Directed by: J. J. Abrams
Screenplay by: J. J. Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan, and Michael Arndt
Year: 2015
There is no point in beating around the bush here; Star Wars: The Force Awakens was, without question, my most anticipated film of the year. I have been a fan of the franchise ever since my father first showed me A New Hope on laser disc and I am well versed in the mythology and history of the universe. Having said all that, I promise to critique this picture with as little personal bias as possible. Now that that is out of the way, The Force Awakens is finally here, but with a different creative team than the previous films. Is the force strong with this one, or has the franchise fallen too far to the dark side to be redeemed?
Thirty years have passed since the defeat of the Empire, but, out of its ashes, the First Order has emerged. Meanwhile, a scavenger by the name of Rey comes across a stormtrooper named Finn. Together, with a spherical droid called BB-8, they embark on an adventure involving a map that could lead to Luke Skywalker, the last Jedi, who has mysteriously vanished.
It is generally accepted that the original trilogy is a masterpiece of cinematic achievement, while the prequel trilogy came as a vast disappointment and left a bad impression on many fans. But The Force Awakens had an insane amount of effort put into it in order to harken back to the days of old, while still trying to bring something new to the table.
The cast is a large and varied one, but I will get around to mentioning everyone briefly. John Boyega plays a stormtrooper who goes by the name Finn and he is such a bright spot in this film. He is incredibly charismatic and his delivery is exceptionally suitable for his jokes. But Daisy Ridley is not to be disregarded as she gives an equally impressive performance as Rey. Rey is an endearing and lovable character whose wit and capability are equalled by her aspirations and dreams, which is all brought to life by Ridley. Oscar Isaac gets a supporting role as a pilot called Poe Dameron. Poe is overflowing with charm and likability, and makes you wish he had more screen time. But Isaac makes the most of the time he has and nails his character.
Adam Driver plays Kylo Ren, the main villain, and it seems an impossible task to match the icon that is Darth Vader...and yet Driver succeeds. The character of Kylo Ren is easily the most complex one in the film and possibly the best written. Driver's performance is what makes Kylo Ren such a compelling antagonist and he seems to be having a ball doing it. Domhnall Gleeson has had quite a year, and ending on The Force Awakens is a strong way to finish 2015. He plays General Hux, a young leader in the First Order whose banter with Kylo Ren is excellent. But Gleeson's standout moment is a Hitler-esque speech that he delivers with unimaginable passion. A standout moment for an actor that has had a standout year. Lupita Nyong'o does the motion capture for Maz Kanata, a Yoda-like character. She does a very good job and Maz is a character with plenty of intriguing history and one of the most memorable newcomers to the series.
And then of course we have the original cast. Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, Anthony Daniels, and Kenny Baker all reprise their roles. Each of them does a great job, but I will bring attention only to the main trio. Harrison Ford is often a scene stealer as Han Solo and proves that he still has the chops to bring this character alive. He gives a truly grounded and emotional performance. Carrie Fisher seems comfortable playing Leia again, but it is hard to deny that the difference in voice is jarring. And then there is Mark Hamill, who has been left out of all promotional material. All I will say is that it was done for a very good reason.
You may have noticed that I did not mention Gwendoline Christie's Captain Phasma nor Andy Serkis' Supreme Leader Snoke. That is because neither of them get much screen time. Their characters seem interesting and I am curious to see more of them in the next installment, but they are really brushed to the side in this film.
So with all that out of the way, let us dive into the story. Essentially, the First Order is searching for Luke Skywalker in order to kill the last Jedi and the Resistance is looking for Luke seeking his aid. Both sides are on the hunt for the map that leads to Luke. Based on the premise, this might seem like a simple chase film but the story quickly sheds its skin multiple times. The story is always developing and changing, becoming more complex and emotionally investing as time goes by. The movie sucks you in with its easily digestible plot and maintains your interest with heavy themes and lovable characters.
The Force Awakens shares several plot points with A New Hope, such as hiding the macguffin inside a droid, the beginning taking place on a desert planet, and the inclusion of an exotic bar scene. A lot of these are welcomed nods to the original film, and are not simple fan service. Each of these similarities has its own spin and serves the plot more than nostalgia. These similar plot points allow fans to easily jump right back into the classic Star Wars universe and get involved with the story immediately.
