I haven't written a movie review in a
very long time. Let's do this...
I really don't think the Star Wars
franchise requires any introduction. It is bound to the human culture
like the moon is to the Earth. It's always there... and hard to
ignore. When the seventh episode was announced, there was much
anticipation and excitement. However, the prequel series has left a
bitter taste in everyone's mouth that some kept their expectations as
low as it can go. BUT....
Starting from the thunderous applause
which shook the theater when the Star Wars theme started playing to
the audience jumping in joy at the end credits crawled (which may
have led to last night's earthquake in Pakistan), Star Wars: The
Force Awakens is an unforgettable ride which made people who called
the director J. J. Abrams, Jar Jar Abrams to eat their words with
extra bit of their own dignity.
Performance
Let me point you to the beautiful
elephant in the room: The main characters of the movie... is a woman
and a black man. Read that again slowly if you didn't get that the
first time: The main characters of the movie... is a woman and a
black man. The two character types who are often shunned in other
movies, TV shows, books... you name it. Yet here they are... so
beautiful not just in appearance but I never felt like they are movie
characters. They were so real... both of them. Daisy Ridley delivered
such a phenomenal performance. You'll never notice that she's a
newcomer. Her portrayal of Rey is not just any woman; but strong,
tech-savvy, kick-assy , independent, courageous individual who sets
an example for every women in the society. John Boyega's Finn is a
direct opposite of how the society looks upon black men. Finn showed
that they do the right thing, walk away from the evil, caring and
always there for their friends (“I like this guy”). Rey and Finn
are the opposite sides of the same coin in personality. That's what sets them apart.
But the value remains the same. With Adam Driver's Kylo Ren, you see
the young Anakin and the old Darth Vader in him. That's what makes
him so special. You see the Original Trilogy Villain and the Prequel
Trilogy “Hero” in him. And finally the return of the original
cast.... yeah, I don't even need to say a word. You can't criticize
them. It's like criticizing your own mom and dad.
Plot
Well, the whole movie feels like it's
a lot of fan service. You can't watch the new movie without watching
and loving the previous movies. This is my ONLY gripe about Star
Wars: The Force Awakens; you can't jump in. That's not how this movie
works. But if you are watching this as a fan, let me tell you... you
are in for the ride of your life. I guarantee you, you'll shed at
least one tear of joy. Any single spoiler in this movie can ruin the
entire movie for you. It's amazing how Disney kept all these secrets
during the marketing campaign. Must have been one hell of an effort.
Cinematography and Visuals
SW:TFA goes back to what made the
original trilogy so special. You feel the magic. You feel the galaxy
far far away. You see the exotic locations. You hear the worlds. We
couldn't help but feel nostalgic inside as familiar faces and
familiar places comes up when we least expect them to. You see a
whole new world and you escape into the aforementioned galaxy far far
away. J. J. Abrams is a storytelling genius. We see his handy work
and imagine it's George Lucas who worked on the original trilogy.
It's clear that Mr. Abrams had gone for a more practical approach
than the CGI-fest that was Prequel Trilogy. Just because a new
technology exists, it doesn't mean that the traditional should be
forgotten, That's exactly what the director tried to prove. Speaking
of new technology, the 3D effects had gone to it's absolute peak. If
you can, I highly suggest you to go for IMAX 3D.
Music
Again, the magic of the original is
intact here. New themes like “Rey's Theme” are orchestral
masterpieces which fills your heart each moment you are living in the
movie. John Williams prove again and again why he is the king of
movie soundtracks.
Legacy
Star Wars: The Force Awakens truly
feels like it is the worthy successor to the original trilogy. It
feels so connected that you'll never feel like it's something new.
You'll feel like you never left the theater so many years ago at the
end of Return Of The Jedi. You'll feel like no time has passed and
you have returned to the theater next year to watch the sequel. 32
years just seems insignificant. And that is the legacy of this new
movie. That is how Star Wars: The Force Awakens shines above all
else. That is how this movie becomes legendary.
May The Force Be With You!
