The Saga Reawakens

Rating: 8/10 (21 December 2015)

"The Force Awakens" does a fantastic job of recapturing the light-hearted, adventurous tone of the original Star Wars trilogy. While the prequels were bombarded with hammy, melodramatic dialogue and dull and stilted performances, this new instalment features rapid-fire, witty lines and more grounded and likable characters that helped make the originals great.
The plot at some points is way too reminiscent of "A New Hope" (Did we really need another Death Star?), but this was, I suppose, necessary to bring new fans to the fold. There are other points where the film's use of humour overplays its serious elements, but this only happens sporadically. And the film certainly doesn't lack in its hard-hitting, emotional content, particularly towards the end.
The new leads do a terrific job of taking up the mantle previously held by Luke, Han and Leia. Rey (Daisy Ridley) is basically a female Luke, but is still able to inject enough originality and believability into her role to not be a cut-and-paste. John Boyega as Finn likewise bears a lot of similarities to Han Solo, through his initial desire to ensure his own survival, yet once again brings plenty of charm and individuality to his role. Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron doesn't get too much screen time in comparison, which is a bit of a shame considering his acting credentials, but this will likely change in the sequel. Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) makes a pretty solid villain, but nothing will ever really beat Vader. Unlike the original Dark Lord of the Sith, who remains largely cold and emotionless (at least in the original trilogy), Ren is much more erratic and driven by his emotions, making him a much more unpredictable antagonist. Unlike Luke and Leia, Han gets quite a lot of screen time, taking the form of a sort of mentor figure in the vein of Obi-Wan for Rey and Finn, and at more than 70 years of age, Harrison Ford proves that he's still got it.
The set design, visual effects, score and action sequences are all top-notch, with an emphasis on practical backdrops over the heavily green- screened prequels.
Regardless of how good "The Force Awakens" was going to be, I doubt anything would ever top "A New Hope" or "The Empire Strikes Back", just based on the sheer cultural impact these earlier films had. It's much better than the prequels, but the film's plot similarities with episode 4 (and to a degree 5) leave a little bit to be desired, as it seems at times like a reboot of the franchise rather than a continuation. Nevertheless, "The Force Awakens" ends at a point that suggests that the sequels will move off in a new direction. The film's emphasis on likable characters, dialogue-driven humour and old-school thrills ultimately makes it a worthy instalment in the Star Wars saga, and I'm definitely looking forward to what they come up with next.