Logan Sork Film Reviews
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens
In 2012, Lucasfilm was purchased by the Walt Disney Company for the cool price of $4 billion dollars. With such a large chunk of change being invested into the company, a new series of Star Wars films was inevitable. As a result, the hype for Star Wars once again began to rise, as fans both old and young looked forward to seeing what the continuation of the story would look like in the hands of a creative team without the involvement of creator George Lucas. The first film in the new series would be The Force Awakens, a fun and thrilling, if somewhat familiar, start to the new trilogy.
Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens is written and directed by J.J. Abrams and is the seventh installment in the Star Wars Saga and the first film in the Sequel Trilogy. The film stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, and Lupita Nyong'o. The story takes place 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi, with the First Order rising from the ashes of the fallen Galactic Empire. They are combated by the Resistance, led by General Leia (Fisher), who is searching for her brother Luke (Hamill), who has vanished from the galaxy. Resistance soldier Poe Dameron (Isaac) in the process of recovering a map that will lead them to Skywalker when he is captured by Kylo Ren (Driver), an enforcer of the First Order. He escapes with the help of Finn (Boyega) a defective stormtrooper who smuggles the map out of enemy hands. As he makes his way across the planet Jakku, he meets Rey (Ridley) and together they set out to deliver the map to the Resistance so that Luke Skywalker can finally be found and restore peace to the galaxy.
The best part of this film is just how well it recaptures the simple fun of the earlier Star Wars films. The prequels, while entertaining in some ways, lacked the sense of fun that the original film brought to cinema. By dialing back on the complex story, Abrams is able to create a fast-paced action-adventure that doesn’t skip out on the fun imagination that makes Star Wars such a great franchise in the first place. The worlds and characters in this film feel more grounded and realistic as well, thanks to the reliance on real locations and practical effects. This gives the film a fantastical, yet also palpable feeling, something that the prequels that came before this film were sorely lacking. This film set out to recapture the magic of the first installment of the saga, and it achieved this that.
However, one could make the argument that Abrams did it a little too well. While the planets, characters, creatures, and vehicles that populate the film are indeed fun and creative, they do feel a bit too derivative of the first film. This especially holds true to the plot of the film, which is almost a play by play of the original. From the young person seeking a life away from a desert wasteland, to an army in control of a planet-destroying weapon, it’s almost like watching A New Hope albeit with a different skin. Despite my complaints with it though, there is nothing wrong with being similar to something else. Heck, the original Star Wars is just a medieval fairytale plot in space clothes. So, while there is an argument to be made in favor of similarities, I think a few differences in the plot and characters could’ve helped this film feel more original than it does.
That is not to say that this is a bad film. In fact, there are a number of great elements to be found here. One of these elements is the characters and the actors who portray them. While she may be a little to perfect at some things, Daisey Ridley is great as the new protagonist Rey. She exudes the same energy as Luke Skywalker from the original film while adding her own charm and mannerisms to make her a welcome addition to the franchise. Oscar Isaac is also great as Poe Dameron, an ace pilot who has very few scenes, but Isaac makes every moment count. The best newcomer however is easily Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren. Kylo is easily the most interesting character in the film, due not only to his conflicted nature but also the heritage from which he comes from. Driver is also great in the role, who is both physically imposing yet also somewhat vulnerable, making for a worthy villain who is much more than a scary mask. The legacy characters who return are also great. Harrison Ford IS Han Solo and it’s always great to see him play the character, who is much grouchier in this film due to his age which leads to a lot of great comedic moments.
The characters aren’t the only thing that give this film its energy, as the action sequences are superb in this film. Abrams is no stranger to great action films and he more than delivers here, showcasing a wide variety of traditional Star Wars action sequences that have been updated for a modern world. The shootouts are tense and engaging, as are the space battles, which are brought to life brilliantly by the talented VFX artists working on this film. Another standout is the lightsaber sequences, which feel like a mix of the gritty, realistic ones from the original trilogy and the highly kinetic, stylized ones seen in the prequels.
So, while the film may feel a bit too familiar in terms of story and characters, it also brings a lot to the table when it comes to recapturing the fun energy of the original film. The characters are a lot of fun, as are the actors playing them. The action is fast-paced and well-directed, employing both practical and digital effects to give it an edge, and the overall vibe of the film is just as fun as the original. While it would’ve been nice to get some new elements here, this film will satisfy fans of the Star Wars franchise, both old and new.
8/10