In a muted theater swelling with anticipation, the phrase “a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…” materializes before a starry backdrop and a familiar sense of wonder and nostalgia floods through us. John Williams’ orchestral swell brings cheers as the title crawl engulfs the screen, quickly relaying 30 years of history that fills the gap between Return of the Jedi and J.J. Abrams’ newest entry, The Force Awakens.
From set design to wardrobe, Abrams goes into painstaking detail to recreate the look and feel of the Star Wars universe. In contrast to the sterile, computer-generated imagery that permeated Lucas’ prequel trilogy, Abrams’ world looks dirty and lived in, a perilous galaxy of fantastical aliens where good and evil lurks around every corner. The magic of the Force is back without all the political embargoes, quasi-religious overtones, and movie-science jargon, giving us a happy balance between old and new.
Related Articles
Both a reboot and a sequel, The Force Awakens shifts its focus from Luke, Han, and Leia as it introduces us to the next generation of Star Wars characters. The original cast has aged perfectly into their new roles: Harrison Ford’s Han Solo is still a dashing rogue, while Hamill and Fisher seem appropriately weathered.
Just as Abrams retooled the Star Trek franchise in 2013 for a new generation of viewers, The Force Awakens brings us a stable of talented, fresh faces who’ve stepped into familiar roles. Daisy Ridley, playing a strong female protagonist, perfectly fits into the role once inhabited by Hamill. John Boyega, whose only other credited film role is in the underappreciated Attack the Block,perfectly captures the spirit of the Star Wars universe as a charming, funny, and guarded former Stormtrooper who abandons the First Order. Oscar Isaac, one of the best new actors around, gives glimpses of a star-turning performance. While he’s sadly underused in this film, hopefully he’ll be given more to do in future installments. And Adam Driver absolutely steals the film as Kylo Ren, the franchise’s most interesting villain ever. With a prestigious lineage, Ren is a conflicted, arrogant character who seethes with angst and frustration. Contrasted with the menacing Darth Vader, Driver’s Ren is deeply conflicted by his fear of not being able to live up to what he believes to be his destiny.
Sadly, Adams’ fresh cast of charismatic, young actors deserve a stronger script to work with. Even with the help of former Star Wars scribe Lawrence Kasden, the narrative is a retread of the original 1977 offering, A New Hope. For instance, Lucas’ original Empire and The Rebellion are now the First Order and the Resistance, and instead of blowing up the Death Star, this time the heroes have to destroy an entire planet. The filmmakers cherish their source-material to a fault, resulting in a story that feels like a pastiche of iconic scenes instead of anything fresh or original.
And, the story’s faults notwithstanding, Abrams is just plain frustrating as a filmmaker. His flair for fast-paced, visual set pieces doesn’t make up for his lack of ability to tell a complete story. He relies on vague backstories and McGuffins to drive the storyline, resulting in a film that’s fun and engaging in the moment, but doesn’t hold any dramatic weight.
Overall, though, Star Wars: The Force Awakens succeeds. Its stripped down action adventure plot and its talented cast pay proper homage to its space opera roots. And its nostalgic sense of the past is a new beginning with the promise of more exciting episodes for years to come.
-Mike
