Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers. For those who plan on seeing the movie and don’t want to know anything about it before going in — this article is not for you.
First off, wow. As I left the theatre in the thunderous roar of applause I didn’t know what to say. The movie was fantastic. It was Star Wars for new generation but included so much from the original trilogy that it made the movie special for original fans.
For those wondering, no Jar Jar Binks is NOT in this movie. Disney recognized that the movie could include comedy — which was quite funny at times — without having the idiotic gungan running around messing everything up.
Disney and J.J. Abrams did a fantastic job of making a classic Star Wars movie that includes the following: A villain who was once good but is now blindly guided by a tyrant, a hero who doesn’t recognize their full potential/destiny (comparing Luke Skywalker and Rey) and has some family connection to the villain, a smuggler/rogue fighter who helps the hero, some kind of love interest, a droid that thinks it’s funny but is also somehow beneficial to the protagonists, some pretty awesome lightsaber battles and a trash compactor. We’ve seen it all before, but we can’t get enough of it.
While including these classic elements, J.J. Abrams did a great job of making the movie. Having one the main characters — Finn — be a rogue stormtrooper was a unique and new idea. While dropping bombshells like Kylo Ren being the daddy issue ridden son of Han Solo and Leia and that Rey had some connection with The Force made a name a name for Abrams the Star Wars directing legacy.
The Force Awakens did what the original and prequel trilogies wanted to do just with sophisticated CGI. No forced and creepy love interest, no over the top locations, and no Michael Bay-esque battles. Abrams did everything right.
The only gripes I have with the help movie are Ren’s cheesey lines towards Han, and the fact that HAN SOLO DIES (seriously if this a surprise to you, why are you reading the article? I warned you). The movie’s plot holes may have been minimal, but they were there none the less.
Relationship development between characters was also somewhat rushed, but will most likely be developed further in later movies. Lastly, the actual battles between the Resistance and the First Order also seems slightly overlooked or put on the back burner. The catastrophe of this war was ten times worse than that of the original trilogy. These mass genocides enforced by the First Order is what drives Finn to rebel, and could have been shown more so the viewer may understand how things have only gotten worse in this galaxy far, far away.
Other than that, I was extremely satisfied. I was willing to overlook these very minor flaws to truly enjoy a good Star Wars movie from the 21st century (I’m talking to you Star Wars Episode II-III).
I always grew up watching Star Wars — it was a part of my childhood. Whether it’s my third, fourth … or seventh time watching The Force Awakens, it will always hold a special place in my heart, and will be just as exciting as the first time I saw it. Even if you have never seen Star Wars, I highly recommend you go to see it. The Force Awakens has something for everyone.
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