It seems a wise choice to have J. J. Abrams direct the "return of Star Wars," having successfully resurrected the Star Trek film franchise and being a die-hard Star Wars fan. With a passion project such as this, Abrams took extra care when filming this picture. I believe Abrams to be a fine director. I would not say a great one, but a good one. I love his "mystery box theory" and I believe his films are well directed, but his direction is not very powerful nor memorable. But The Force Awakens proves his worth as a director as he is on top-form. This is easily his best work as a director, and I am sure he is breathing a huge sigh of relief. His attention to detail and love for the series is on full display. He went to great lengths to deliver the best Star Wars experience he possibly could, and I deem his efforts a success.
The prequel trilogy is often bashed for its overuse of CGI, making many things appear unrealistic or downright fake. Abrams has publicly stated that The Force Awakens would be making a major return to practical effects, saving CGI only for when it was necessary. The effects in this picture, both CGI and practical, are outstanding. The marriage of the two is very romantic indeed, with the practical effects and on-location shooting giving the film an authentic feel that has been lacking since Return of the Jedi. The computer generated effects are of the highest quality and reminds us all of the days when Star Wars was the king of visual effects. The costumes, the makeup, the computer images, it is all excellent. However, I do have to mention the motion capture. It is good --very good-- but unnecessary. I feel the same effect could have been accomplished even better with makeup, but I also believe that a height factor is what led to the use of motion capture for Maz and Snoke.
In addition, BB-8, the new spherical droid, is a technical marvel. The visual effects and practical prop were merged seamlessly to bring this spunky new character to life. BB-8, who has no discernible dialogue, is one of the major take-aways from this movie. He is hilariously entertaining and unquestionably adorable. He ranks right up there with C-3PO, R2-D2, and Chopper (for all you Rebels fans out there). I cannot undersell how wonderful this little ball of joy was.
The Star Wars music is definitely a huge part of its iconography, perhaps being the best music ever composed for a motion picture, courtesy of John Williams. Williams returns to score this latest installment, and he does a terrific job. He has conjured up a delightfully beautiful score that disappears in the background of the film (which is a good thing). At first, I found the music to be quite unimpressive, but with each viewing of this film I noticed it more and more, and it truly is a treat for the ears. But I will say, there are no standout pieces such as "The Imperial March," "Duel of the Fates," or "Battle of the Heroes." The best musical moment is when "Burning Homestead" from A New Hope kicks in at just the right time. Rey's theme is a particular highlight, but this is probably the weakest Star Wars musical score to date, and yet it is still great.
The cinematography of this movie is incredibly dynamic and vast. The camerawork captures the beauty of each setting, whether it be an expansive desert, a lush forest, a crowded bar, or a frozen planet. Creative camera angles are utilized and the camera is hardly ever still, creating the illusion of motion that helps keep the pace moving quickly. For action scenes, the camera is always focused on the characters rather than the spectacle. This allows for great pacing, intimate relationships with the characters, and more enjoyment of the film. For instance, if characters are running from an explosion, the characters are in the foreground running towards the camera, with the explosion in the background. There are no cutaway shots that focus solely on the explosion, because that is not what is important. This type of filming is highly respectable. And the use of colors is very cleverly done, as I will explain in the following spoiler paragraph.
*SPOILERS AHEAD* So Han and Chewie have infiltrated Starkiller Base, but then Han sees his son, Ben. Han confronts and approaches Ben, who is being torn with an immense conflict; he is being pulled to both the light and dark side of the force, but he cannot choose which to follow. Han attempts to comfort him and guide him back to the light. Ben's face is lit with both red and blue hues, signifying the dark and the light, respectively. This mirrors the scene with Luke in Return of the Jedi and is a brilliant use of contrasting colors. Red and blue are opposites, which instills a sense of contrast in the mind of the audience. Just when you think Ben has made his decision to turn to the light, the sun above them is completely absorbed and all light vanishes, leaving only a red hue to cover the torn character. This is visual storytelling. If you were to watch this scene without the dialogue, you would still understand the conflict and still feel the emotional punch.
*SPOILERS AHEAD* And while I am on the subject, I might as well give my opinion of this death scene. Han does indeed die in this film, and I feel it was done in the best way possible. He died trying to comfort his son, he died through an act of love. Ford has wanted to kill the character off since The Empire Strikes Back and now he finally got his wish. What really sells the scene though, is not just the facial reactions of Han and Ben, and not just the way Han caresses his son before he falls, but Chewbacca's scream of agony. Chewie's sadness is what cements the idea that Han is dead, and it is at that moment that your heart sinks. And having Han fall off the bridge is very symbolic, as it signifies the downfall and descension of Ben Solo. Although, the scene was rather telegraphed right from when Han stepped on the bridge, and the film could have benefitted from the two characters sharing a scene earlier in the film to make the emotional punch more impactful. But it is still an effective moment.
