Just a piece of a nostalgic references. Yet, there's something else...

Rating: 4/10 (17 December 2015)

J.J. Abrams... the man who gave us and surprised us (from time to time) with many highly entertaining and high-voltage action drama films and TV series... Here he came with the new "Star Wars". Yup, the man who also brought us new "Star Trek" (but, we are not here to talk about that). Now, honestly, J.J. Abrams has some of pretty good films, but most of them are pretty average. And sad to say... so is this film. Not only that he was set as a director and a writer, but we also have a return of Lawrence Kasdan as a writer and producer. And, to mention that Kathleen Kennedy is also there as a leading producer... but the main distributor is Disney. So, this is a high budget film that will come from very powerful movie corporations well known for their... toys and merchandise. I'll warn you for spoilers.
So, the new "Star Wars - Force Awakens"... what's it like? Average. Just average. The movie is entirely a large action-packed, exciting and fun roller coaster ride. It really is. I had fun watching it. This film is basically for easily entertained people. And the problem is that there are too many of them today, refusing to use critical thinking, but that is their thing. If they want to enjoy it, that's cool with me. And this is just an opinion, not a fact. In all of that fun, there some things that doesn't make sense... and some things that requires explaining. Besides the fact that the movie is really entertaining, and of course looking pretty good when it's about design, visuals and costumes for example. But, it's just a piece of nostalgic references. What do I mean by that? The movie contains some stuff from the previous films, like for example a chess from Millennium Falcon. I am not going to give away everything. The movie just throws that stuff in your face like "hey, remember that?", "hey, remember this?"... Yes, we do, we saw the old movies. Give us something new, please. But J.J. Abrams as a director, writer and producer has a full control on his baby (or does he?), so, he decided to be really nostalgic. If audience wants to be nostalgic, they'll watch the previous films. This film, is, in fact a carbon copy of the fourth film - "New Hope". It really is. And that is what grieves me the most.
Now, the characters are pretty much clichÃ©d, though it was expected to have new characters who are set on this new journey. And those are Dameron Poe, Finn and Rey. Poe is a pilot of republic, Finn is an ex storm trooper and Rey is... well... an overly powerful force sensitive. OK. Some of them are barely developed as the movie goes and some of them has an interesting personality, while others don't have it at all and they are pretty generic. Don't get me wrong, characters are funny (for now), but actors are fairly OK. Now, we have Adam Driver. Also a good actor, but he didn't please me as Kylo Ren. Adam has a dark stature and a deep voice, but I think they could find somebody more menacing. But, as I said, he is a good actor and it wasn't entirely his responsibility of making his character. For that we need to ask directors, writers and producers. Now, Kylo Ren... he disappointed me very much. I expected a calm, calculating and evil villain. Instead I got a spoiled child of a man. That was embarrassing and awkward. To have a villain like that? A disgrace to all older Star Wars villains. And not to mention the vast universe of Star Wars legends, that contains an abundance of villainous characters far more interesting than him. And who is that Supreme Commander? Where did he come from. Is he a sith? What is he? OK, when It comes to Ford, Fisher, Mayhew and others... well, that was alright. They were in their own, precise element. But, when it comes to Luke Skywalker... you just have to see for yourself.
SPOILERS HERE:
Now, here are some questions which comes from a big loop hole. Why did they give a lightsaber to Finn? Or, originally to Rey? He didn't have any training in saber combat. And later Rey took it, and she has a force, but also no training. How is that? Where did Luke's blue lightsaber come from? Isn't that saber lost? Who found it? Where did they found it? This movie really has a loop holes and inconsistencies that are really insisting on so much explaining. And THAT, also is one of the things that grieves me the most. But, also there is something else about Rey and I really cannot put my finger on it... About her character. She seems... well, too perfect. And there are also so many theories about the (family) relations of the characters. So, there are many theories in the air.
SPOILER ENDS
Overall, it's a decent fun, but not the good film. I think it's pretty decent for new generations. But, for the old... well, can't speak for them all.