A review of The Force Awakens by Kyle Kranen
Grade: A-
Star Wars is one of my favorite movie franchises, but I’ve attempted to separate myself from the hype to give an honest review, in the context of the previous movies in the series.
First, I’d like to give my take on new characters. Similar to that of Episodes 4-6, the character interaction and development in The Force Awakens makes it easy to come to love the new characters. A great example is BB-8, the “new” R2-D2, whose interaction with the other characters (especially Finn, a new protagonist) builds him up to be the next cute, lovable little droid. The new protagonists, Finn and Rey, have witty dialogue that make you like them just as you liked Luke and Han in the original movies. This “character likeability” was something that I felt was lacking in the prequel movies, and I was very excited to see it in The Force Awakens.
Now, onto the movie itself. It feels like the originals: lots of lightsaber duels, space battles, and use of the force. And thankfully, there are no hours spent in the galactic senate and no extensive explanations of midichlorians (mini Force organisms). The movie is paced quickly in the same manner of the old movies. It entertains the audience from beginning to end with constant action and an engaging story. It feels like a spiritual return to its predecessors, a glorious return to the old ways.
If you want a movie that feels like a continuation of the old Star Wars trilogy, then this definitely fits the bill. As a stand-alone movie, for those who haven’t seen the other six, it works too. You can watch it without any knowledge of the others, but you might miss some jokes and references aimed at those who have watched the other movies.