*SPOILERS AHEAD* And while I am talking about Kylo Ren/Ben Solo, I might as well give my in-depth opinion of the character. Darth Vader is arguably the greatest villain in cinematic history. But, admittedly, most of his development did not come until The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Kylo Ren is a much more complicated and interesting character than Vader when comparing their introductory films. Kylo Ren is faced with a heavy dilemma that affects his actions and motivations. And the fact that he fears that he will never be as powerful as Darth Vader is an exceptional touch, as it adds development to both characters and heightens the drama. I would say that Kylo Ren is definitely the most interesting and complex character in this picture.
*SPOILER FREE* Having re-watched the original trilogy very recently, I noticed something. Those three films are some of the fastest moving films I have ever witnessed. Two hours go by in the blink of an eye. A New Hope won the Academy Award for Best Film Editing and that Oscar caliber editing returns here. The Force Awakens is such a perfectly paced film, without ever a dull moment. Something of interest is always occurring and the way the story plays out with the filming makes for an experience that will feel like only a few minutes have passed by the time you reach the end credits.
I normally do not talk about this aspect of filmmaking, but I do believe that sound design and sound mixing are incredibly important. The sound editing for this film is remarkable. The classic blaster, TIE fighter, and Millennium Falcon sounds (just to name a few) make a glorious return. But the new sounds effects are equally impressive. The way these sound effects are overlaid is extremely well done.
I am also happy to announce that the lightsaber combat featured has returned to the more realistic and engaging style of the original trilogy instead of the unrealistic, overly choreographed, ballet dances that the prequels offered. The fighting in the originals was fueled by emotion. The way a character felt influenced their fighting style. In the prequels, everything was very flashy and unrealistic. It became more of a talent show as the duelists would perform useless tricks that drained the scenes of any tension (with the only exception being the first half of the Darth Maul battle). The Force Awakens gets it right by having the emotions dictate the movements. The afraid and inexperienced fighter spends the whole fight backing away while the overconfident one is always on the offensive. This goes a long way and is the best lightsaber battle since the second Luke and Vader confrontation.
Having gushed and praised nearly every aspect of this film, I must now bring up my complaints. The Force Awakens is not a perfect picture, and I have a few minor issues with it. Near the end, a character acts as a deus ex machina, which directly leads into the conclusion. If you have seen the film, you know what I am talking about. A character who was no help earlier is suddenly of huge importance because of what he has, even though it contradicts what was said earlier. Apparently, this was explained in more detail in the novelization of the movie, but I am judging the movie on its own merits, so I cannot count that as an excuse. As mentioned earlier, there are some similarities between this film and A New Hope, and at times, they go too far. Starkiller Base is essentially a third Death Star. Do not mistake me, I love the idea, I love the design, but it is pretty lazy writing. I always saw the second Death Star as a message; if you attack the Empire, not only will they come back bigger and stronger, but now you have angered them (or something along those lines). But this third one is going too far. And finally, the Rathtar sequence. This scene is great fun and I had a good time watching it, but it was ultimately unnecessary and could have been cut down quite a bit. It was not bad, but it did feel a bit shoehorned.
On a side note, you may hear many complain that The Force Awakens is too similar to the originals. But fans also complained that the prequels were too different from the originals so...... I think it will be impossible to please everyone, but this contradiction of opinions does not make much sense. The issues this film has are typical movie issues, not "prequel issues."
In the end, The Force Awakens has successfully brought Star Wars back to the big screen for three different generations of movie-goers. The direction is Abram's best work, the acting is top notch, and the script is well written. The film is perfectly paced, expertly shot, a visual feast for the eyes, and a blast from start to finish. The characters are lovable (both old and new) and the story moves along at a breakneck pace without ever losing the audience. The attention to detail is beyond commendable, the jokes are hilariously clever, and the emotional beats hit hard. There is plenty of fan service, but it is never cheap nor does it ever steal the focus. This is a movie that gets better with each viewing and is perfect for veterans returning to the series as well as newcomers. If you could not tell, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Star Wars is back, and the force is with it.
Grade: A
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