Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Zach Goodier

***THIS REVIEW IS SPOILER-FREE***

STAR WARS IS BACK!!!! But… is it really back? After the tragic prequels (and the whiniest jedi this end of the Kessel Run), I found myself skeptical of the upcoming return to a galaxy far, far away. Several things kept popping into my head: will it use more practical effects and less silly CGI that never blends with actual actors? Will the original cast actually fit back into their old roles after so many years? Will the new faces actually carry the torch that is presumably being passed to them? Well, without further suspense, I can say that the answer is a resounding, “YES!!!” While The Force Awakens is by no means a flawless movie, it is much closer in personality and tone to the originals than it is the prequels.

The First Order, while not as big as the Empire, is still a force to be reckoned with.

We start off following Poe, a Resistance pilot who is helping to fight the First Order. Basically, after ROTJ, the rebels helped found a new Republic, and from there was able to free the outer territories from the Empire. However, much of the core is still under the control of the remnants of the Empire (the First Order), which seeks to eliminate the Republic and return the Empire to its glory days. The Resistance is fighting the First Order, but much like the old days, they are doing so on their own authority and with limited manpower and resources.

The new faces (L to R): Poe, Rey, and Finn

Poe is attempting to track down the whereabouts of Luke Skywalker, who disappeared after his new Jedi Order was betrayed from within by a student who was seduced by the dark side. This student now goes by the name of Kylo Ren, and serves the First Order in much the same way Vader served the Empire. Without spoiling too much, Ren’s role in the story goes much deeper as the movie goes on, but he is a very well-written villain, that doesn’t feel like a Vader rip-off, but his own character that actually has an internal struggle as he believes what he’s doing is right, but experiences doubts and conflict over his choices. So, in some ways, Ren embodies many of the traits that drew us in with Vader in the original trilogy, especially V and VI. However, he sets himself apart, in that he is more unruly, like the young man he is, and he frequently lashes out in anger.

Kylo Ren, in many ways, parallels Anakin/Vader. But, unlike Anakin, he doesn't come across as overly childish. He is young, but honestly sees what he does as necessary, and doesn't seem simply selfish and demanding.

Characters like Han, Chewbacca, and Leia all return, and fit into their old roles very well. While this does feel different from the original films, these characters all helped you settle back in, giving some of the classic flavor to this new film. The new characters, Fin and Rey, as well as Poe and BB-8, all work really well in this new film. J.J. Abrams wisely tried to balance screen time so we could grow to love these characters, while bringing back the characters we wanted to see. In this way, we can grow to like these new characters without spending most of the movie waiting for a quick cameo from the favorites. Everyone is on this ride together, and that really helps bridge the gap for original fans and this new trilogy.

Starkiller base looks like a Death Star ripoff, but it, like the movie, adds it's own spin and flavor to a familiar concept.

The special effects are all done right, with CGI kept to a relative minimum, and what CGI is included looks fantastic. It is clear that this isn’t just an attempt to cash in on the franchise, this an attempt to bring it back from mediocrity after the prequels. The lame politics of the prequels are gone, with the focus being the struggle between the Resistance and the First Order.

If you look carefully, that lightsaber is a familiar one.

There are a few minor things I felt were overlooked, such as the lack of thorough back-story on the current galactic map, and how things were divided between the Republic and First Order, as well as the lack of explanation as to how the First Order’s leader, Snoke, came to power and all but destroyed the Jedi Order. The end is also a bit of a cliffhanger, albeit not a bad one, but it does leave one important character as a relative cameo at the end. There are also so conspicuously unanswered questions, but that really is just more to hope for in the next films. Overall, these are relatively minor nitpicks in an otherwise great film.

The lightsaber has been passed to a new generation of heroes, and villains. The older generation is still around, but odds are they will be taking a back seat on this ride.

Overall, this is a great return for the Star Wars franchise. Is it above criticizing? No. It takes a few bold steps which might upset fans, and it doesn’t quite return us to the galaxy far, far away as we left it. And when you consider the mountains of expectation surrounding this film between the original story, and the dissatisfaction that most had after the prequels, this movie had a lot to live up to.  As a fan from early childhood, I can say with confidence that I walked away with a smile on my face. This movie is going back to the roots of what made the originals great: action, adventure, and the journey of a band of young heroes in a galaxy far, far away. 

Good:

-Great cast, old and new.

-New story feels like a natural and well-written continuation of the story from the original trilogy.

-Great use of special effects, with a sparing, but quality use of CGI only where needed to make sure the whole film feels immersive.

-Plenty of promise for future films that will continue to deliver characters and story that we want.

Bad:

-Few minor unanswered questions and potential missteps, depending on what you expect from this film.

Scully Rating: 9.5 out of 10