In Its Own Way, This Is A Perfect Film

Rating: 10/10 (21 March 2016)

Force Awakens has cleared my head, in terms of being a Star Wars fan. These days there are only two films in that series to me. The original from '77 (what is now called the "Despecialized Version") and Force Awakens. The first as Lucas' greatest film in his glory days, and the second as the crystallization of that first film's artistic vision.
I think JJ Abrams' strongest gift is the ability to separate the wheat from the chaff. He's smart in focusing on reboots, because that's where his gift can be used to the greatest effect. He sees the way that the original (from '77) made such beautiful use of light and space. He pays direct homage in one brief shot, where BB-8 rolls off across the desert at sunset, his lights shining through the haze. This is the same beautiful effect created by Lucas in '77. Back then Lucas had a terrific eye for light, big spaces, and simplicity. The '77 theatrical Star Wars is really the spiritual successor to THX 1138. His use of that kind of medium-long shot, the size of the vehicle those, uh, Jawas (?) were cruising around in. The size of the Death Star. The beautiful set design by the legendary Ralph Quarrie. You can tell Lucas was influenced by the neo-primitive art that was popular at the time.
Abrams is able to bring the feeling back that everyone wanted. For years, the best thing you could say about a film was, "It was like seeing Star Wars for the first time." This is that same feeling. And the special effects are what they should have been back then. I suspect that JJ's attitude is, he'll leave the prequels alone, and he'll reboot the main trilogy with modern special effects. The only question, I imagine, was how to handle the look of the film. That was handled so perfectly by the idea to go retro. To look and feel like the original from '77.
He also knew the bring in the other main creative force in the main trilogy (aside from Lucas). Lawrence Kasdan. The director/screenwriter who was responsible for all the wonderful dialogue in Empire Strikes Back. He keeps the tone here in Force Awakens absolutely on track. And tone is so vital to a film.
I was worried about Disney being involved, but it turned out to be a benefit. Their creative environment is a collective one. You can bet every shot was storyboarded, and the plot/pacing mapped out in great detail.
I love this film. When I saw it I was thinking it was the greatest thing I'd ever seen. I don't think I'm being an apologist. I think this is very much about seeing the classic that is in front of us.