Star Wars The Force Awakens review: J.J. Abrams delivers the best Star Wars film since The Empire Strikes Back…
Star Wars The Force Awakens review
Star Wars The Force Awakens review by Paul Heath, December 2015.
It is perhaps the most anticipated film of the year? Or is that decade? Millennium so far? It was certainly nerve-racking sitting in a packed London cinema on a very cold, wet December evening, sodden from the pouring rain from the queue outside, where we, and the UK’s press, awaited entry to see if J.J. had managed to reignite the Star Wars franchise for new owners, Disney.
We were nervous for him, for us, and for the millions of fans around the world as the lights went out and the famous Lucasfilm Ltd branding lit up the giant IMAX screen before us. Three years in the making, but thirty plus years in the waiting; this is the one we’d all been waiting for. This one had to deliver. It had to be a good. Should we have worried?
Not at all.
This is the Star Wars film you’ve all been waiting for.
Star Wars The Force Awakens review
With a new artist painting on a blank canvas, Abrams and co. have managed to blend old with new; nostalgia with continuation, developing existing legends and absolutely nailing it in setting up the start of an exciting new trilogy of movies (at least) in the Star Wars saga.
Set thirty years after the events of Return Of The Jedi, Star Wars: The Force Awakens starts off in familiar fashion. Following the customary opening, Abrams and fellow screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan (an alumni from the original trilogy) waste no time in introducing their new characters; from the villainous Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), to new heroes Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and the front and centre, and extremely strong, Daisy Ridley (Rey) and John Boyega (Finn).
Star Wars The Force Awakens review
The stunning first scene plays like an elaborate Bond opening; a thrilling action set piece that will get your heart pumping at an alarming rate, and leave you absolutely breathless. Then it’s light-speed ahead as we’re catapulted into hyperspace on a familiar voyage to the far reaches of this very familiar time, in a galaxy far, far away. The plot itself is best left untold for one to experience as we did, with no knowledge or expectation as to what will be hurtled your way in the two-hour plus duration. One thing that is for sure; you’ll be expected to endure relentless action set-pieces, mid-air dog fights, escape plots, wonderful characters (old and new), plot twists and curve-balls, and pretty much every emotion there is.
Abrams has clearly crafted his first Star Wars movie with lots of heart and tremendous care, very much like he did with his other big space saga, Star Trek. The quality on show here is on a different level, with the added benefit of having Kasdan as the old-hand wing-man; a Star Wars saga veteran whose many trademarks, plot-twists and witty dialogue are plastered all over it. Abrams’ direction is fast-paced, sometimes a little too fast-paced, but well-balanced throughout with very little drag and fat on the bone.
Star Wars The Force Awakens review
The accomplished director, a self-confessed Star Wars fan, goes for sweeping vistas of physical locations rather than the CGI option which George Lucas over-employed in the prequels; taking in Abu Dhabi for the sand-drenched deserts of Jakku, as well as ocean-swept lands, snow terrains and leafy forest locations very reminiscent of Return Of The Jedi, but in no way connected. His affection for the saga is apparent with gentle nods to the original trilogy on show, but in no way over-done. The beats are sometimes formulaic, but it’s a formula we all love, so why drastically change it? Besides, there’s enough new direction to brush any similarities in the plot.
With such a difficult task on his hands, Abrams has somehow managed to deliver the goods. While some may say that the film feels very repetitive of past installments, which may be true, the talented filmmaker does manage to tick all of the boxes. This was such a hard job to take. I cannot remember a film that has had so much anticipation before release. Even the prequels were films that had a story that were already mapped out. They had a definite ending; a definite place to get to plot wise; we all knew how it would end. This is brand new territory. This is the future; it’s exciting, and as we said, it’s a very blank canvas with many roads to choose to take. Abrams has brilliantly taken the right one.
Star Wars The Force Awakens review
The acting is also top-drawer. Gone is the cheesy dialogue witnessed in the Lucas-penned prequels; there isn’t even a hint of it from the new players in this new instalment. Every new actor is virtually flawless in their execution with particular stand-outs being the aforementioned John Boyega and Daisy Ridley, the latter commanding a very strong lead female character reminiscent of Carrie Fisher’s performance as Princess Leia in 1977. The actress appears once again, this time as General Leia, as does Harrison Ford as Han Solo, a slightly weary, though equally witty figure still running around the galaxy with sidekick Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) thirty years on. Ford is simply wonderful in every scene he’s in, perfectly balancing wit with wonder and quick one-liners; every bit as brilliant as you’d hope.
Then there’s BB-8; every bit the character Jar Jar Binks should have been. Adorable, ever-present and key to the story. Kids will love him. C3PO, R2D2 and many other familiar faces show up throughout, and there are many other surprises which will delight, excite and shock in equal measure.
The film will have you grinning from ear-to-ear throughout and punching the air as the thrilling ending approaches; the film very much a first part in a very exciting new trilogy with traces of the ending of The Empire Strikes Back, arguably the best Star Wars film in the series to which this comes a very close second. Despite not having the customary post-credits sting like we’ve seen in the movies of Disney’s other big brand, Marvel, Star Wars: The Force Awakens may just have the best end scene of any movie. Ever. It brilliantly set-up Rian Johnson’s upcoming Episode VIII.
Star Wars The Force Awakens review
Exciting, rewarding, out-of-this-world, thrilling, and absolutely surreal in seeing our favourite characters back on the big screen thirty years on; Star Wars is very much back. Every bit as brilliant as you’d want it to be. See it! Then, see it again. We’ll see you there.
Believe the hype. It’s true. All of it.
Star Wars The Force Awakens review by Paul Heath, Decemnber 2015.
Star Wars The Force Awakens opens in UK cinemas on December 17th, 2015, and US cinemas from December 18th.
