Let me tell you about the music though, MUAH! John Williams’ new addition to the famous film score blends in perfectly with the old. A master composer of this generation indeed he is (did you like what I did there). In all honesty, this movie probably isn’t going to be winning any major Oscar nods (hope it does though), and just like its original predecessors it has some flaws. What I can tell you is this; don’t go into this movie thinking you’re going to get this huge dramatic soap opera with beyond supreme acting. No, go in, take a seat and bring yourself back to the time when you first watched the originals, and then when you watched them again and again growing up, still having so much fun, then multiply that feeling by two because this movie will bring you back to a galaxy far, far away…9.5
Written/Reviewed by: Panda
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