A New Hope For a Dormant Franchise

Rating: 10/10 (20 December 2015)

Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens is directed by J.J. Abrams and is written by Laurence Kasdan, Abrams, and Micheal Ardnt. It stars Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, and Harrison Ford along with Oscar Issac and Carrie Fisher.
Three decades after the defeat of the Galactic Empire, a new threat arises. The First Order attempts to rule the galaxy and only a rag- tag group of heroes can stop them, along with the help of the Resistance.
I personally don't think I could start this review without first discussing my thoughts on all the movies, briefly. I have hated only one movie, that being Attack of the Clones. I have disliked one movie, The Clone Wars, and thought two were mediocre, Return of the Jedi and The Phantom Menace. I have really enjoyed two entries, those being Revenge of the Sith and The Empire Strikes Back. A New Hope has really been the one Star Wars movie I have ever loved. With the much hyped The Force Awakens, I can confidently say I love another Star Wars film.
Better scripted and more dramatic than the prequels and as visually striking as the classics, this movie kept me transfixed. Creating a tribute to the old while looking forward to the new, this movie combines the best elements in the series.
Most of this movie's success rested squarely on one man's shoulders. J.J. Abrams was placed under a lot of pressure in adapting some of the most iconic characters and stories onto the big screen again. Nevertheless, he has proved once again that he works splendidly under pressure. Making the active decision to use mostly practical effects and ditching the use of clunky CGI, he crafts a wonderfully realistic space epic. With that said, however, Abrams understands He made the active, and smart, decision not to have the lightsaber fights choreographed, maintaining the ferocity and rawness shared by the characters. This is demonstrated perfectly
Abrams and writers also succeeded at crafting one of the most compelling science fiction scripts of all time. Focusing on a very intriguing plot and juggling themes of regret and self discovery, while maintaining a deft mix of a somber yet playful tone, The Force Awakens is one of the most mature entries in the franchise. Brimming with energy and humor, its occasional detours into familiar territory, especially in the third act, are more or less made up for. In my opinion, the best aspect of this movie's script is how all the characters are handled, especially Han Solo.
Han Solo has always been and always will be my favorite character in the series. The most questionable of all the Resistance members, in terms of morals, Solo was the wild card of the classic trilogy. With That said, however,aside from his sense of humor, his love for Leia and the Falcon , and his partnership with Chewie, we, the audience knew close to nothing about him.
Abrams and the writers patched up this problem by thoroughly fleshing out the character with the help of Harrison Ford. Harrison Ford delivers a breath taking performance as the aged captain of the Millennium Falcon, demonstrating true feelings of regret and disappointment, under his, tad bit cynical, happy go lucky demeanor. Carrie Fisher does the same and the two's impeccable chemistry is maintained through the decades.
One of my favorite characters in the lot was fighter pilot Poe, portrayed by Oscar Issac. He really resembled Solo and charmed me through me movie, even though his time in the movie was minuscule.
The best part of any Star Wars movie should be its leads, this movie is no less, all three of them prove, their worth in dramatic and comedic sequences.
Rey, portrayed Daisy Ridley is quite possible the most bad ass female character since Princess Leia. Never resorting to the easy damsel in distress, Rey is often the one doing the saving. Though Ridley is a very compelling lead, the best part of her performance lies in her mysterious and shrouded dramatic core. She is phenomenal in this movie.
Finn, portrayed by John Boyega, had got to be my favorite character in this movie for a couple of reasons. The largest and most engaging of these is the fact that through his character, He humanized some of the most inhuman characters in the series, revealing that they too have emotions. His performance was tender, without being cloying, funny, without being over cooked, and over all masterful, without being showy.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the movie was Adam Driver. Adam Driver's caricature is more along the lines of a quiet protagonist or a talkative antagonist, so I had my doubts if he could portray a brooding and menacingly cold villain like Darth Vader. Oh, how I was wrong. Kylo Ren is one of the most refreshingly original and intriguing not to mention devastatingly evil villains to grace the franchise, all thanks to Driver's dedicated performance. Cold and calculated, Driver is the one person in the wonderfully talented ensemble who I believe deserves an Oscar nod.
Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens is a refreshingly original and powerful entry that is equal art well acted and well directed. Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens gets a 9.6/10 or an A+.