A No-Spoilers Review of Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Short version: Wow...that was fun!
Longer version: JJ Abrams faced an almost impossible task: Please die-hard fans while making a movie that everyone can enjoy. In my opinion, I think he's done it.
The film is exciting, fun, funny in enough spots without being cutesy, and dramatic without being melodramatic. The special effects are thoroughly impressive (I especially appreciated Abrams' decision to rely more on physical effects than go 100% CGI) and the acting is tremendous nearly start to finish. I hate to say it, but Rey (played by Daisy Ridley) really does outshine pretty much everyone in the film. She's simply fantastic.
How does it compare to the rest of the films? Well, far better than I, II, and III, although that's really not hard to do. Abrams managed to let the actors act while telling a story that's simple enough to understand without knowing all the backstory, but compelling enough to keep even uber-fans engaged. I would say it's on par with IV (A New Hope).
Things I enjoyed most about the film were (a) the new characters -- Ridley, John Boyega, and Adam Driver were all really strong additions to the cast -- and (b) the sense that this movie was made to both celebrate and extend the original trilogy without getting too hung up in the political and plot complexities of the prequels. The one disappointing thing was the original trio -- Fisher, Ford, and Hamill seemed a bit tired, to be honest. Ford pulls out a good performance, but Fisher's acting felt kind of flat and uninspired. But, maybe that's for the best, as it let the new kids shine in their spotlight.
All told, I would heartily recommend The Force Awakens to both superfans and the casually curious. I'm also happy to say that it's probably safe for kids as young as 7 or 8, since there's nothing more violent than people being shot by laser blasters (think "battle of Hoth" level violence)...certainly nothing as upsettingly graphic as the Anakin/Obi-Wan battle on Mustafar. So, go see it, and take your kids...you'll have fun.
Completely agree about Daisy Ridley!
ReplyDeleteBut I want spoilers!
ReplyDeleteShe was amazing! Ford held his own...
ReplyDeleteReally great. Maybe better than Empire.
It's going to require a repeat viewing, probably several. There's too much to take in during one viewing. I probably won't see it again in the theater just due to the cost factor, but it's definitely one I'll be buying once it comes out for home video.
ReplyDeleteSounds like it might go and see it next week then. Maybe the lines will be down by then?
ReplyDeleteLars DeRuntz I expect the lines to be pretty much gone as of Monday. This weekend will likely be crazy.
ReplyDeleteJust got out a few minutes ago. And I pretty much entirely agree with your review. My tldr is 'squee' Daisy is without doubt the star of the show.
ReplyDeleteYes, Fisher was a little flat. Ford was about right. Hamill hit the mark just right, I thought. I had no problem with them stepping back. Would have been a little disappointed if the new guys were the second fiddle.
The realism was what hit me. The battle scenes were intense and things moved when you hit them. A flying personnel carrier lands and a bunch of soldiers jump out. I've never really felt like that looked dirty and dusty and real in any of the other films like it did here.
The pathos was the best of any of the films, with the possible exception of Empire, but it's every bit as good as that. All in all, I loved it.
So the movie is not rated PG 13? That is interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest complaint that I have heard about this film is that it does not bring anything new to the table, Star Wars-wise. What do you think about that?
Patrik Hanson Nothing new?? First Order, new characters both good and bad, there's a lot new. That it feels old is more that the plot is comfortably familiar.
ReplyDeleteCraig Froehle - Well, that is what I have heard/read.
ReplyDeleteBy anything new?
ReplyDeleteDo we mean lens-flare or something not in the Star Wars canon?
Remember that just because there has only been six previous movies made...there's still this universe of history already written for Star Wars...
I'm fine to wait and see it for myself and see if some of things written come to pass.
Lars DeRuntz The new canon or the old canon? AFAIK, Disney redefined what "canon" means w/r/t Star Wars when it purchased the franchise, and a lot of that history has been de-canonized.
ReplyDeleteExactly...
ReplyDeleteI'm not a huge Star Wars fan so it isn't critical that I know.
It just goes to show you how complex this has gotten.
Lars DeRuntz It's only complicated if you really care about understanding everything. If you're OK with just dismissing the bits that require deep knowledge to comprehend, then it's just a cowboy serial about a family.
ReplyDelete"I would say it's on par with IV (A New Hope)"
ReplyDeleteI would say that it was a massive homage to it, almost a reboot. That certainly isn't a bad thing.
It's very difficult to write without spoiling, but Boyega's character development certainly brought something new, at least to the film franchise.
I couldn't comment on Hamill and I agree with your view of Fisher's acting but I felt that Ford was very comfortable in the old jacket. It was the best performance I've seen from him in a long time.
Ridley is definitely the star of the cast, but Boyega comes a close second.
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There were a couple of parts of the film that were a bit lacklustre and to some degree it reminded me of a Stephen King plot. A lot of build up and then a rush to finish. The unmasking of Kylo Ren was a bit hasty and could have waited until the scene on the bridge.
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I'd rate it as almost as good as A New Hope, maybe on a par with Return of the Jedi, which would slot it in at joint third (or a close fourth) on my list of Star Wars films.
Princess Leia should have stopped smoking. You can hear how it's ruined her voice. Kids don't smoke or you'll end up speaking like Princess Leia!
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