Plenty new themes and characters transcending the flaws.

Rating: 10/10 (24 March 2016)

The main character is introduced sympathetically so the audience can identify with the situation or dilemma. The hero is shown in banal home. Something causes them to be involved in the action. The hero tries to turn away from the adventure however is forced anyway. They then come across a wise traveler who gives training, equipment and important advice. The hero commits to the adventure and faces tests, allies and antagonists. The small group of people go against ridiculous odds to face this evil and confronts death or a great fear. The hero takes skill learned by facing death. At the climax, the hero is severely tested once more. By the hero's action, the polarities that were in conflict at the beginning are finally resolved. See! It's a rip off of a movie in the same franchise! Well, that's not what I'm getting at. What I was really describing was Joseph Campbell's A Hero's Journey, a summary of that structure for many epics. I am astounded by the hate this movie gets. Many people accuse it of being unoriginal when really it is taking a story structure that works and is using it to convey different themes and different characters. This movie is a piece of art with a blend of practical and computer effects. The dialogue is filled with wit and humour, not to mention, it's authentic. The characters work so well together. Han has a whole depth to him putting him above the original's Obi-Wan. His chemistry with Rey as a father figure works so well showing a dynamic we never got in the originals. Finn is entirely original, a Stormtrooper finding his moral place. We haven't seen it and it adds a new dynamic to show The First Order isn't just an army, but a bunch of abducted kids into thinking this way. Kylo Ren is a much deeper villain than Vader. I agree he is whiny, but like Luke in the original, he now has room to grow as a character. It also works seeing how they set him up as being spoiled by power and living in the legacy of Vader. This also sets up Starkiller Base as being believable because he wants to repeat what's been done. This also leads me to my favorite thing. It took a story and used it to convey entirely different themes and moods than the original which are the two most important aspects, when done right. It brought up a good theme of legacy, which also parallels the directors working in George Lucas'. Additionally, there are lots of family dynamics explored bring up what is a good father? Again, we didn't have that in the originals. Another prominent theme was in both Rey and Finn-that of letting go of the past. This worked for me and had the right emotional impact. I admit there are flaws, but much like a Nolan movie, each flaw is there because it was needed to further the plot quickly so they could explore the characters, themes and lets not forget the incredibly well shot and edited action. Because it accomplished these overarching subjects, I take no shame in saying it did what it needed to perfectly.