Star Wars: The Force Awakens

In the three decades following the defeat of the Galactic Empire, the First Order, led by the sinister Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis), has risen in its stead. It is opposed by The Resistance – the military wing of the Republic – led by princess-turned-general Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher). Leia’s brother Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the last Jedi, has disappeared, prompting ace Resistance pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) to obtain a map to his location. Poe is captured by the First Order, but not before passing the map off to his BB-8 droid for safekeeping. While he eventually receives aid from conflicted stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega), BB-8 joins up with Rey (Daisy Ridley), a desert scavenger. It isn’t long before they are all pursued by First Order forces under the auspices of the ruthless General Hux (Domhall Gleeson) and the dark warrior Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). However, an unexpected discovery brings some new allies into the fold.

As a cultural phenomenon and cross-media empire (pun not intended), Star Wars is nearly unparalleled in its ability to inspire fervor among its fans and generate lots and lots of money for its makers. Thus, from the moment this long-awaited sequel was confirmed, it became a virtual certainty that, win or lose, The Force Awakens would be a big deal. Fortunately, the timing could not have been better. This year already saw a successful revival of the Jurassic Park franchise, demonstrating that cinematic resurrection is sometimes more than wishful thinking. Add to that a director (J.J. Abrams, who also helmed the Star Trek reboot and its sequel) well-versed in both big-budget action and demanding fanbases, several credible new stars, and the return of many key contributors to the original series, and there was enough cause for a new hope (pun very much intended) despite gargantuan expectations.

The end product does its best to reward the faithful, but it’s also a satisfyingly entertaining film absent any philia or phobia toward the franchise. Those with no investment in Star Wars lore can still appreciate brisk pacing and exhilarating action – the aerial combat sequences in particular stand out – along with characters that are quite a bit more complex than they initially appear.

For those with any appreciation of the original films, however, the rewards multiply. For starters, The Force Awakens gets the look and feel down pat. Much of the action takes place on the dessert planet of Jakku, a gritty environ reminiscent of Tatooine. The returning cast members are older and grayer, but the essences of their characters remain intact. Harrison Ford’s Han Solo is still the quick-thinking rogue and Chewie is still….Chewie.

What elevates this film above mere nostalgic pandering, however, is the way in which old and new come together. The Force Awakens treats the leaders of the Resistance as near-mythical figures, and the newcomers must grapple accepting roles in a struggle that predates their own existence. Meanwhile, the antagonists look upon the Empire’s two most dreaded weapons – the Death Star and Darth Vader himself – as benchmarks to be surpassed. There is a sense of the changing of the guard here, but it’s done in such a way that does not dishonor the past but rather uses it to set up the future.

Despite this, there are those who will see this film as a little too derivative of the original. On a superficial level, it’s a valid charge, and that – plus a few too many contrived plotting coincidences – keeps The Force Awakens from being a perfect movie. It is, however, an immensely enjoyable one, and it’s a collective triumph for everyone involved.

8.75/10