By Cameron Kerkau, Staff Reporter.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock at the bottom of the ocean planet Kamino, you’ve probably heard about the new “Star Wars” movie. For the past year, it’s been impossible to take five steps without running into a conversation about the film or seeing its advertisements plastered across fast-food drinks or cereal boxes. In fact, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is most likely the most hyped movie of the decade thus far. Now that it’s out, the only question is: does it live up to that hype?
Longtime “Star Wars” fans may be wary of a new film. After all, the ‘Star Wars” prequels are some of the most criticized films of our time. When director J.J. Abrams (“Super8,” “Star Trek”) accepted the project, he took on the burden of pleasing one of cinemas most vocal fan-bases—though he’s no stranger to angry fans. Despite overwhelmingly positive reviews, his “Star Trek” movies are generally disliked by fans of the TV show.
Fortunately, fans no longer need to worry: “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” absolutely earns its place next to the original trilogy. J.J. Abrams mixes in new elements with ones that we’re already accustomed to, bringing us a film that is both nostalgic and brand new. This is illustrated most in the action sequences— of which there are plenty. Seeing iconics spaceships such as X-wings and TIE fighters battling it out in modern cinematography is a treat, and it’s interesting to be startled by the familiar sound of a blaster firing. Similarly, the presence of lightsabers on screen is not taken lightly. When they are activated, these lightsabers erupt from their hilt. Their commanding and constant humming in your ear will snowball your anticipation to the final lightsaber battle, which sounds like a thunderstorm.
One of my favorite choices made by Abrams, however, is his consistent use of practical effects. If there is a creature or droid in this movie that could have been created without the use of CGI, it is. These old-school tactics invigorate the movie with the soul of the original trilogy. It gives characters like the soccer ball-esque droid BB-8 a charm that wouldn’t have been there otherwise. Not to mention that it’s easier on the eyes and more fun to look at.
Harrison Ford and Carrie Fischer reprise their roles as Han Solo and Princess Leia, though she prefers General Leia now. Seeing these characters on screen again makes my heart sing. It’s a joy to catch up with them after the thirty years since we saw them last.
Probably one of the biggest challenges in making this film was creating a villain that could fill Darth Vader’s shoes. What we’re given is Kylo Ren, played by Adam Driver (“Girls”, “While we’re Young”), and he satisfies. In his debut, Kylo Ren is a much more complicated character than Darth Vader was in “A New Hope.” He’s powerful but insecure about his position in the dark side. Though the terrifying thing about Ren isn’t only his power, but also his immaturity. Ren is a much younger villain than any before him and it shows in his childish fits of rage in which he carves up entire rooms with his lightsaber. This unpredictability adds tension to his presence on screen. Driver brings all of this through Ren masterfully and brings us a villain with as much weight to him as Darth Vader.
Kylo Ren’s master, Andy Serkis’ (“the Lord of the Rings”, “King Kong”) Supreme Leader Snoke, is equally menacing. Though at this point, there isn’t much to the character, and he seems to be there to fill the gaps left by Emperor Palpatine. Though Snoke’s presence does invent a sense of intrigue, and through some interesting creative choices regarding his appearance, his time on screen is seriously tense.
When it was announced that John Boyega (“Attack the Block”) was cast to play the stormtrooper-turned-rebel, Finn, there was some controversy. But Boyega brings a heart to his character that holds the whole movie together. His levity and relatable motives keep you invested in the movie from start to finish. Finn adds an entirely new dimension to the “Star Wars” saga and it’s silly to think that anyone ever thought that John Boyega didn’t belong in this film. I’m extremely interested to see what is done with his character in the future.
A character that I had hoped to see more of was Oscar Isaac’s (“Inside Llewyn Davis,” “Ex Machina”) Poe Dameron. Poe is the best pilot in the Resistance, and adds a sharp wit to the movie reminiscent of Han Solo. Unfortunately, we only get a small taste of his character in this film. Though for spoilerish reasons, his lack of screen time makes sense, and I’m sure he’ll be more prominently featured in the next few installments.
The real hero of this trilogy, however, is Daisy Ridley’s (“Scrawl”) Rey. Rey is a young woman living as a slave worker on the desolate planet of Jakku. She if defined by her solitude and her hope that her family will one day return to her. It’s her kindness to BB-8 that inserts her into the plot, and it’s her resourcefulness and know-how as a mechanic that impresses Han Solo. With her sensitivity to the force, it’s easy to see her future in the series as a Jedi.
I used to be envious of the men and women that got to see “A New Hope” in theaters in 1977. I no longer need to be. J.J. Abrams has delivered to us an experience akin to seeing the original trilogy for the first time. “The Force Awakens” presents us with everything we loved about “Star Wars” while inventing new and welcomed aspects to the universe.