Star Wars: Attack of the Clone Reviewers

Rating: 9/10 (24 January 2016)

****This Review is SPOILER FREE****
It is a strange age we find ourselves in where films are no longer reviewed as exactly that: FILMS. Not a single review posted attempts to comment on any of the cinematic quality of the film, and reference seems only be made to the well documented, but not however well thought out (in my opinion), 'copycat' story. This review will attempt to remedy that predicament.
This is a Star Wars film. How Star Warsy was it? Very. The beats of the film follow similarly to the beats of the original trilogy, namely A New Hope, this much is true. But then Episode V followed a very similar formula to A New Hope, and so too did the story arc of Episode VI. Is this a coincidence? No.The films are part of a saga, one that focuses on what it is good at, and allows the viewer to feel a sense of strong belonging in an expansive universe. The nods to A New Hope are prevalent in The Force Awakens, whether it be twisting sandy vistas, or an orphaned adolescent searching for belonging, however this balance of symmetry with the original trilogy as well as endeavouring to tell a new tale is the exact area in which I believe J.J. Abrams and this picture excelled.
Though there was constant throwbacks to the cultural phenomenon that was Star Wars the Motion Picture, never at any point did I find them overt, or 'lazy' as often seen in recent reviews. Instead I found them magical and joy filled, and let us not forget it was a lack of similarities with the original trilogy that viewers found irksome about the prequels in the first place! The story telling, though rushed in some places, was artfully executed and characters old and new felt deep and fleshy. Daisy Ridley and John Boyega gave stand out performances as the trilogies new protagonists, and slipped in to the universe like a glove. Their origins were seemingly interesting and there are plenty more questions to be answered in that respect. The cinematography of The Picture was most impressive, and I often found myself realising the original trilogy, although some of my favourite movies of all time, often fell short in this department; with bland use of the camera that left much desired from a creative point of view. The special effects flowed seamlessly, with a blend of both practical and CGI, that put many a blockbuster to shame. The scale of the picture felt massive and the finer details felt all the more richer in the large sets, which gave the movie a monolithic presence that could rub shoulders with some of Ridley Scott's best work.
A good Star Wars movie must have a great villain, as Darth Vader now cuts one of the most recognisable silhouettes on the planet. The Force Awakens delivers in this department with a beautifully complex villain, whose motives are as twisted as the light-sabre he wields. Adam Driver transcended many of the smaller roles we know him for and knocked what the role demanded of him out of the park.
To conclude The Force Awakens, though flawed in some places as all great films are, is a swashbuckling family focused adventure, with huge spectacle and engrossing, intertwining character arcs. Exactly what it should be.
This is the Star Wars movie you were looking for.
9/10