Arguably one of the largest pop culture moments in history, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is finally here and has the generic problems of a film that must continue a franchise with new characters and new worlds while maintaining canon. This latest outing introduces Rey (Daisy Ridley), a lonely scavenger, and Finn (John Boyega), an emotionally damaged stormtrooper, who must take on the evil First Order, commanded by Kylo Ren (Adam Driver).
It's very hard to convey the astonishing feat that Disney has accomplished without spoiling the film for audiences. I personally love the film, even with the amount of flaws it has. However, these flaws are due to the difficulty of constructing a new trilogy and the pressure that is created when trying to please 40 years of fans and studio executives. Most of these flaws have to do with the choppy flow of the story and overcrowding of characters.
John Boyega as Finn in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" |
On a much larger note, it is sad that Abrams got to the "Star Trek" franchise before this film. While each shot is beautiful and has a Star Wars-feel, there are times that "The Force Awakens" has a "Star Trek" vibe. These moments are mostly in the dark and gritty cinematography of some scenes. If it were not for the lightsabers and Harrison Ford, I wouldn't know the difference between either science fiction franchise in this film. This doesn't mean that there aren't memorable Star Wars-moments or iconic scenes, but the operatic quality and consistent iconic creationism is missing. Abrams creates a film that is more like stone skipping. Each scene is there for characters and audiences to get to a bigger picture later down the road. Again, not a bad thing since this film does deliver on many levels. This is just what happens when continuing a franchise and having the inevitable need to bring in new characters.
BB-8 in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" |
B+
Good Qualities: Gorgeous visual effects, great start to a new trilogy, an emotional fireball
Bad Qualities: Choppy editing, inconsistent flow, overcrowded
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