Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Review: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

by Patrick Bromley
Worth the wait.

This review of The Force Awakens will be completely Spoiler Free. For a more in-depth and spoilery discussion of the film, tune in to our podcast next week.

What do we talk about when we talk about Star Wars? How do we discuss the merits of The Force Awakens (which, contrary to all of the marketing, does appear in the opening crawl as Episode VII)? Is it enough for it to just be a fun, thrilling space adventure with great characters and exciting action? Or does it need to achieve some sort of constant perfection, wrapping up everything that Star Wars fans love about not just the series but their entire fandom -- nay, their entire childhoods -- inside of two hours? Judged against the second criteria, The Force Awakens no doubt falls short. Any movie would. Judged against the first, however, the movie is a resounding success. It's all a matter of perspective.
What do we want from a new Star Wars movie? Do we want it to push the story previously laid out in the first six films forward? Do we want it to surprise us? Or do we just want it to deliver the things we want from a Star Wars movie? The Force Awakens tries to have it both ways, advancing the larger narrative (sort of) while repeating many of the same beats from A New Hope. As a story, there's not much 'there' there. Instead, the movie leaps from set piece to set piece, strung together by a very specific McGuffin and depending a lot on timing and coincidence to fill in the gaps. Anyone who has seen Abrams' Star Trek reboot will be familiar with this phenomenon. That means some aspects might not hold up on reflection, but it doesn't matter in the moment. The movie just keeps propelling forward, bringing the space opera back to Space Opera.
One of the things I really love about The Force Awakens is that despite working within arguably the biggest and most beloved film franchise of all time and under the auspices of the Disney corporate umbrella, Abrams has managed to make a JJ Abrams Star Wars movie. He's not just trying to reproduce Lucas's aesthetic, even though he is willing to play in the same sandbox and often does conjure up imagery that would have been right at home in the original trilogy (including a few moments of blatant fan service that aren't necessary but are also completely inoffensive). His galaxy feels lived in just as Lucas' did, but he frames and moves things in way that's consistent with his past work. The decision to shoot the film on 35mm pays off, as does Abrams' insistence on using as many practical props and locations as he could. Things have weight. When Stormtroopers get shot or are standing near an explosion (I hope that's not a spoiler), they fly through the air and land with a heavy thud. Lightsabers cause visible damage. Best of all, there's a whole lot of humor in the movie -- not forced, not out of place, but true moments of character-based levity. It's hard to watch The Force Awakens without a big smile the whole way through.

About the characters. They are across-the-board great. I don't want to use this space to throw shade at the prequel trilogy -- that's well-worn territory for which George Lucas has been punished enough, and it's not as if the movies don't have a huge number of fans and defenders -- but one of the areas in which those films always fell short for me was in their characterization. They were movies much more interested in being about the world these people inhabited and the machinations of the things that happen to them than the people themselves. The Force Awakens brings back the idea that it's the characters who matter -- they are what we fall in love with and the reason we keep coming back to this series. We aren't there for the Star Wars brand. We are there to spend time with the characters.
The characters and the actors inhabiting them are worth spending time with. While the screenplay by Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan and Michael Arndt is structured so that it plays a bit like Star Wars: The Next Generation, all of the actors infuse their performances with joy and depth and a sense of an inner life. Daisy Ridley and John Boyega bring such life to their roles, capturing the wonder of discovery and the enormity of their circumstances (which serves a double function, as it also perfectly reflects the real-life actors thrust into superstardom thanks to the franchise). Oscar Isaac brings heroic swagger. I would gladly follow all of them on more adventures, were they to have them. Adam Driver has a challenging role but continues to do interesting work even in the context of a huge blockbuster, and the way he inverts what we've come to expect functions to make his role more than just an echo of something familiar.

As for the returning cast? They're put to good use, some more than others. Everyone effortlessly falls back into step, and I like that the movie doesn't ignore the years they've put on -- in fact, the screenplay hints at a whole lot of stuff that has happened since we saw them around the campfire at the end of Return of the Jedi. Great care has been put into the return of every franchise character, and Abrams is sure each gets a worthy entrance. Actually, "care" is an important word in discussing The Force Awakens. Everyone has taken great care, from the filmmakers to the studio to the marketing team, to deliver the best movie possible. Even if you don't love the movie, you can't really ask for more than that.

