It has finally arrived, the highly anticipated seventh chapter of the Star Wars saga has hit theaters everywhere. For many fans, there is no better place for the holiday season and the year to end than in a galaxy far, far away. The new film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, returns to audiences to familiar space while still pushing the beloved franchise forward. The Force is strong with director J.J. Abrams, masterfully balancing humor, action and wonder as viewers embark on this adventure. Being an avid Star Wars fanboy for over 21 years, I am proud to announce that the movie lives up to my very high expectations.
The hype for this latest installment has been steadily rising since The Walt Disney Company acquired Lucasfilm (for a staggering $4 billion) in 2012 and vowed to continue making new Star Wars films. I have personally been following every scrap of news, painstakingly analyzing each trailer frame-by-frame and speculating endlessly. Over the past few months, my excitement for The Force Awakens has bordered on obsessive, somewhat mirroring the film’s extremely zealous marketing. For essentially anyone with a pulse, it has been almost impossible to be unaware of this film’s release. It is certainly no surprise that Star Wars has vaporized box office records much like the Death Star did to the planet of Alderaan.
The newest segment of the epic space tale picks up 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi (1983), showing what has become of the iconic heroes and introducing some new ones. The movie feels very much at home with the tone of the original trilogy, even paralleling some story elements from A New Hope (1977). The Force Awakens does a fantastic job of creating a sense of nostalgia that flows organically with the story. Each “legacy cast member", as they were referred to during filming, is reintroduced in very fitting ways; Han, Chewie, Leia, Luke, the droids and the Millennium Falcon (a character unto itself) are all integral to the plot of the movie. Seeing these characters again is such a fulfilling feeling for fans both young and old.
The new characters also tie in excellently with the series, providing some fresh faces and storylines to the Star Wars universe. John Boyega delivers an engaging and at times humorous performance as Finn, a Stormtrooper with a change of heart. Rey, played by Daisy Ridley, is an extremely strong and self-sufficient scavenger turned unexpected hero from the desert world of Jakku. Other notable performances include Oscar Isaac as the fearless resistance pilot Poe Dameron and Lupita Nyong’o as the Yoda-esque computer generated Maz Kanata character. The film’s main antagonist Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) embodies a more immature and entitled villain than Darth Vader, a figure who Kylo idolizes.
What truly stands out about this movie is the brilliant balance between CG and conventional effects, there are stunning visuals as well as practical sets and retro creatures designs. The film’s music is also worth pointing out, the legendary John Williams once again created a epic and moving score, using familiar themes and beautiful new compositions. Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a remarkable cinematic experience, evident by my three viewings, that induces a childlike sense of wonder. To me, Star Wars is a way of life; it is more than the merchandise, marketing or the hype, it is about the absolute feeling of joy.
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