The 7th episode of The Star Wars saga is finally out. Star Wars: The Force Awakens has managed to awaken all of us from our slumbers. Whether you are a Star Wars loyalist or a new convert, this is the movie we have all been waiting for!
We enter a world set 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi. The Dark Side has a new hooded baddie, Kylo Ren, sporting a red light saber. Then, there are the good guys trying to compete with their white light sabers, while Luke Skywalker is wanted for different reasons by both light saber holding parties. Phew! Yes that’s all that my spoiler free revelations shall convey. But, what I am going to do instead is tempt you with reasons as to why you must book your tickets ASAP!
Firstly, the film has a perfect balance of old and new characters. Of course there is more nostalgia than novelty, but who’s complaining, especially if you see Harrison Ford playing Han Solo with his usual flair. His scenes with Chewbacca and General Leia (Carrie Fisher) still spell the same magic.
Rey: Most Badass Character of 2015
New characters have been brought in to invigorate the franchise. Rey, played by Daisy Ridley, is the most badass female character of 2015, along with Furiosa of Mad Max: Fury Road. There is Finn, played by the refreshing John Boyega, and not to forget Oscar Isaac, as the charming and handsome fighter pilot Poe.
Of all Star Wars films so far, humour has been used most effectively in The Force Awakens. The droids BB-8, C – 3PO and R2 D2 all make it worth our while and the entertainment never really ceases. In this 2 hours 10 mins long film, there isn’t a single dull moment. Look out for the “thumps up” scene and you’ll know what I mean.
The CGI and special effects are top notch but never do they overtake the film. It has a story, real locations, a heart and, most of all, characters that make us empathize with them. For instance, Kylo Ren as the principle baddie is driven by an internal conflict so brilliantly brought forth by Adam Driver that instead of being just another version of Vader, it manages to carve a niche for itself.
Fails to Do Justice to All Characters
The only problem being that since the film boasts of so many characters that are all so good, we feel like justice hasn’t been done to all of them, especially Poe. He is great and we would definitely like to see more of him!
At a time when a lot of franchises are running out of steam and look to be in dire need of euthanasia, director J J Abrams has managed to bring in new excitement into the Star Wars series. He captures our imagination to such an extent that we are hungry for more and impatient for instalment number 8. Not that we are complaining!
All in all, this is the kind of film you want to see this festive season. I’ll adorn it with 4.5/5 QUINTS. Put on your 3D glasses, sit with a huge bucket of popcorn, and surrender to the lightsaber! Even if you haven’t seen the trilogy, worry not as The Force Awakens is a great movie on its own. After all, it’s never too late to become a Star Wars addict!
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