Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens
Director: J.J. Abrams
Stars: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac
Duration: 135 mins
Class: PG
KRS Film Releasing Ltd
A long time ago, in a cinema far, far away, I watched Star Wars (as it was then simply titled) for the first time – (I was nine and the cinema in Valletta seemed very far away).
Although, I confess, I never became an ardent Star Wars fan, I have very fond memories of it. I clearly remember an awe-inspiring, fun-filled space fantasy with an intrepid trio of protagonists – the clean-cut Luke (Mark Hamill), roguish Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and the feisty Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) – facing down a dark Darth Vader (Dave Prowse/James Earl Jones) in that galaxy so far away; a story continued in the solid 1980 and 1983 sequels, and started in the more recent – and rather underwhelming prequels – depicting parts I, II and III of the saga.
Nevertheless, it has been impossible not to get caught up in the hype that ensued following the announcement in late 2012 that part VII was about to start pre-production. It caused waves of frenzied enthusiasm across the world; and finally, three years later, we get to see whether that frenzy – and the indescribable anticipation that accompanied it – is deserved.
To get into the spirit of things, before the release of The Force Awakens, I re-watched to whole saga to date. I actually enjoyed the prequels more this time around – still with reservations, however, for despite their impeccable production values I find them too polished and rather stiff, and take themselves a tad too seriously.
On the other hand, A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi with the original characters, the clear-cut battle between good and evil, the sense of pure adventure, the sense of humour, the derring-do set against a vast backdrop and their (then) ground-breaking special effects rekindled in me a feeling of awe and wonderment, so I found myself all agog to watch Episode VII.
Let’s get down to brass tacks: is The Force Awakens any good? Well, if you’re one of those people who check for the star rating first, to see whether to bother reading the review, the five stars give the game away. And they are five stars well-deserved, for director JJ Abrams has delivered in spades, taking the franchise back to its adventure and adrenaline-filled roots and creating an epic continuation of the story that will undoubtedly satiate the saga’s long-loyal fans, while bringing a new generation of followers to the fold.
Five stars well-deserved, for JJ Abrams delivers in spades
The story is set 30 years after the events of Jedi and the war between good and evil (the Resistance and the First Order; formerly known respectively as the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic empire) continues unabated, as both sides search for Luke SkyWalker , who has disappeared. All this is explained in the now legendary crawl that opens proceedings – and yes, the opening notes of John William’s legendary Star Wars theme retain their emotional power.
What follows are two hours and a quarter of heroic shenanigans as we are introduced to new characters, reacquainted with the old and bear witness to sequence upon sequence of heart-in-mouth action with returning space ships and fighter craft returning all shiny and new (well, maybe not the Millennium Falcon….) the brilliant effects never overshadowing the storytelling and character development credentials established by the original film.
It is not easy to elaborate on plot specifics without giving anything away – besides, part of the fun is discovering them. Many aspects of the plot mirror events that have happened before. Nit-pickers may see this as repetitive or, worse, lazy. However, these play out as coming full circle (well, half circle really, given that many questions thrown up here remain unanswered… for now). Suffice it to say, however, that many things that are familiar also feel very new; courtesy of a solid script by Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan and Michael Arndt.
The new generation of characters – John Bodega’s dissident Stormtrooper Finn, a reluctant and initially awkward hero; the superb Daisy Ridley’s spirited scavenger-turned resistance fighter Rey (who may give Jennifer Lawrence a run for her money as female action hero of the moment); Oscar Isaac’s cool, unflappable Poe Damaron, and Adam Driver’s dark, dangerous and very bad-tempered Kylo Ren – integrate exceptionally well with returning myths (on and off-screen) Ford, Fisher and Hamill. Ford has made a gazillion movies since he first donned Solo’s apparel 38 years ago, but he effortlessly recaptures the character’s charming braggadocio. Fisher’s Princess Leia is now a seasoned and respected General and Hamill’s Luke, well, watch and find out… Chewbacca, C-3PO and R2-D2 all make welcome appearances, while the new adorably cute droid BB8 steals every scene he is in…
I am writing this mere hours after watching it, and print deadlines don’t allow me much time for it all to sink in, but this I know for sure: I laughed, I gasped, I was moved, I was exhilarated. It’s a smooth continuation of what has gone before and offers many surprises – some pleasant, others less so – and more than enough plot twists and turns to keep you on your toes.
The Force has well and truly awakened. And, crucially, it leaves you wanting more.
Also out this week
Christmas with the Coopers, Classification 12: When four generations of the Cooper clan come together for their annual Christmas Eve celebration, a series of unexpected visitors and unlikely events turn the night upside down.
Clarification: By the Sea is a KRS Releasing Ltd film release and not as inadvertently stated in last week’s edition of the newpaper.