Gorgeously crafted but a little too safe

Rating: 6/10 (22 December 2015)

Its taken two reviews to have any chance to comprehend a review on this film. No movie has been more hotly anticipated in my memory (having been six when Phantom Menace came out) and as such I needed to see whether the positives held up on second viewing or were just positive from nostalgia. The answer is that the positives are very positive, whilst the negatives are negative but don't ruin the movie. I could make strong comparisons to Sicario and The Grand Budapest Hotel in my taste for this movie - superbly crafted and perfect across the board in every sense but the story. More on that later.
JJ Abrams brings spellbinding direction to this new instalment. The team he assembles for the crafting of this film is incredible - production design and visual effects blend together seamlessly, far better than any Star Wars film to date. The Star Destroyer graveyard is one of the greatest cinematic achievements of 2015. BB-8 is incredibly lifelike and retains the personality that made R2-D2 such a beloved character early on. Costumes are fantastic and yet pay homage to the originals - seeing the return of Admiral Ackbar and Nien Nub in all their 1980 greatness is a great play for nostalgia. John Williams's score is gorgeous - my favourite being the Rey theme - and you can feel the reverence in the musicians' performances at cranking out the classic songs.
Daisy Ridley stole my heart early on in a beautiful scene where she tries on an X-wing helmet and she never stops being excellent. Her delightful smile helps her carry light moments and yet she never shirks away from the heavier moments. John Boyega displays maturity far beyond his years as a disillusioned storm trooper, set off by a surprisingly dark scene early in the piece, whilst also carrying terrific humour throughout the film. Lupita Nyong'o does an exceptional job portraying the thousand year old Maz. Harrison Ford looks the most alive he has in decades as Han Solo and even delves into the film's most emotional scenes opposite Carrie Fisher (similarly alive) and Adam Driver (more on him later). Oscar Isaac continues to confirm himself as one of the finest actors working today with off-the-charts chemistry, although some of his humour, whilst funny, detracts from the mood of the film. Domnhall Gleeson steals scenes as Hux, whilst Andy Serkis and Gwendoline Christie are wasted in small roles.
The film's screenplay is where the film's only flaws exist. It is solid for the most part - well- placed humour (delivered by Ford, Boyega and Anthony Daniels), a great backstory for Finn and some beautiful lines such as an exchange between Leia and Han about their failed relationship. However, in the script (and the direction at times) the throwbacks to the original movies become jarring. The plot device that is the lamely named "Starkiller base" is especially terrible, as it exists only to be a Death Star 3.0. To the great surprise of exactly no one, it takes the exact same X-Wing attack sequence to defeat it. Worst, however, is the completely uncooked story of the First Order. At no point is it explained how much of the galaxy is controlled by the First Order, making their possession of a Storm Trooper army and superweapon somewhat akin to ISIS possessing a nuclear weapon.
The dynamic between Hux and Ren was schizophrenic, at times Ren establishes his dominance, at others Hux. The Knights of Ren are never mentioned, making Ren's position within the enemy forces unclear. Unlike the original trilogy, which spread the Vader story across three films, Kylo Ren has to incorporate the entire arc here (being a villain, being related to the good side, and being conflicted between light and dark). That alone is not definitive, but when he has to share screen time with Snoke (who could have waited until the sequel to appear) he comes across as underdone.
I can definitely feel that George Lucas was not involved and I never thought I'd say this but that was a big flaw. It didn't have the right feel. At times it felt more like Guardians of the Galaxy than Star Wars, especially during a confrontation on Han's smuggling ship. The light speed landing might be the most heinous line in any Star Wars film - and that includes "I hate sand". The film was overstuffed with characters and plot ideas, taking us away from Jedi, the Force and Han Solo, which were all necessary for the film's intended impact.
Abrams' direction is competent but flavoured by his love of the franchise. Fan service is paid across the board - a salute to blue lightsabers and X-Wings, rather than doing anything particularly groundbreaking. Reveals about major characters are poorly judged and major sequences are taken directly from New Hope (even when we've seen them a number of times already). The saddest scene in the film was followed up without any time to mourn, which diminishes its effectiveness compared to Execute Order 66 and the deaths of Shmi Skywalker and Yoda in previous films. A less passionate fan might have more creative vice - and perhaps someone who isn't afraid to dip into established canon.
With a better plot this movie would've been amazing. As is, it's safe and solid. I am hopeful that the future of the franchise is one that uses the canon material from the prequels to establish the dynamic. Refusing to do so is on par with the new kid who refuses help from the uncool group because he doesn't want to be associated with them, so he does an average job when maybe they have something to offer.
I don't think it'll crack my top 10 movies of the year, but Star Wars is amazing fun.