Maybe it's too soon to talk much about The Force Awakens because I'm caught up in the excitement of Star Wars completely dominating pop culture right now and in the joy of experiencing what Abrams and his team have accomplished. Maybe once this dizzy high wears off I'll have more objectivity; after all, plenty of people loved The Phantom Menace the week it came out. Maybe I'll find greater fault in all the parallels between this movie and the original. The thing is, even if that does happen I'm still not going to care. I don't need a Star Wars movie to be perfect. They never have been. Some might accuse Abrams of playing it too safe, but there is a difference between "safe" and "solid." He has made a very solid movie, one which will stand the test of time as a worthy -- even excellent -- film in the Star Wars franchise and which will undoubtedly create a new generation of Star Wars fans. I have a three year old daughter. I can't tell you how much it means to me that she's going to grow up pretending to be Rey.

This is the start of a new era (era) of Star Wars, one in which Disney has promised at least one new movie a year with no end in sight. It's hugely important that The Force Awakens gets things started right, and it does. Abrams has made a movie that reminds us why we fell in love with Star Wars in the first place. If The Force Awakens is a lot like Lucas' 1977 original, that's ok. There are worse movies for the new Star Wars movie to be compared to than Star Wars. As someone who hoped for the best but tried to temper my own expectations going in, it is exactly the movie I hoped it would be. The Force is strong with this one.

39 comments:


  1. In the words of Jessie Spano on Saved by the Bell, my reaction leading up to Star Wars was thus: "I'm so excited! I'm so excited! I'm so...scared!" I am no longer scared!


    (I apologize that it took me four tries to get this right.)

    ReplyDelete
  2. So it's less "Yippee!" and more "Yahoo!"?

    Great review and certainly the one that matters most to me - sounds like it's about all I could reasonably hope for.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Im so happy. This is the only review I have read and I appreciate the spoiler free structure, Perfect, Now im keeping off the grid until I see it
      Im guessing Heath is coming back on for the podcast. It will be fun

      Delete
    2. Love Heath of course, but kinda hoping that as a follow up to the epic Episode I podcast we get to hear from a Happy Mike this time!

      Delete
  3. Thank you this makes me very happy. Is anyone else out there ion the fence in regards to taking younger kids to see it? I'm going to see prior to maing a decision, but my 4yr old is dying to go and I was around his age the 1st time I saw a New Hope.
    I'm curious about other people's plans or thoughts are about what age they exposed there kids to Star Wars.
    I can't say thank you enough. This site is wonderful and I consider it a privilege to listen, read, and on occasion chime in!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah let me know too. I watched ROTJ with my 1-year-old and when he asked me why the sexy lady was chained to a giant testicle, I was at a loss for words.

      Delete
    2. I will. At least he didn't ask why the fat lady was chained to a giant testicle and let's not get started on the lizard monkey...

      Delete
    3. Sol, your 1 yr old is quite precocious.

      I saw The Empire Strikes Back in theaters as a 4 year old, and even though I don't remember that experience, it kicked off my Star Wars habit.

      Going to see it Friday. WOO!

      Delete
    4. There's at least two scenes that would be pretty upsetting for a 4-year-old. It's PG-13 for a reason, let's just say that. I would see it first before taking someone that young.

      Delete
    5. My son is almost four. I've just recently exposed him to the Star Wars films. He likes the droids and he likes lightsabers and space ships, but he doesn't have the patience to sit through an entire film.

      He really liked it and there was definitely enough action to keep him interested. At the end of the movie, he said that it was a little bit scary but that he liked it. Like Mark Ahn said, I doubt he'll remember much of the experience... I just brought him because I'm selfish and loved watching it with him!

      Delete
  4. I'd love to see a massive retrospective study a few weeks from now that analyzes how many reviews use your last sentence. More interestingly, which of these reviewers makes it into the TV spots? (Hint: It's gonna be Peter Travers.) ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The force truly is strong with this one! (gunshot)

      Delete
    2. I'm pulling for Bromley to make the TV spot (all out of context, of course) something like - "A Dizzy High" - Patrick Bromley or "completely inoffensive" - F-This Movie. Plus, Ghoul School, Dead Snow and Star Wars - that would be strong!

      Delete
    3. "constant perfection" - F This Movie

      Delete
  5. So you're saying I should see this?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LA Doug...you didn't get an invite to the Chinese Theater premier? Don't they know who you are??? Well maybe next time. Hopefully it was the right balance of Sci-Fi and Fantasy for you. If not you're clearly First Order. I like to order second or third, they work the bugs out.

      Delete
  6. "I have a three year old daughter. I can't tell you how much it means to me that she's going to grow up pretending to be Rey." <-- Crying.

    Really looking forward to seeing this and listening to the podcast next week. It feels good to be in a cloud of hype that is not immediately dissipating. Let's all take a collective sigh and enjoy it.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What format did you see it in, Patrick? I've been hearing a lot of hype about the 3D.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Post converted, yes, can't stand it. Shot in 3D can be very effective e.g. Hugo.

