Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

 (2015)

A Review by Grant Kanigan

Directed by: J.J. Abrams

Written by: J.J. Abrams, Michael Arndt

                & Lawrence Kasdan, based on 

                characters created by George Lucas

Starring: Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher,

            Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, 

            John Boyega, Adam Driver, 

            Oscar Isaac and Domhnall Gleeson

Rating: PG

Release Date: December 18th, 2015

Daisy Ridley, John Boyega & BB-8 outrun the Dark Side in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Image Source

Note: I saw the newest addition to the Star Wars franchise with no knowledge of the plot; this is the best way to experience the film. For those who haven't yet seen the film, spoilers are clearly marked below.

     Star Wars has always been a cultural phenomenon that ignores the socially imposed biases of gender, race, or culture. While the oft compared Star Trek has it's own legion of devotees, (myself among them), Star Wars fans have seemed more rabid, more excitable, and in some ways, more willing to accept fantasy than the average filmgoer. More often than not, this works in their favor - the original trilogy of films showed that good can overcome evil, in the face of overwhelming terror - a metaphor that could be applied to the widest real world situations, (a generation with WWII and it's implications still fresh in it's parents' minds), and gave hope to a generation, and generations to come. Not only did its fresh take on the oldest of stories, (David versus Goliath), give Star Wars a lasting impact, but it's technical prowess, it's imaginative power, and all around good storytelling made it a film like no other. The audience could tell that an entire galaxy existed outside of the borders of the original three films. Yet, this willingness to escape into fantasy also led to the worst cinematic experience in decades.
     Capturing the vitality, wonderment, and innocence of the Star Wars universe which he created, George Lucas exploited his fantasy loving fan-base into a multi-billion dollar piggy-bank, selling toys, video-games and the like, culminating in the three worst films of the twentieth century; the "prequel" Star Wars trilogy. Don't kid yourself - with a global total of  $2,525,197,773.00 - the prequel trilogy was made for one thing; money. That's just from ticket sales as well, the film likely made a few billion more off of merchandising deals, toy sales, and whatever else Lucasfilm could sell for a profit. It's not like people were wanting to know more about fictional politics, fictional medicine, (what the hell is a midi-chlorian?), or how Darth Vader became so evil - the mystery was one of the great aspects of A New Hope. Lucas could have tried to give us something interesting or important with his prequel trilogy. Instead, George Lucas sold out the love and hope of his original trilogy for a blank check, cashed in via the crushed hopes and dreams of Star Wars fans everywhere. It was with this sense of loathing and betrayal I entered J.J. Abrams' Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, with the lowest of expectations.

[Spoilers Below] 

     Star Wars: The Force Awakens follows its original characters into a new universe of fresh faces; after failing to prevent one of his students from going to the Dark Side, (Adam Driver's brilliantly moody Kylo Ren), Luke Skywalker, (Mark Hamill), has exiled himself to the furthest edge of the Galaxy. During Skywalker's absence, the Empire, now known as the First Order, has risen to rule the galaxy with a fascistic fist. Wanting to prevent another inter-galactic catastrophe, Princess Leia, (Carrie Fisher), now a general in the Rebel army, sends her best X-Wing pilot, Poe Dameron, (Oscar Isaac), to find her brother, who can help restore order in the 'Force' and the galaxy as a whole. During his mission gone awry, the audience is introduced to a few more characters; Rey, (Daisy Ridley), a young woman and natural pilot who lives on the desolate Sahara-like planet Jakku; Finn, (John Boyega), a Stormtrooper, who has a crisis of conscience and decides to rebel against his oppressive leaders, one of which is the deliciously venomous General Hux, (Domhnall Gleeson), and finally, Han Solo and Chewbacca, (Harrison Ford and Peter Mayhew, respectively). It's an impressive ensemble, and a testament to Abrams' directorial ability that he's able to balance each into a tricky story. It's easy to let a franchise do the heavy lifting, and not have to worry about complex performances, yet Abrams and co. are defiant to expectations.
      Each character in The Force Awakens shines, and the fresh faces are the most exciting. John Boyega is delightful as an inexperienced young man who realizes his dark past is part of his character, but doesn't let that stop him from doing the right thing. Oscar Isaac, in somewhat of a smaller role, fits into the heroic and brave persona with absolute ease, which is impressive, as he's played introspective and unlikable characters in his past films, (Inside Llewyn Davis, The Two Faces of January & Ex Machina). Adam Driver, best known for his comedic work in Girls, What If and While We're Young, is intelligently cast against type as the fanatical and evil Kylo Ren; a sociopathic, millennial version of Darth Vader. Finally, Daisy Ridley, as Rey, a Luke Skywalker-esque character, is a brilliant, rollicking hero of a character, vulnerable in her optimism, but strong in her conviction and self worth. It's refreshing to see such a feminist icon in a mainstream film, and not have the fact she's a woman be the most important aspect of her character. I might even go so far as to say she's more interesting and relatable than Mark Hamill's iconic Luke Skywalker. All in all, the cast in The Force Awakens is the most surprising and enjoyable part of a film that doesn't sit on the shoulders or rest on the laurels of it's solid predecessors, (Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher & Mark Hamill, who are also brilliant in their roles).

[Spoilers Above]

     Not only is the capable ensemble a welcome surprise; but also the script and direction. Working from his own script with the help of scribes Michael Arndt and Lawrence Kasdan, Abrams crafts a whip-smart script that, while paying respects to the original, doesn't come off as a cheap copy or clone of the original Star Wars. Abrams, like he did with his take on the Star Trek franchise, is able to take cues from the marketing/financial department, and turn it into cinematic wonderment. However, unlike Star Trek, Abrams' Force Awakens is not only a brilliant cinematic achievement, but a wondrous film in and of itself. As a singular film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a taut, intelligent, original film that simultaneously expresses fantastical wonderment and real world implications. Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the best big budget exercise in decades, restores faith in the Star Wars franchise and is arguably the best Star Wars film since 1980's The Empire Strikes Back. Abrams effortlessly goes from comic to solemn, funny to terrifying and heart-warming to heart-wrenching. While I've always liked Abram's films, they've always had an unwelcome tinge of homage and big-budget ideals. Ironically, with The Force Awakens, Abrams has made a film that is truly his own, that is enjoyable, fantastical and emotional in all it's surround sound, visually explosive glory. After the mess of the prequel trilogy, Abrams has given those of us who dream in fictional worlds and optimistic ideals something rare - a new hope.

GRANT'S RATING: 5/5 Stars

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Official Teaser Trailer #2