STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS film review – Cate Marquis

‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ re-awakens spirit of Lucas’ original

– Film Review By Cate Marquis –

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” brings back the magic that George Lucas created long ago in his galaxy far, far away. The film, which is both Episode 7 and the seventh one, brings back original stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamil and Carrie Fisher to play older versions of their characters. Fans will likely rejoice, although the seventh episode borrows more than the cast, and recreates so many visual bits from the first Star Wars movie that some viewers might wonder if they are watching the 1977 original or its latest sequel. Fortunately, the plot is different although the parallels are everywhere.

J.J. Abrams directs, and co-wrote the script with Lawrence Kasdan and Michael Arndt. Although George Lucas had no input on the production, it draws heavily on his universe – in the best way – and channels his creation’s spirit with uncanny accuracy. This is the film fans have been waiting for since the first trilogy.

The film opens with the classic credit crawl while John Williams’ iconic theme plays. In this introduction, we learn that three decades after we saw the rebels defeat the Empire, Princess Leia (Fisher) heads a fledgling Republic that faces strong opposition from the First Order, a still-powerful remnant of the Empire, well-equipped with firepower and their army of stormtroopers. Meanwhile, the last Jedi, Luke Skywalker (Hamill), has gone into hiding. Both Leia and the First Order’s Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) are determined to find him.

Snoke has sent General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) and dark-side knight Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) to a remote desert planet in search of a clue to Skywalker’s hiding place. On the desert planet, Resistance pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and a guy called Finn (John Boyega) crash while trying to deliver a droid with a secret clue to Skywalker’s location. A salvager/scavenger named Rey (Daisy Ridley) ends up with both the droid and Finn, who falls hard for her but conceals his true identity.

Believing he is part of the Resistance, the pair are launched on an adventure that brings them in contact with forces of good and evil, strange aliens hanging out in shady off-world bars and even the legendary Han Solo (Ford), a wookie named Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) and the Millennium Falcon.

The robots C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) and R2D2 are back, along with other bits of the original film. Ford has a larger part in this story than Fisher or Hamill but the whole thing has a very familiar, epic feel. Not only are the costumes and characters familiar but several shots look like they were lifted straight out the original, which gives a kind of strange shiver of recognition. Even a scene transition with an old-fashioned side wipe, a retro movie touch in the first “Star Wars,” pops up here.

The story is exciting and satisfying, with plenty of great effects and references to the franchise’s beginnings. The film is a great Christmas gift to fans, the movie they have waiting so long to see.

© Cate Marquis 2015