The Prodigal Son Come Home at Last

Rating: 8/10 (3 August 2018)

This movie is flawed, to say the least. Most of the main characters are played by novice actors, and it shows, the acting alternating between some genuinely impactful drama and lighthearted action, and cringe-inducingly misfired attempts at likewise. The script likewise alternates between bland, dry, filler, and clunky, overwrought lines where the writers were obviously trying too hard, and precious few scenes in the goldilocks zone where the script flows organically.
The plot is likewise a mixed bag. On one hand, the overall plotline is somewhere between an homage and a bold-faced rip off of A New Hope- I'm looking at you, giant impractical superweapon mk3. ON the other hand, some of the character scenes do manage to rise above the issues of script and acting, Adam Driver as Kylo Ren in particular manages to portray a genuinely conflicted villain, and the scenes he shares with Rey are where their potential as actors shines through the morass. Of course, none of this justifies the ending, or rather lack thereof. I suspect that the printer jammed with only one page still to go, and the Abrams just shrugged and decided to roll with it.
The technical elements of the film fare moderately better. With the original trilogy (4-6) using mostly practical effects, and the prequels using mostly CG, this film used an interesting mix, with most of the costumes and aliens being practical, the space scenes being high quality digital, and the large planet bount fight scenes being an almost (But not quite) seamless mix of the two.
Abrams has become somewhat of the punching bag among hollywood pundits in recent years (though not quite to Michael Bay levels, may the force keep him far away from these sequels), but the direction of the film, such as the usage of camera angles, positioning, and the way the scenes transition and make a mostly-coherent whole out of the intermittent tone and quality beliai a fair amount of genuine talent on his part.
So, why, despite my criticism, did I give it a 8/10?
Consider the prequels.
To call the prequel trilogy (1-3) a trainwreck is charitable. Sewer explosion would be more accurate. The acting straddled between wooden and middle-school level (you know, when the 14 year olds are just competent enough to begin vastly overestimating their thespian prowess), the script was clunky and overblown at the same time, the effects were dated within a year of their release and have only gotten worse over the years, and many characters and scenes were transparent attempts to move merchandise. But the greatest sin of all of the legion thereof they committed was simply this: They did not feel like Star Wars. The plots focus on political intrigue, in addition to being poorly done, were simply diametrically opposed to the tone of the original trilogy. Lovable characters, simple without being thinly characterized, having fun and interesting adventures through a vast universe in a backdrop of more serious war and galactic turmoil.
That is where the Prequels failed utterly, and this is where Force Awakens has its greatest and most unambiguous success: It FEELS like a Star Wars movies.
Nostalgia has clouded our judgement somewhat, but all of the problems and shortcomings of Force Awakens- wooden acting, clunky writing, and a plot that tended towards the cliche and absurd- were present, to varying extents, in A New Hope, not ironed out until its sequels. But the tone, the style, the limitless promise and potential of the concepts and universe, shined through then, and, after being lost for three films, has finally returned in full force. It is this quality, a sense of adventure and wonder, that is the true mark of a good Star Wars film, and it is this quality that raises The FOrce Awakens to a worthy successor to the Original trilogy, and it is this resounding success that makes its myriad, though neither egregious nor unprecedented, flaws forgivable.
After the misfiring train-wreck of the prequels, I have confidence that the Star Wars franchise is in competent hands once again. If you have the time, a modest recommendation for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.