Star Wars: The Force Awakens Review

NOTE: BEYOND A BRIEF PLOT SUMMARY, THERE ARE NO INTENTIONAL SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

So… this has been a long time coming. It is, by my reckoning, over ten years since the last Star Wars movie (Episode III, Revenge of the Sith).

That’s a long time in movies.

But of course what makes this one special is that this is a return to a time of the original trilogy, of which the last movie (Episode VI, Return of the Jedi) was released in 1983 – 32 years ago.

To explain the context of the new movie, here’s a brief plot summary. (You may want to skip this bit, though there is nothing here that you would not know if you have seen the movie poster or a trailer.)

PLOT SUMMARY.

Thirty years after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, the galaxy faces a new threat from the evil Kylo Ren and the First Order. When a defector named Finn crash-lands on a desert planet, he meets Rey, a tough scavenger. Together, the young duo joins forces with Han Solo and Chewbacca to make sure the Resistance receives intelligence concerning the whereabouts of currently missing Luke Skywalker, the last of the Jedi Knights.

END OF PLOT SUMMARY.

It’s a brave director that takes on a global phenomenon. The expectation is usually so high on such things that there is disappointment. And yet here JJ Abrams has managed it. The story is a combination of old and new, done in such a way to entertain the older viewer and engage the new. Spaceships swoop, things explode, and characters emote. My first overriding impression was that, despite that it is a dark time, it’s so good to be back. When Han Solo says to Chewbacca in the film’s trailer, “Chewie, we’re home,” it echoed the thoughts of thousands of film-goers (including me.)

Of the new actors, Daisy Ridley as Rey and John Boyega as Flynn are both excellent. They are quickly identifiable and I think will be role models for new generations of film goers. (I can see lots of little Rey’s at birthday parties more than I ever could Anakin.) She is brave, fearless, loyal and likeable, everything that the young Carrie Fisher was in 1977. Similarly John Boyega as Finn is winning. Though he makes mistakes, he is likeable. On the dark side, Adam Driver makes an appropriately evil villain. Causing the slaughter of rebels at his command, he is cruel, vindictive and effortlessly evil, seamlessly echoing a villain of the past. Though briefly onscreen, Oscar Isaac has enough presence to make his role as Poe Dameron, a new, younger Rebel pilot, a memorable one.

I did have concerns that new roly-poly robot BB-8 was going to be the new Jar Jar Binks. I’m very pleased to type that such fears were misplaced. Whilst it must be said that there are slight comedic moments, they are not of the slapstick nature of the earlier movies from C3PO or Jar Jar – thank goodness. BB-8 is a character that you will love.

Of the special effects, they are generally wonderful. Whilst there are elements of CGI, they are not overt and the decision to combine the CGI with models is a wholly successful one. Whereas Episodes I – III will date because of their effects, The Force Awakens will not.  The 3D works, on the whole – seeing a Star Destroyer pop out of the screen at you is quite impressive, and worth seeing in 3D just for that.

But, if nothing else, though, the movie belongs to ‘the oldsters’. It is the presence of Han Solo, General Leia and Chewbacca in particular that, for me, gave the film its emotional core. There’s a lot that has happened between Episode III and The Force Awakens, and as we see them in the movie, we feel it. They have had experiences and not all has been great. Their scenes are not overdone, they are not oversentimental. Mere looks and glances, combined with meaningful dialogue, mean much. Their time on screen creates a sense of closure and a feeling that, for fans, what they say and do is important.

Particular credit must be given to Harrison Ford, who wears his role of tired and aging space pirate Han Solo like a favourite, if rather battered, glove. You feel his grumpiness, his world-weariness and, despite this, his engaging humour with almost every line of dialogue he utters. The best dialogue of the movie is his. Kudos to both him and the scriptwriters for getting it so right.

If I had any quibbles they would be relatively minor ones. There are places where things happen a little too quickly and a little too conveniently, though this can be forgiven. The pace is relentless, and such things would slow the film up interminably.

More importantly, the links between ’the old’ and ‘the new’ are both the film’s strength and its weakness. Thinking about the film afterwards,  I did feel that at times there are perhaps too many references to the old, too many things that are a variation of what has gone before. Some may feel that they have seen too much of this already. But if Episodes I – VI show us nothing else, it is that such things are the essential essence of Star Wars – that history is doomed to repeat itself, and to some extent it does so here.

In summary, this is a barnstormer of an adventure movie. Visually dazzling, especially in 3D, the film introduces new characters and brings back old favourites for the long-time fans. You do not have to know the older movies, but for those who do, there’s some lovely moments.

However, this film is not just for the oldies. I sat in a cinema full of children, some of whom were about five years old, who did not move, entirely transfixed for over two hours. A rare feat, especially when, in some of the more emotional scenes, you could hear a pin drop.

This is a movie that will win hearts of all ages, cause tears and will create memories that will live forever, as did the original trilogy for many of the SFFWorld team. The Force Awakens is something I never thought I would see in my lifetime, but I am so glad I did. A triumph.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Directed by JJ Abrams.

Released 2015.

136 minutes

Review by Mark Yon

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