Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Warning: Potential Spoilers Below for those who have not yet seen the film

I wasn't particularly looking forward to this film. The prequel films had somewhat diminished my enthusiasm for the Star Wars franchise. Fortunately, after watching  The Force Awakens, my enthusiasm for the series has returned.

This movie is at great pains to bring back memories of the original, even vaguely following the plot structure of the original. Our first act involves a droid carrying vital information for a Resistance, being pursued across a desert planet by storm troopers. After our heroes unite, they leave the desert planet on the Millennim Falcon. Shortly after this the planet is destroyed by a planet destroying weapon, the Starkiller Base, and the heroes must try to destroy it.

The numerous callbacks to the old film might make this seem like it's going to be old hat. Yet the film avoids this danger by establishing new characters. While all of them take elements from older characters, none of them are direct copies.

Finn is my favourite of the new lead characters. He is a former Storm Trooper who just wants to run. The image of him carrying the lightsaber made it look like he was going to be the Luke character. In truth he is probably closest to Han Solo in that he is interested in self preservation. He rescues resistance member Poe Dameron simply because he thinks he will help him escape. He spends time running away and then later Rey and BB-8. He just wants to run away. Like Han he has a chance to leave but turns back because he has developed feelings for Rey. His change of heart makes his journey the most fascinating.

Poe Dameron the hot shot space pilot, is only in this film briefly at the beginning and then at the end but he is likable enough. He contributes to the destruction of the Starkiller base but there is certainly more potential than that.  Here's hoping that Episode VIII can flesh him out a bit more.

The final new hero is Rey a young scavenger girl from Jakku. She is likable enough. although a scrap dealer with no parents is less relatable than a farmboy who lives racing. My only complaint is that she learned force skills remarkably quickly. Some of those skills took Luke three films to learn. Within the two hours she has learned to influence the weak minded and learned to force grab objects.

Kylo Ren is a particularly well developed character. It was always going to be difficult to make Ren 'The New Darth Vader' and the film acknowledges that and makes it part of his character. He, like most evil zealots, is deep down a pathetic man who lashes out in anger with his lightsaber. Making him hansome on the inside was a good idea.

The old cast make a welcome return. With Luke absent, Han Solo ends up fulfilling the Ben Kenobi role, assisting the younger cast before confronting the villain and dying. His death at the hands of his son is brilliant. Where Ben Kenobi might have given up on Darth Vader, Han still loves his son enough that he does not hate him. It is great to have Leia back as a General, after Return of the Jedi bizarrely made her seem lower ranking than Han.

If I had one complaint it's that the world building is not as good as when Lucas did it. We see very little of what I assumed to be Coruscant before it is destroyed. It seems that the Republic were keeping order. It is unclear whether the survivors will unite against the first order or whether the destruction of Coruscant will make it easier for the First Order to gain territory.

John William's music is decent. Although the music doesn't contain anything quite as memorable as Duel of the Fates, Rey's theme is a pretty nice piece though.

The Force Awakens is one of the better Star Wars films. Below Empire Strikes Back but better than the Prequels. Probably ranked with A New Hope. It's fun film that one could probably watch again and again. I certainly will in the future.

8/10