Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens [M]

Thirty years after the fall of the Galactic Empire, a new threat has arisen and is attempting to rule the galaxy. The First Order, led by the sinister Supreme Leader Snoke, threatens galactic freedom. But just as before, a band of rebels known as The Resistance are working to overthrow the First Order and restore peace in the galaxy. Their first step towards achieving this goal is to find legendary Jedi, Luke Skywalker who has been missing for some years.  

Disclaimer: whilst I am going to try really hard not to give too much away in terms of spoilers for those who have not yet seen the film, I cannot guarantee that one or two hints may be dropped or inadvertently given away that may affect the experience of the film. If this does happen, I apologise in advance, but consider that you have been warned! 

For me, my own enjoyment of the movie was tarnished a little by colleagues and Facebook friends absolutely raving in caps lock how amazing the film was; one co-worker of mine said that he was transported back to being a 9 year-old boy watching Return of the Jedi. As a child having grown up with the original trilogy, I remember that feeling and was eagerly expecting to experience it again with Force Awakens, but sadly because so many people had already talked it up, the feeling just did not come. I went into the cinema expecting to be overwhelmed and emotionally stimulated and it just did not happen. 

However, this is not to say that Force Awakens is a disappointing movie, it’s far from it really. J. J. Abrams has remained very true to the feeling of the original Star Wars movies and thus the franchise. What is most pleasing about this film is that it is not over-saturated with special effects and computer graphics like the prequels were and there is a central focus on the power of characters and character chemistry, though sometimes the balance between the drama and the comedy does struggle. 

A solid and enjoyable amount of nostalgia is brought by the reappearance of some of our favourite characters from the original trilogy, namely that of Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Princess Leia. But while generations of Star Wars veterans are represented, the film is not exclusive towards Star Wars virgins. This movie works solidly as a story separate from the rest of the saga, with enough small and balanced information dumps so as to keep it linked as well as inform newcomers of the history of the franchise, possibly even pique their interest to go back and watch the originals. After all, these movies really have no expiration date! 

So summing up all the positives of this movie: it works both by itself as a film and as part of a long-running saga, the balance between CGI and character, makeup, and costume design is balanced very well, it’s inclusive to all audiences veterans and virgins alike, and Abrams’ goal of remaining true to the cinematic experience of the originals does result in a few episodes of time travel in which you are transported back to a younger age watching the original movies. Whilst I can’t say that I was as excited by this movie as my co-worker, certain scenes of it did enthral me and excite me like A New Hope and Empire did when I was a child. This is a major positive point. 

However, the film is not entirely without faults. As I mentioned earlier, the balance between the drama and the comedy struggled a bit at certain parts with a number of ‘comedic’ moments becoming very ham-fisted and forced simply because the narrative situation called for a joke. This is not to mention that some of the jokes that are done have already been done before in the prequels and they don’t really stand up. You laugh more out of the fact that you know you should rather than from a genuine tickling. 

The narrative flow, whilst more or less keeping a solid pace, did experience some moments where it stumbled or hit a wall and some poor narrative choices were made. The major one for me was the reveal of the villain, Kylo Ren’s, face. Before this happens, we are made aware of his true identity and intrigue and curiosity of his character is successfully piqued by his great mask and beautifully sultry and sinister villain voice. However, the mask comes off way too early in the film, which then takes a fair chunk of the mystery, suspense, and curiosity away from the character. If they had kept the mask on for longer and properly built up the curiosity and suspense, then the reveal would have had more of an impact I feel. 

Indeed, a fair amount of mystery is created and at the same time eradicated throughout the film. Without going in to too much detail and running the risk of spoilers, the central mystery surrounding the origins of our leading lady, Rey (played beautifully by Daisy Ridley), are created well through minute flashbacks but at the same time demolished as we get the feeling that a reveal similar to that of Empire might be around the corner. Admittedly, this is a problem that I‘m sure the writers saw coming what with Empire and Jedi revealing the familial interlinkings of our heroes, and they did do a good, solid job at trying to make it as ambiguous as possible it has to be said. 

The performances were all done well with each character having their own unique little story that work to bring the breadth to the film. We’ve got Rey, a sun-hardened heroine who is waiting on a barren, Tattooine-esque planet for life and love to return (more or less). Then there’s Finn played by John Boyega; a storm trooper who makes a choice at the film’s beginning. Boyega did the frightened but strong-willed hero very nicely. And then we have Kylo Ren, the deep-voiced and sinister villain with his red lightsaber, but a little less of an authoritative air as Vader. Still, he’s a pretty good villain and Adam Driver delivered a pleasing performance in the role. 

Starring Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Oscar Isaac, Pupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Max von Sydrow, Peter Mayhew, Gwendoline Christie, Andy Serkis, and Mark Hamill, Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens is a pleasing return to the cinematic experience of the original trilogy, which is what we were all hoping for after the prequels, but it’s not perfect. Admittedly, my enjoyment of it was tarnished by people raving about it and ramping up my expectations into a state that was impossible to satiate, but it does work both by itself and as part of the saga and it does at moments recapture that fun and rollicking-ness of the originals. 

Filled with action, adventure, space battles, drama, comedy, romance, and a healthy does of nostalgia, this is undoubtedly a good movie. I mean, it’s a Star Wars movie and as I’ve mentioned on many occasions, they just don’t expire.