Like most movie fans I too have been looking forward to the new Star Wars adventure, though perhaps less optimistically than most. For me only IV and V — A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back — are really good. And two out of six is not a very good percentage. Happily, this new adventure harkens back to the original vision that George Lucas presented to the world, and takes its place as the third best entry in the blockbuster series that popularized science-fiction once and for all.
J. J. Abrams’ film is, essentially, a remake of A New Hope, with better effects, greater diversity and the warmth of nostalgia provoked by a gap of thirty-eight years. As Spectre does with the James Bond series, glimpses of the past, of cinematic legacy, are all over the place, ready to be recognized by fans. Yet the film doesn’t depend on nostalgia to make its mark; the action and characterizations are vivid, and far, far more effective than Lucas’ own trio of plodding prequels.
The Force Awakens is nicely paced for most of its 135 minutes. I wish it had been a little bit longer, to fill in a few story gaps (gaps which will undoubtedly be addressed in the adventures planned for 2017 and 2019). I would have liked to have seen more of hot-shot fighter pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac, more charismatic than ever before), and anything more involving Rey (the wonderful Daisy Ridley) would have been welcome. On the other hand, I’m not a fan of the plot line involving the grown son of a pair of very familiar faces; I simply do not believe that their child would grow up to be such a punk.
The movie does a great job weaving the old familiar faces into the galactic-strife tapestry it weaves, but it begs the question regarding the state of said galaxy. How can it be that in so short a time after the defeat of the Empire evil is once again consuming the universe? Don’t these people (and species) understand how awful oppression and war will be? Can’t they stop the proliferation of storm troopers — people bred solely to fight — and the destruction of entire planets without having to rely on a “Resistance?” Of course, there would be no movie if they did, but still . . .
John Williams’ music is good, though it isn’t the powerhouse score for which I had been hoping. I was surprised that the familiar faces were as involved in the story as they are. The new droid (BB-8) is adorable. I was trepidatious about Disney’s involvement with the series, but this seems Lucas-approved all the way, in his mold but without his near-sightedness. It is a thrilling, fun movie that begs to be seen more than once, one which will make a mint, but also provide happiness to the series’ myriad fans. It’s been 32 years since Return of the Jedi, but this film is worth the wait. ☆ ☆ ☆ 1/2. 26 December 2015.