The Force Awakens Now

Rating: 10/10 (25 December 2015)

Director and writer J.J. Abrams brilliantly summons the Force in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" in one of the great movies of the year. Along with co-writers Lawrence Kasdan and Michael Arndt, Abrams more than creates a masterful sequel; he reinvents George Lucas's "Star Wars" mythology for a new generation leveraging a powerful new star in Daisy Ridley, who is so strong with the Force. The visuals are breathtaking whether witnessing X-wing fighters gliding across the lake of idyllic planet Takanoda or the climatic light saber duel in the dark snowy woods. However, the affinity for "Star Wars" has always been the hero story. That was the tragic miscalculation of the last trilogy. Ridley's emergence as hero Rey embodies this legacy. Rey reveres the legend of the heroes of past and is present to a new realm of untold possibilities.
"The Force Awakens" concerns the search for Jedi Luke Skywalker, who has disappeared. Harrison Ford returns as Han Solo on board the Millennium Falcon commanding gravity and poignant affirmation of the mythos. He tells Rey and Finn (John Boyega), "It's true. All of it." The tribal story inspires its next generation. Ford is awesome as the older and wiser Han. He evokes the courage and touching regret of a warrior who has suffered great loss. Ford is the emotional compass of "The Force Awakens"; Ridley is its heart.
Abrams has reverence for the past as he generates boldly forward. Seeing Rey dressed in white walking across her desert home world of Jakku is eloquently reminiscent of young Luke Skywalker. In retrospect Abrams recreates numerous parallels to the first "Star Wars", perhaps because of the tale's timeless quality? He also brings back R2-D2 and Chewbacca to the fold. In one sense the familiarity is comforting, and at times bewildering. Seeing another Death Star the size of a planet is kind of a retread.
30 years have passed since the Resistance defeated the Empire. The Empire has been replaced by The First Order, a similarly fascist galactic power, using the same battle fleet. The Sith and Emperor are gone. There is new leadership in masked Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and the gigantic imaged Snoke (Andy Serkis). Princess Leia, now General Organa, is leader of the Resistance. She sends her best pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) to planet Jakku to uncover information about the missing Luke. In merciless rage Ren slaughters innocent villagers when he fails to possess what he wants. That act provokes Storm Trooper Fin (valiant and compassionate John Boyega) to abandon the The First Order. Rey is the lone scavenger barely surviving on Jakku, trading relics from the Empire fleet wreckage for food. The journey reveals itself when Han Solo enters the story.
The Light and the Dark Side of the Force seem somewhat aligned. Kylo Ren yearns for the power of Darth Vader—the evil one. He is a ferocious warrior possessing great powers; however, he is conflicted by the Light. Driver does his best to display his turmoil and force, which Abrams betrays with Ren's nearly comical tantrums. Ren's Master Snoke is an enigma. Serkis relishes the malevolence. Snoke is threatening, but is he all powerful when it comes to student Ren? The new Jedi Master Maz Kanata (digital imaged Lupita Nyong) has gravitas, but is a tame focal point of the Force, rather a messenger of prophecy. Boyega as Finn is great. His Finn is the voice of conscience and faith. His charisma and charm endear Finn's journey which is unclear.
As Ridley's quietly beautiful Rey wistfully gazes over the desert horizon, she captures the idealism and hope that made "Star Wars" movie magic. Despite being alone, wanting family and connection she is the Light. The Force awakens in Rey and the hero emerges. We marvel at her power and wonder of the source. Ridley is so commanding and compassionate. Abrams fulfills the promise of "The Force Awakens". There are many more questions. Abrams and Ridley show that the Force can awaken in all of us. The Light or Dark Side is a choice. Let that choice be of love and courage as "The Force Awakens". This is a great movie.