Abrams Delivers a Satisfying Sequel

Rating: 10/10 (19 December 2015)

After his successful reboot of the "Star Trek" franchise, director-writer J. J. Abrams and co-writer Lawrence Kasdan have turned to the "Star Wars" series with equal or arguably better results. "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" successfully mixes the old and familiar with the new and promising. Fans of the original trilogy will be pleased that the old includes Han Solo, Chewbaca, the now-General Leia, R2D2, and C3PO. Those seeking reassurance about the quality of future sequels will find promise in Daisy Ridley as the kick-ass Rey, who slides easily into the pilot's seat aboard the Millennium Falcon; in Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, the son of Han Solo and Leia, who has turned to the Dark Side; and Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, a dashing fighter pilot. The newly minted trio of Rey, Kylo, and Poe are worthy successors to Luke, Han, and Leia of the original films and should hopefully endure through at least two more sequels.
Beyond the three leads, where Abrams could have stumbled, the film is technology based and cutting edge as such. A veteran of "Star Trek," Abrams stages the bountiful action sequences well; space and land battles, light saber fencing, and breathless chases across alien landscapes will keep audiences rapt with just enough dialog thrown in to keep viewers informed about the search for the missing Luke Skywalker, who is the last Jedi, and about the rise of a new threat to the galaxy. The film ends with a satisfying symbolic gesture between the new rising order and the old fading one that promises more to come. "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" offers little to criticize. The special effects are state of the art; the mix of nostalgia for the Lucas productions and solid introductions that point towards the Abrams future is just right; the action is fast and exciting; the film delivers on its promise, was worth the wait, and injects new life into the franchise by harking back to the original films in both theme and character to produce a sequel that stands honorably beside them.