      Delete
    2. Yeah I can't stand it but Abrams recommended seeing it in 3D Imax with the new laser projection.

      Delete
    3. I watched it in 3D and really enjoyed it. It wasn't distracting at all... Nothing constantly flying towards the camera.

      It looked good and I'd definitely recommend it!

      Delete
  8. I watched the movie and I'm very pleased. It looks brilliant, sounds very good, the actors do their job well and the characters and the world feels alive. But most and foremost: the fantastic, fairy-tale and epic character of the old trilogy, especially the first two movies, is back.
    Of course there is the possibility, that I'll have to say different things about Episode VII, things I didn't care about now, things that will bug me. But for now I'm happy.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Goddam it, it was good. If you shut your eyes and listen very carefully you can almost hear JJ Abrams let out the biggest sigh of relief in the history of cinema...

    ReplyDelete
  10. Loved it. My heart is soaring knowing that this universe I love is going to develop further, with wonderful new characters to boot.

    I'll save most of my thoughts for the podcast because this is a spoiler heavy movie but damn. I'm pleased.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I've seen it twice now. Oh man, I loved it. What an unbelievable amount of fun! Perfect? No. But a terrific adventure film. Fantastic review Patrick!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Saw it Friday morning at 9AM during a near-riot sold out IMAX 3D screening (doors opened late, crowds barely got in). AMC was so disorganized they showed the "Batman vs. Superman" trailer twice in a row (it bombed both times, loudly). I enjoyed it and had fun with it as spectacle, but the J.J. that messed up the "Star Trek" reboots with too much on-the-nose fan service is alive and well in "The Force Awakens." At least Lawrence Kasdan is at hand to keep the emphasis and attention centered on the characters, and the combo of Abrams' love for the franchise and good (if predictable; everything I assumed would happen does) writing services a perfect mix between practical and top-tier special effects. Biggest and most pleasant surprise was Adam Driver, who could have pulled a Hayden Christiansen and become a laughing stock but instead creates a villain that's compelling and full of angst/pathos. Biggest disappointment is that Thanos from "The Avangers," apparently bored with waiting for his turn at bat, has moved over to "The Force Awakens" to play some mysterious head bad guy role; this part of the movie feels so by-the-numbers bad not even Andy Serkis could save it.

    Did you stay and read the credits at the end? If you did I hope you read the name of "Raid" franchise star Iko Uwais as the movie's Fight Choreographer, and also starring in a small role (Razoo Quin-Fee). Yep, this movie aims to please and succeeds wildly in the present. Let's wait until tomorrow for the nitpicks and criticism to commence in earnest (Cough... rehash... "A New Hope"... cough), but tonight let's celebrate that after three mediocre-in-a-row "Star Wars" movies "The Force Awakens" does not suck and aims to please. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  13. This movie was everything i hoped it would be.

    ReplyDelete
  14. The movie sucked so bad. Same happened whith The Phamtom Menace. Denial.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! Another person couldn't have possibly enjoyed it because you didn't.

      Delete
    2. Didn't meet your expectations? Sure. Wasn't quite what you wanted? Totally fine. Sucked? Oh please...

      Delete
  15. Watched it this afternoon and loved it - sure, it's nothing groundbreaking story-wise and there are a couple things I'm not entirely sold on (yet? - Snoke in particular is kind of ho-hum but could potentially become interesting I suppose), but I'm digging the new characters and they seem to be using the old ones in all the right ways. There was nothing that made me cringe, the funny moments work and I'm excited to see where it goes from here!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Smiled just about the entire time, laughed a bunch, got jazzed by every action scene, teared up a few times. Maybe it's my sentiment for the franchise, maybe it's that awesome....CHEE!!!! Whatever the case, IMO it was spectacular and just about the best Christmas present.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I mostly stayed clear of the internet since thursday and now there are only 2 hours left to my first viewing. I´m really excited.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Isn´t it great when a movie makes you laugh and cry and remember the first time you entered this saga and what a great experience that was?
    I couldn´t have hoped for a more worthy successor. Maybe I´m just old, but no CGI can compete with practical sets and effects. It looked great, it sounded great, it was great fun.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I desperately love this movie. The Force Awakens made it fun to be a Star Wars fan again. The new characters are fantastic, seeing the old characters was like being reunited with old friends, and the lightsaber duels had weight and drama to them. I actually choked up during Kylo's duel with Rey, just because the tension was so palpable. Seeing this movie felt like going home. Can't wait for Episode VIII.

    ReplyDelete