The Force Awakens feels like a movie on a mission at times. After the mixed and then increasingly disappointed reaction to creator George Lucas’s prequels, new director J. J. Abrams alongside co-writers Michael Ardnt and Lawrence Kasdan are well aware of the expectations the Star Wars fanbase- arguably one of the most dedicated, and often one of the most analytical and critical- has of them.
The result of their labor is a “back to basics” approach, with some moments that feel like tributes to narrative elements of A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. Once again there’s a new evil organization threatening the galaxy, and a new plucky band of heroes, among them a young, unassuming looking farmer with mysterious connections to the force, an ace pilot and a cute little android, band together to stop them.
There is something to be said for the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” philosophy, but thankfully this newest installment has unique aspects that should easily keep fans more than interested and anticipating Episode VIII. It’s a precarious approach by the filmmakers- there’re just enough nods to the original trilogy for older fans, balanced out with newer ideas and situations for both younger Jedis or just anyone hoping for some new things from the Star Wars franchise.
This time, the big intergalactic thread takes the form of the First Order, a malevolent offshoot of the old Empire. Led by the mysterious Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis), they’re searching desperately for the whereabouts of Luke Skywalker, who has understandably taken on a mythical status over the past thirty years. Hotshot pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar “That Dude” Isaac) is tasked by General Leia (a returning Carrie Fisher, tough and vulnerable as ever) with protecting the map that reveals Luke’s location, hiding the information inside a small plucky droid named BB-8.
Eventually, he’s joined by Finn (John Boyega), a former stormtrooper unable to commit to the Order’s evil actions, and Rey (Daisy Ridley), a junker from the sandy planet Jakku with Force sensitivity and technical expertise to boot. After escaping from enemy soldiers, they soon run into Han Solo (Harrison Ford, clearly having a lot of fun) and Chewbacca who bring them into contact with the rest of Leia’s resistance movement. From there they learn about the Order’s ultimate weapon, one arguably even more terrifying than the original Death Stars, and plan out a strategy to stop them.
The new dark lord and Snoke’s protege, Kylo Ren, is intentionally a completely different beast from Darth Vader. As a cruel masked man in black he’s obviously influenced by him visually, but he holds a shameful secret that the film gradually reveals and is also prone to fits of violent rage where he slashes around a three-pronged lightsaber. With a strong, complex performance from Adam Driver, he comes across petulant but still intimidating in spite of that, and his instability makes him an imposing presence.
Han and Chewie threaten to steal the show at certain points, providing a good deal of humor and also some of the major dramatic moments. And the humor, much like the old trilogy, is based around the banter among the cast as opposed to any cloying Jar Jar Binks style gags. The new heroes aren’t too shabby either- Boyega’s Finn is convincing in his quest for redemption, and he has great chemistry with his co-stars, Rey in particular. He gets some comedic moments, but they never result in a sense of mood whiplash.
Ridley as Rey is obviously being positioned as the “Luke” of this new trilogy, and her performance is empathetic enough to keep her from looking too overpowered. And maybe it’s just because I’m a mark for Oscar Isaac in general, but he makes Poe into an engaging and compassionate hero even while playing a supporting role to Finn, Han and Rey, and I’m definitely looking forward to learning more about his character over the next two films.
Dan Mindel’s cinematography highlights a mixture of CGI and practical effects based around sets, in a contrast from the overly digital look of the prequels. The moderate use of computer tech gives Force Awakens a more old school feel visually from the vast majority of blockbusters today, with most of the CGI saved for X-Wing dogfights and big planetary scenes.
This old school method also extends to the narrative as a whole- Abrams and company are hell bent on capturing as much of the original spirit of the first three films as possible, and the story moves along at a brisk, less complicated pace that is largely free of the heavy-handed politics of Phantom Menace. Its “less is more” feel almost reminded me of Mad Max Fury Road at points.
Even if The Force Awakens isn’t quite on the level of the original trilogy, it’s still the most engaging, funniest and emotional Star Wars movie in decades. It can get a little playfully fanservicey at points, but never to where it feels uncomfortable or distracts from the new storyline. I have nothing against the Chipmunks, the movies are what they are- but if your kids are at least eight and up (it may be too scary for anyone under that), I honestly think this would be a better choice for families this holiday season than Road Chip. Despite some dark and pretty intense moments, it also has a strong sense of optimism at its core and some very likable protagonists. Easily recommended- it’s a start, but what a start.