Star Wars VII – The Force Awakens (2015)
PG-13
5 Stars out of 5
Director J.J. AbramsWriter Lawrence Kasdan, J.J.Abrams, and Michael Arndt
Cinematography Daniel Mindel
Music John Williams
Harrison Ford Han Solo
Mark Hamill Luke Skywalker
Carrie Fisher General (nee Princess) Leia Organa
Adam Driver Kylo Ren
Daisy Ridley Rey
John Boyega Finn
Oscar Isaac Poe Dameron
Lupita Nyong’o Maz Kanata
Andy Serkis Supreme Leader Snoke
Domnhall Gleeson General Hux
Max von Sydow Lor San Tekka
Simon Pegg Unkar Plutt
Imagine the social and financial pressures on J.J. Abrams as
he labored to bring to life part VII of the Star Wars saga. After Disney
purchased Lucas Film (which included the saga) in 2010 for $4 billion, one knew
the drive to successfully re-boot the series would soon begin. George Lucas had
ideas for parts VII through IX and a recommendation for the director of VII;
only his director recommendation was adhered to, and thus Abrams got the job.
Based on the financial success of VII (fastest movie ever to reach $1 billion)
or the endless discussion of the movie’s fans on the internet, one could easily
believe that Abrams has done what the studio and the fans wanted: created an
exciting addition to the Star Wars saga, one that has left the fans desperate
for the next entry. However, Abrams has accomplished more than just excited the
fans, he has more than pleased the critics as well. “The Force Awakens” may
well use a script that is to some extent derivative to part IV – A New Hope
(1977), but he and fellow writer Lawrence Kasdan (writer for parts V and VI)
have infused this new edition with humor without destroying tone such as in part
I and the lamentable Jar Jar Binks; has brought back beloved characters from IV
– VI; has utilized FX to wonderful effect, has created a series of mysteries
that will keep the fans sitting on pins and needles until part VIII comes out;
and has directed his cast of returning stars and stars-to-be with easily the
best acting in the series to date. “The Force Awakens” is a treasure and a fine
reminder of the wonder that the movies can bring to the public.
“The Force Awakens” reprises many themes from “A New Hope”,
beginning with a secret message entrusted to the care of a “droid”. Max von
Sydow as the experienced and world-weary version of Obi wan Kenobi has come
into control of a map that promises to lead to the missing Luke Skywalker. Von Sydow’s
character, Lor San Tekka gives the chip containing the map to a Resistance
fighter pilot, Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) on this movie’s desert planet, Jakku.
Poe must quickly give the chip to this movie’s version of R2D2, BB-8, as the
encampment where the transfer of the chip has taken place is quickly over-run
by a platoon of vicious storm troopers; storm troopers now working for the
Empire’s replacement, The New Order. BB-8 flees into the desert, while amongst
the storm troopers a clearly troubled trooper pauses during the ensuing
slaughter. This trooper soon to be known as Finn (John Boyega) catches the eye
of this movie’s version of Darth Vader, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). BB-8 will soon
be saved as he runs into the wasteland by Rey (Daisy Ridley), a feminine
version of Luke in part VII. Finn and Rey will join forces to get the chip to
the Resistance. Along the way, they will encounter each of the three principles
from parts IV through VI (Harrison Ford as Han Solo, Carrie Fisher as General
Leia Organa, and Mark Hamill as Luke). They will also meet several new
characters; one of the most significant being Maz Kanata (Lupita Nyong’o) for
the good guys, while the emperor has been succeeded by Snoke (Andy Serkis). To
avoid too many spoilers, I will go no further in describing the plot;
sufficient to say, there are lots of light sabers, TIE fighters and action for
all lovers of this series of movies.
That Abrams and Kasdan have chosen to bring in so many
elements from “A New Hope” has created some level of criticism, but since they
have done it so artfully, I actually applaud their efforts. By using part IV as
a kind of framework to build on, Abrams and Kasdan have a kind of launch pad from
which to introduce a series of new characters and many new mysteries: who are
Rey’s parents and why was she left on Jakku, how was Snoke able to lure Kylo
Ren to the dark side, and the central adult component to the theme of the
series - in a universe of competing dualistic forces, can one force ever
achieve a final victory over the other. The mythic elements that Lucas used in
the parts IV through VI were the thoughtful parts of movie series that
otherwise was merely another exercise of moving the Western genre into the
Space Opera genre. When Lucas was able to bring in the elements of a fallen
father figure, his savior-like son, the fight of good and bad, and a variety of
similar themes again using the dualism concept, he was able to elevate the Star
Wars saga to a higher level of art than mere Space Opera. Sadly, he lost this
thread when he used parts I through III as little more than an introduction to
part IV. Having re-launched the series with such expertly controlled use of humor,
action plotting, acting, and reference to father/son relations during the
struggle between good and evil, it will be very interesting to see if part VIII
can continue the momentum.
“The Force Awakens” is an excellent addition to 2015’s
string of science fiction-based movies. Like “Mad Max: Fury Road” or “Ex
Machina”, “The Force Awakens” has shown that intelligent story telling can
fully utilize the science fiction genre to tell a story in a novel manner; and
in the case of “The Force Awakens” can tell the story with good use of humor, great
music (John Williams comes back for part VII), excellent special effects and
some very competent acting to tell the story in a fashion that can be both
commercially and artistically satisfying. 2015 may be the year when the leading
contenders for best picture at the Oscars will all come from the science
fiction genre. “The Force Awakens” is a movie just about anyone will not only
enjoy, but may well love.