Editor's Note. I asked serious young cinephile Shaun Heenan to send in a review of JJ Abrams new Star Wars movie. In his covering note Shaun mentioned "Some
of it may read like gibberish to those unfamiliar with those films, but I think
anyone with any interest at all will know what I'm talking about. The film
surprised me by sneaking into my top 5 for the year. I'll see it again as soon
as I get the chance."
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens has broken just about every box office record it could have, so
odds are if you care about it at all, you have already seen it. That said, I’ve
noticed people are being particularly touchy about ‘spoilers’ in reviews of
this film. These seem to include any sentence describing the characters,
premise or themes of the movie. I’m not going to go out of my way to ruin it
for people, but I am going to talk about the film I’m reviewing, so if you’re
at all concerned about learning too much, know that I recommend it very highly,
and stop reading. If you have ever cared about Star Wars, you need to see this film.
The first thing that hits you is the
aesthetic. Episode VII looks exactly
like the original three Star Wars movies. There’s a tactility to the special
effects which makes this feel like exactly what it is: a direct sequel to Return of the Jedi. In the years since
that trilogy ended, Luke Skywalker has gone into exile. Familiar faces return,
with Han Solo and Leia Organa played by the actors from the original films, but
the focus is on a new generation of characters who will join in the search for
Skywalker, as a group called the First Order threatens to follow in the footsteps
of the defeated Empire.
The film’s lead is Rey, played by relative
unknown Daisy Ridley. She’s joined by Finn, a defected Stormtrooper played by
John Boyega, and hotshot Rebel pilot Poe Dameron, played by the ever-reliable
Oscar Isaac. These three characters are played with a level of joy and enthusiasm
which makes us fall for them immediately. Gone is the stilted acting and wooden
dialogue of the prequel trilogy. These characters feel right at home in the
universe we remember. They act like Star
Wars characters, and it’s great to see them fitting in so well with the
original cast.
The other major new entrant is Kylo Ren
(Adam Driver), a First Order officer with Force powers and a familiar sense of
style. With his voice-changing mask and black cape, he has deliberately modeled
himself on Darth Vader, and his struggle to live up to the Sith Lord’s great
legacy offers some of the best moments in the film. I thought at first that he
seemed to be a poor substitute for Vader. Then I realised that’s exactly the
point. The film knows it, and the character knows it, and it’s tearing him
apart. Ren’s fight with a character I won’t name is perhaps the best lightsaber
battle in the entire franchise.
Now that the series has moved on from the
control of original director George Lucas, it has been passed along to people
who grew up loving the original movies, and who know how to replicate those
films. It could be argued that director J.J. Abrams has been too referential to
other movies in the series, but he’s done great things here, taking control of
the lore and adding to it in exciting ways. I can’t wait to see where the rest
of the series is going.
After the missteps of the prequel trilogy,
it’s an incredible relief to see Star
Wars feeling like itself again. This is the movie that Star Wars fans have been hoping for since 1983. With its witty
writing, fantastic action and successful additions to the canon, this isn’t
just a great Star Wars movie; it’s
one of the best films I’ve seen all year.
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