The Force Awakens...A New Hope?!

Rating: Null/10 (25 December 2015)

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but also the clearest expression of mediocrity". Yep someone said that somewhere...can't remember who or where, but they do deserve credit, because in a way it perfectly encompasses the case of Jar Jar Abrams and "Star Wars Episode VII The Force Awakens" and his overlords at Darth Disney.
Jar Jar Abrams did what was exactly expected of him. Restart the "Star Wars" franchise, now under the Disney banner, and justify their $4 billion dollar purchase of Lucasfilm, without stumbling out of the starting gate. That he achieved.
Let me also say, that I never hated the Prequel Trilogy, and rather enjoyed the movies, imperfect though they were, except Jar Jar Binks (not to be confused with Jar Jar Abrams!)...that guy should be murdered and then cooked into a delicious meal of frog legs or whatever...but I will not be comparing those movies with this one!
Personally, and this makes it clear how subjective all these reviews are, I found "The Force Awakens" to be on OK, decent, alright flick. I was not overwhelmed by it. It is not a masterpiece, but neither was I underwhelmed, I do not hate the movie, despise it or anything of the sort.
Abrams has been an astute and observant student of the George Lucas and Steven Spielberg school of movie-making. Many of his projects, especially the cinematic ones, have been almost love letters to them. And such is the case with "The Force Awakens". It is a tribute from Abrams, as a fan, to the people and times which influenced and pushed him to become a movie maker.
Abrams is a technically adept director, but in his imitation-is-flattery type of movie-making also lies his mediocrity as I was alluding to in the opening line. That lack of a cinematic identity has unfortunately and oftentimes marked him as a director for hire, as in this instance here, with Disney and Abram's involvement with "Star Wars" (and other projects as well).
And therein lies perhaps the greatest weakness in "The Force Awakens", this smattering of mediocrity, it is a movie steeped in nostalgia, at some points so much so, that it feels like less of a new beginning and more like a re-boot or remake of "A New Hope"...or even worse, a carbon copy.
It is very clear that Darth Disney wasn't going to screw around with its newest acquisition slash golden goose, Lucasfilm. As I said, this is a safe movie at the hands of a safe director, who can create carbon copies and perfect replicas of Lucas and Spielberg's movies, but who lacks a vision and style of his own.
One of the things I like most about the movie, were the new casting additions to the franchise. Oscar Isaac, one of my favourite actors, goes without saying, but also John Boyega and Daisy Ridley. To me she is the heart and soul of the movie. It will be interesting to see how her story arc will develop. Plus Daisy Ridley is just lovely. They inject much needed life in this franchise.
Lets see what Rian Johnson and Colin Trevorrow will do. I think and hope, Rian Johnson will do a good job. Less certain about Colin Trevorrow, though I enjoyed "Safety Not Guaranteed" (I really wish we could get Doug Lyman to direct Episode IX"Edge Of Tomorrow" was outstanding).
Next up, is 'Star Wars Rogue One", and though I am not enthused about Gareth Edwards directing, I actually find myself more intrigued about "Rogue One" than "The Force Awakens"
4 out of 10