Darick T. Earney
Associate Editor
In a galaxy not so far away, Star Wars fans celebrate the comeback of some of their favorite intergalactic heroes in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” released December 18, 2015.
“Force Awakens” was directed by J.J. Abrams, whose recent work includes “Super 8” and “Star Trek: Into Darkness”, with a screenplay penned by veteran Star Wars screenwriter, Lawrence Kasdan (“Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi”).
The film stars newcomers Daisy Ridley and John Boyega, are accompanied by seasoned actors Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, and Adam Driver.
With a brand new cast of fresh faces, there are some who have returned to the saga including Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Kenny Baker, Anthony Daniels, and Peter Mayhew.
Beginning on the desert planet of Jakku, “Force Awakens” begins when a Resistance pilot named Poe Dameron (Isaac), collects a missing map piece that leads to Luke Skywalker, who has been in hiding for 30 years, following the events of “Return of the Jedi.”
After Dameron retrieves the artifact from a friend of the Resistance, a rebel group run by Princess Leia (Fisher), Members of the First Order, the arch rivals of the Resistance, arrive to arrest Dameron, forcing him to hide the map piece inside a droid named BB-8.
The next day, a young scavenger named Rey (Ridley) struggles to survive on Jakku, earning her living by selling scrap metal for food rations, when she meets BB-8.
Making friends with BB-8, Rey swears to protect him until they find Dameron, who has been freed by a renegade Stormtrooper named Finn (Boyega), and so the journey begins.
Verdict: 3 Reels.
Overall, I’d say “The Force Awakens” was a fun Star Wars film, and probably the most fun movie I’d seen in the year 2015. It had a great adventure to take its viewers on, and loads of excitement, introducing compelling new characters whose journey I can’t wait to see continued in the sequels to come.
While viewers are given new and likable characters to get to know, the core plot of the movie does seem to lack in places where fans have found that the story it tells is almost a rehashing of ideas that were already covered in the first trilogy:
“The saying that history repeats itself comes to mind,” English Professor, Francis Corby said. “Life can do this as well. I personally thought it was brilliant how the movie mirrored Episode 4. The story fits into the ‘Star Wars’ puzzle.”
However, I think “Force Awakens” does come through when trying to capture the feeling of a Star Wars movie. The music, provided by John Williams, the special effects, and set pieces do a wonderful job taking the fans back to their childhood:
Corby continues, “I was very excited. I am 41 years old, and I felt like I was 11 again when the gold script scrolled from the screen for ‘The Force Awakens.’”
Finally, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” may not be the best of the saga, but it sets up for a sequel very nicely, hence why I’m giving it 3 out of 4 reels. It’s safe to say the Force is strong with this one!
