A True Modern Blockbuster

Rating: 10/10 (20 December 2015)

No real spoilers: references to character dynamics for those wanting to remain completely pure before viewing.
I will begin this by saying that I went into this movie with astronomically high expectations and an unbecoming amount of anxiety. I am a major Star Wars fan, but I did not watch the Original Trilogy until I was already an adult - This may explain a difference of opinion to those who grew up with it and watched it 100 times more than I have. With only brief memories of Ewoks and the cinema experience of the Prequels as a child, I waited several years to be converted to a die-hard...and even then, that didn't take much. Watching Episodes IV, V, and VI blew my mind. I finally knew what everyone was raving about and what all those references were. I wondered where it had been all my life. Yes, they had their cheesy moments and special effects of the 70's (modern technology spoils the viewer, except when its over-done (ahem, Prequels)), BUT the story had heart and I was so easily invested in those characters I had only previously heard of. After that it was only a matter of time to watch them enough to have them memorized and know all the random bits of trivia, to feel that swelling sense of pride when someone calls you a nerd. All of that being said, I am an avid movie-goer and have been since I was old enough to go by myself. Hell, I worked in movie theaters all through high school and college and even moved onto a career in the entertainment industry just to get a little bit closer to that storytelling magic. I try to be objective despite my love of getting carried away by a great story. At the end of the day the most honest review should contain a little bit of both.
As I mentioned before, I went into this with high expectations and anxiety. Expectations brought on by by love of the Star Wars universe, everything LucasFilm, JJ Abrams' other works, and of course: John Williams and Lawrence Kasdan. Anxiety brought on by reviews stating it was too much like A New Hope, a fear of wooden acting (again looking at the prequels), and the inevitability of being crushed by the weight of my own expectations. It happens a lot lately with other blockbusters. Recycled and tired story lines, films that had big budgets and no heart, no originality etc. But this is not the review I came here to write.
I went into The Force Awakens with all of the above emotions even knowing the majority of the plot and MAJOR spoilers (Yes, I am one of THOSE people). The story seemed promising going in and I knew it was still going to come down to how it was delivered and if the plot remained clear through the shiny effects and battles. Did it have the heart we all crave when the dust settled? Yes it did.
As with the originals, I was immediately invested in the new characters. Their plights, their personalities, their drive. I loved all of them, each felt compelled by their own unique motives. They all had good chemistry with each other (the one's that met in this movie anyways), and with the returning cast. The characters were endearing and after Poe, Rey, Finn, and BB8 had their initial scenes, I was sold. I smiled my way through the first act until my face started to hurt. This was in addition to the obvious return to the world of the original trilogy. I cheered when the opening crawl came on and my heart went aflutter when we first saw the Millennium Falcon again...While I was nervous it would be too similar to the original trilogy as I stated, I never felt that way. Even after my second viewing. The parallels and homage are definitely there, but these characters are experiencing the same world as those that came before them. Given the dramatic space opera moniker these films fall under, I would expect nothing less. Kathleen Kennedy even stated we were exploring the Skywalker line and wondering 'Who Luke Skywalker is' from the perspective someone who grew up believing him to be a myth. This movie delivered on that and left some of the answers to be found in the next two episodes. While normally this would be frustrating, it works here. I had just enough to leave me feeling satisfied and wanting to know what happens next.
Just as he said, Abrams used mostly practical effects and CGI only where necessary, which is how it should be...adding to the believability of the world, not detracting. The score was on par for John Williams, I was particularly moved by the Scherzo for X-Wings. I expected just a little more plot depth from Abrams and Kasdan, but their characters made the movie for me more than anything. A story does not have to be complex to be moving when compelled by good characters.
Overall, this movie feels like the original trilogy because it BELONGS to the world so well. The dramatic quest/destiny (or destinies, we'll see...) of the Skywalker line is far from over and history is repeating itself in a beautiful and exciting way. This and the new wielders of the Force remind me that there can be a little magic and humor in a story without it feeling ridiculous or over the top. I am excited for the possibilities it holds for younger generations and those who have never seen a Star Wars movie. In a way, these films represent everything I love about the film industry, even the ups and downs of the entire series. This movie was a prefect part of the Star Wars universe I eagerly returned to and will again. It is certainly a franchise, but one that didn't make me regret spending my time and money to be apart of.