As it turns out, The Force Awakens was absolutely fantastic.
Abrams has managed to recapture the magic of the original films, while also giving the new instalment its own unique look and tone. The use of mostly practical effects and sets after Lucas' unsuccessful foray into the world of green screens and God-awful CGI was a breath of fresh air, giving the film a much more realistic feel, whilst also making it easier for the audience to suspend their disbelief and to truly invest in the story. In saying this, the few occasions CGI was used in the film were tastefully done and for the most part, not overpowering. The only exception I would take with the filmmakers in this regard was the almost cartoonish appearance of Supreme Leader Snoke, played by motion capture maestro Andy Serkis. Though not a major issue, mostly due to Snoke's very limited screen-time, it does stand out as looking overly-animated and not in keeping with the more natural look of the rest of the film.
As mentioned, part of what made this new instalment in the Star Wars saga work was the way Abrams and company have managed to seamlessly combine the old with the new, and this is reflected in the performance of the cast and there respective roles in the film. First and foremost, the next generation of Star Wars heroes shine in The Force Awakens. Daisy Ridley is absolutely fantastic as our heroine, Rey. A typical Star Wars protagonist, she is a peculiarly quirky and adventurous character while also being incredibly headstrong and brave. It is great to see a strong female character take centre stage in the franchise, especially with the film industry currently being very much a male dominated market place in terms of leading roles. Hopefully the success of this character will lead the way for more female-lead projects to start appearing on our screens over the next few years, as Rey is quite frankly more entertaining and, in some ways, more relatable across the board than any other blockbuster lead we have seen in some time.
In saying this, Ridley's male co-stars more than hold up their end of the bargain. John Boyega excels as Finn, a former stormtrooper who wants to escape the First Order (who have risen from the ashes of the previously defeated Empire) and get as far away from them as possible. Finn is a very flawed character, one who has a great moral compass yet is just too fearful to even contemplate fighting alongside the Resistance at first. All Finn wants to do is run as far away as possible. Boyega's balanced performance perfectly translates Finn's inner turmoil throughout the feature, and his character arch is perhaps the most interesting out of all the character's in The Force Awakens. Adam Driver plays the mysterious Kylo Ren, a student of the dark side of the force. Revelations about Ren's backstory come thick and fast throughout The Force Awakens and, while it may still be too early to tell, he may prove to be the most compelling villain in the franchises entire history. In saying this, not every character received the proper development they should have been given, with Resistance fighter Poe Dameron and the First Order's Captain Phasma, both of whom were featured heavily in the promotion of the film, feeling slightly shortchanged in terms of their individual screen-time. Both Oscar Isaac and Gwendoline Christie are exceptionally strong actors, as proven by their work in Ex Machina and Game of Thrones respectively, and it would have been nice to see them given the opportunity to do something more with these roles.
A special mention has to be given to the MVP of this film, and that is Hollywood icon Harrison Ford, who returns to the role of Han Solo more than thirty years after the release of 1983's Return of the Jedi. This isn't the case of an actor coming back to a part he made famous and giving us a cheap and dispassionate imitation of what came before (i.e. Bruce Willis in Die Hard 3 and beyond) but an actor who cares both about the material he has been given and about the legacy he wants to leave behind with one of the most iconic characters he has played in his career. What Ford manages to do in The Force Awakens was combine what made us love the character in the original trilogy (his roguish charm, his rebellious nature, his witty one liners etc) and added a layer of emotional maturity on top of that. Yes, it is the same Han Solo we all knew and loved, but it is a more experienced Han Solo, a Han Solo who has suffered loss and heartbreak. Harrison Ford shows off both his dramatic and comedic chops in this film and, without delving too deep into the realm of spoilers, I believe that this will be remembered as Ford's greatest outing as everyone's favourite intergalactic smuggler.
Another franchise veteran who most definitely deserves acclaim for his part in The Force Awakens is the legendary John Williams and his Academy Award nominated score. As seems to be a theme with Episode VII, Williams both pays tribute to his past work on the saga while his new material also manages to reach the same standard of what has come before it. Out of his newer compositions, "Rey's Theme" is the most prominent. Just like the character herself, the track is adventurous and fun, while also giving us hints into Rey's future moving into Episode VIII with its subtle similarities to the popular "Force Theme" from earlier instalments. Masterfully composed, William's score has the ability to pull at the nostalgic heartstrings of older fans with the beautiful build of Han and Leia's love theme "Han Solo and the Princess" as they continue to reconcile throughout the course of the film, while the echoes of the iconic "Imperial March" when Kylo Ren holds Vader's helmet in his hands will send goosebumps down the back of any true Star Wars fanatic. Simply put, John Williams once again delivers.
As many cynics will be quick to remind you, it wasn't perfect. Could the story have benefited from a steadier buildup and a slower pace throughout? Possibly. Should underdeveloped characters have been given more of a chance to shine? Absolutely. Did the plot feel almost familiar, suspiciously similar to the original of 1977? Yes, but I think that this was Abrams' way of us telling us that the franchise is back on track, that it going back to its roots. Could they have pulled this off with a bit more of a sprinkling of originality? Probably, but all I know is that, for the first time in thirty years, Star Wars once again felt like Star Wars. Overall, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a really great film. It was the perfect continuation to the Star Wars story and truly put the series back on the right course. With his clear vision, use of practical effects and well crafted script, JJ Abrams has managed to course-correct one of the most successful franchises in movie history. Most of the new stars were given their fair chance to shine, and the old favourites were serviced very well and handled with great care and respect. In short, it was a great beginning to the next chapter in this now legendary tale. The Force Awakens was exciting, entertaining and, at times, awe-inspiring and, more than anything else, it has given fans a "New Hope" for the future of the space saga.
Score: 9.2/10
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