A Force To Be Reckoned With

Rating: 9/10 (29 February 2016)

30 years after the defeat of the galactic Empire, two young strangers unexpectedly cross paths and must work together with the rebel forces to defend the universe from a new sinister threat.
The wait is finally over The most anticipated film to come across the galaxy in decades has made its way to the big screen and has quickly proved to be a financial and critical success around the world. At this point, I'm confident most of you have already taken the time to watch this film, making my review a tad mute, but I'll give my two cents anyways. Growing up in the late '80s, I missed the original Star Wars craze. Ironically enough, though, I became a huge fan of Mel Brooks' hilarious spoof of the franchise, Spaceballs, instead. Then time passed and well Unfortunately for me, my first real introduction to the saga started with the biggest dud of the series, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Don't get me wrong, I'd be lying if I acted like I didn't wish I had my own pod racer as a kid. But anyone who's seen the sub-par prequels knows all about the painfully wooden acting or abundance of CGI that made them so mediocre. I mean, it's no wonder I never grew up being a much of a fan of the saga. Thankfully I finally cracked down and went through a Star Wars marathon of all six chapters in preparation for the latest film, finally experiencing the classics for myself. While the prequels were a lot worst than I remembered, it was pretty obvious why the originals made such a massive cultural impact through the years. But before I get carried away talking about everything but the latest chapter, let me get back to the power of the hour, the one and only Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
First things first: The Force Awakens obviously recycles a few key plot elements from the classics, but there's no question that embracing the saga's history was a clever way of introducing a new generation to the Star Wars universe. As a genuine fan, co-writer and director J.J. Abrams brings a real sincerity and emotional understanding to the source material that makes it an undeniably entertaining film to experience. But what separates this sci-fi blockbuster from the herd is the film's ability to both look and feel real thanks to the use of actual environments, clever animatronics and old-school practical effects. From life-size space ships to actual creatures and electronically powered light sabers, no expense was spared towards embracing a timeless realism to the material. So for this bold move, I give Abrams two very enthusiastic thumbs up! This type of attention to detail, combined with the beautiful cinematography, smooth editing and contagious orchestral film score make it a true aesthetically pleasing masterpiece.
But as flawless as the special effects, film score or its visual look may be, what truly makes this story come alive is the characters. There was a rare compelling humility to them, especially with the young desert scavenger played by the beautiful Daisy Ridley. Her lack of film experience made her venerability feel genuine in contrast to her natural strength. John Boyega, on the other hand, just oozes charisma as the rogue stormtrooper who unexpectedly befriends Ridley during his travels. Combined, they have a very natural and organic chemistry that makes them utterly enjoyable to watch. The biggest pleasant surprise, however, came from Abrams' attention to the dark side. No longer are the stormtroopers faceless soldiers who lack any real sense of threat. They're tactfully trained sharpshooters with clear personalities that convey their individualities. As a long-time fan of these characters, it was really cool to see them become such a vital part of the story. But what about their infamous leader, Kylo Ren? Well he's certainly no Darth Vader, but that's what makes him so interesting. He's unstable and hot headed. His continuous need to prove himself and morally justify his actions makes him a dangerously unpredictable foe. To make a long story short, the development of these memorable characters alone is a true testament of Abrams' exceptional talents as a filmmaker.
This latest chapter in the series may strike certain die-hard fans as carrying too many similar plot points from the classics, but any true movie enthusiast can't deny the film's sheer ability to entertain. The director's vision brings an honest sense of humanity to its content and a genuine emotion to its core that can't be ignored. This is something that obviously came with ease thanks to the unquestionable love and passion toward the source material from everyone involved in the making of this epic space adventure. I might not have been much of a Star Wars fan in the past, but The Force Awakens unquestionably turned me into one for the future.