"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" - Review (Spoiler-Free)

Waking Up After a 30 Year Sleep

Adam Driver as Kylo Ren in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Well, the Force woke up, and it's here to stay.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a return to a world we did not know how much we missed until we are there once again. It is wonderfully old-fashioned while also innovative in its look and craft. It is a return to brilliance for a saga that has been down for way too long.

Honestly, there is not much that can be said and evaluated about this movie without spoiling something for someone, so this review may be a little less wordy and a little more vague than usual.

This is one of the most gorgeously realized productions that I have seen. Practical special effects come back in a huge way and everything has a strong grounded presence that was sorely lacking in the very digital prequel trilogy. The biggest improvement in this film as opposed to the previous films is its pacing. It is go go go straight from the start. There are no trade disputes. No sitting around in rooms talking about things that do not matter in the slightest. There are star wars to be had and no time to be wasted.

Which leads me to my main complaint. Since the pacing so quick and there are so many things going on, it is hard not to feel a bit confused about some of the backstory of this new Star Wars. While the prequel films explained everything with such a dreadful pace, this one hardly explains a thing in the most exciting way possible. That is not to say that there isn't a great story and characters. It often times feels like a "greatest hits" of the original trilogy and I do not see that as a complaint. It is a comfortable and exciting way to start off a new trilogy of films and reaffirm our faith in the franchise before the next few films do something completely new. This way, old and new fans alike will feel in on the adventure and will be ready for the next big thing.

The cast that J.J. Abrams has assembled is great. Everyone seems so excited to be a part of this world and that energy is infectious. While Harrison Ford almost owns the film with his best performance as Han Solo yet, a stand out here is Daisy Ridley as Rey, who is one of the most compelling and crowd pleasing female protagonists in a long while and joins characters like Furiosa from this year's Mad Max: Fury Road in a club of women characters that are complex and challenging to established rules and cliches. Rey does not just keep up with the boys. She can beat them into submission, while also maintaining what makes her a unique and caring woman in a very troubled and unsure world. The introduction of Daisy Ridley is the best decision Disney has made in creating these follow-up films. It expands the target audience and makes the film so much more interesting and diverse.

The Force Awakens has an excellent sense of place and purpose. The world feels lived in and it constantly expands before our eyes and reveals more about itself that I can't wait to learn more about. The actions of its characters have true consequences and drama, as well as some of the best comedy in the entire series. What is most striking is the increased stakes in showing these consequences. For example, this time around the violence feels risky and intense. There are some instances of blood. Laser blasts leave wounds. Characters are not in some weird state of a lack of danger. The danger is real. Characters can be hurt at any time and it is shown. This lends some gravitas to the action sequences that is very welcome and is quite riveting. Even though there is an increased realism to the fights, they are still incredibly fun. There is a sequence involving the Millennium Falcon being chased inside a destroyed Imperial ship that is completely awe-inspiring and crowd pleasing.

It often feels like the film-makers intentionally leave information out of the film so it can be revealed later in future films. I found this to be somewhat annoying at times, but I am sure that once this trilogy is complete, we will be able to look back at this first film and understand exactly why it is what it is. This is the first chapter in a bigger story. Not a complete story, but the introduction to the rest of it and it is a fantastic introduction. I cannot wait for the next movie. I'm already saving my spot in line.

Grade: A.