You know what, I don't need to write an introduction. You all know about this, or have at least heard of it. So, yeah, let's jump right in.
7th in the film series created by George Lucas, The Force Awakens is set long ago in a galaxy far, far away.( To be exact, 30 years following the end of Return of the Jedi). However, things are far from great. After the fall of the Empire, a new government, the First Order, has essentially taken its place. It is lead by Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis), who uses Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson ) as enforcers. Princess (or General) Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) now leads the resistance against the First Order, backed by the now restored Republic. However, they are losing. Not helping is the absence of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the last Jedi, who has now disappeared, and no one knows where he is. However, a daring pilot named Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) is able to gain a map to his location through a village elder (Max von Syndow) on the planet Jakku, which he entrusts to his loyal robot BB-8. When Dameron is captured, BB-8 rolls around the desert, until he encounters a scavanger named Rey (Daisy Ridley), who takes it under her care. Meanwhile, after Ren interrogates Dameron, the latter is rescued by Stormtrooper FN8.... You know what, I can't remember the exact numbering, so I'll just call him what the film calls him, Fin ( John Boyega), who has decided to escape the First Order. Together, Poe and Fin escape using a TIE fighter, but crash land on Jakku. There, Poe is presumably killed, and Fin is forced to look for BB-8, who has the map with him. He eventually finds the Droid he was looking for, along with Rey. However, the First Order seizes upon the Jakku junk yard, and they are forced to flee into space on an oddly familiar craft, where they plan to meet up with the resistence to get the map to find Luke Skywalker. Along the way, they meet old friends, new enemies, and a new look into the mysterious energy called "The Force"....
This struck a perfect balance, between being a homage to the original trilogy and being its own original product. While it derives most of its tone spirit from the original, it still has an original story, and it does not rely heavily on the continuity of the previous films, nor is it a rehash of A New Hope. Okay, Rey's story is somewhat reminiscent of Luke's, but she has a different personality and backstory, and her journey is far different in terms of obstacles and what she learns about the Force. The idea of a nameless Stormtrooper going rogue and becoming a hero was especially well done, and is by far the most interesting part of the film. The classic hero journey narrative that made the original such a classic is very much present, but it is very distinct. You don't have to watch the original 6 films to appreciate this. JJ Abrams also knows how to emulate Lucas' directing style, while still having a little bit of his own in the film, which illustrates the balance this film achieves, and mitigates the worst qualities of boths directing. The acting is also well done, especially from the returning cast of Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford (Spoiler: Mark Hamill, despite starring credit, is barely in the movie itself.) The special effects were good. As with Jurassic World, I did appreciate the use of animatronics and puppetry, as a nod to the original. In a world, where overuse of CGI is prevalent in action-adventure films, old fashioned effects always get a plus from me. The wide backgrounds constrasting with the smallness of the protagonists is a nice metaphor for the small people in big galaxy, that Star Wars was always about.
The First Order is so similar to the Empire, when I was writing the synopsis, I accidentally put "Empire" sometimes. It is basically the Empire with a new name. It even uses the same techniques! I understand that the previous Empire was destroyed in Jedi, but this skewers way too close to the original for comfort. I heard that Abrams was going for a "Nazis in Argentina" feel, but those were refugees. It would have been more interesting had they been a small remnant of the Empire, which was still taunting the Republic. Also, the fanservice moments could get a bit cringeworthy sometimes. They don't happen very often to become a major problem, but it really took me out of the film going experience sometimes. Once again, not a major problem.
You probably saw this film already, or had plans to see it. Just know that, like I said before, you don't really need to watch the original films to appreciate this film. It stands up on its own merits, and is an worthy addition to the long running franchise. Whether you like or dislike Star Wars, you should definitely check this out, if only to see what the hype is all about.
May the Force be with You.
7th in the film series created by George Lucas, The Force Awakens is set long ago in a galaxy far, far away.( To be exact, 30 years following the end of Return of the Jedi). However, things are far from great. After the fall of the Empire, a new government, the First Order, has essentially taken its place. It is lead by Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis), who uses Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson ) as enforcers. Princess (or General) Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) now leads the resistance against the First Order, backed by the now restored Republic. However, they are losing. Not helping is the absence of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the last Jedi, who has now disappeared, and no one knows where he is. However, a daring pilot named Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) is able to gain a map to his location through a village elder (Max von Syndow) on the planet Jakku, which he entrusts to his loyal robot BB-8. When Dameron is captured, BB-8 rolls around the desert, until he encounters a scavanger named Rey (Daisy Ridley), who takes it under her care. Meanwhile, after Ren interrogates Dameron, the latter is rescued by Stormtrooper FN8.... You know what, I can't remember the exact numbering, so I'll just call him what the film calls him, Fin ( John Boyega), who has decided to escape the First Order. Together, Poe and Fin escape using a TIE fighter, but crash land on Jakku. There, Poe is presumably killed, and Fin is forced to look for BB-8, who has the map with him. He eventually finds the Droid he was looking for, along with Rey. However, the First Order seizes upon the Jakku junk yard, and they are forced to flee into space on an oddly familiar craft, where they plan to meet up with the resistence to get the map to find Luke Skywalker. Along the way, they meet old friends, new enemies, and a new look into the mysterious energy called "The Force"....
This struck a perfect balance, between being a homage to the original trilogy and being its own original product. While it derives most of its tone spirit from the original, it still has an original story, and it does not rely heavily on the continuity of the previous films, nor is it a rehash of A New Hope. Okay, Rey's story is somewhat reminiscent of Luke's, but she has a different personality and backstory, and her journey is far different in terms of obstacles and what she learns about the Force. The idea of a nameless Stormtrooper going rogue and becoming a hero was especially well done, and is by far the most interesting part of the film. The classic hero journey narrative that made the original such a classic is very much present, but it is very distinct. You don't have to watch the original 6 films to appreciate this. JJ Abrams also knows how to emulate Lucas' directing style, while still having a little bit of his own in the film, which illustrates the balance this film achieves, and mitigates the worst qualities of boths directing. The acting is also well done, especially from the returning cast of Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford (Spoiler: Mark Hamill, despite starring credit, is barely in the movie itself.) The special effects were good. As with Jurassic World, I did appreciate the use of animatronics and puppetry, as a nod to the original. In a world, where overuse of CGI is prevalent in action-adventure films, old fashioned effects always get a plus from me. The wide backgrounds constrasting with the smallness of the protagonists is a nice metaphor for the small people in big galaxy, that Star Wars was always about.
The First Order is so similar to the Empire, when I was writing the synopsis, I accidentally put "Empire" sometimes. It is basically the Empire with a new name. It even uses the same techniques! I understand that the previous Empire was destroyed in Jedi, but this skewers way too close to the original for comfort. I heard that Abrams was going for a "Nazis in Argentina" feel, but those were refugees. It would have been more interesting had they been a small remnant of the Empire, which was still taunting the Republic. Also, the fanservice moments could get a bit cringeworthy sometimes. They don't happen very often to become a major problem, but it really took me out of the film going experience sometimes. Once again, not a major problem.
You probably saw this film already, or had plans to see it. Just know that, like I said before, you don't really need to watch the original films to appreciate this film. It stands up on its own merits, and is an worthy addition to the long running franchise. Whether you like or dislike Star Wars, you should definitely check this out, if only to see what the hype is all about.
May the Force be with You.
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