Never mind new director J.J. Abrams or the fact the franchise is now owned by Disney. From the opening scrolling credits and the glorious fanfare, it’s clear that this is the same galaxy far far away that you know and love. The Force Awakens looks like Star Wars, it sounds like Star Wars, and it plays out like Star Wars – perhaps more so than you might expect.
In almost every way, this is an ode to A New Hope – from the opening shot, to the climactic battle against
a planet-sized ship (that’s definitely not the Death Star…). Along the way, the
film is littered with nods and references to the original trilogy in its
dialogue, cinematography, setting and characters. There are cocky heroes, a young scavenger discovered
on a desert planet, a villain in a robotic mask, a cantina scene, plenty of
screen wipes, and so much more, all underpinned by a fresh yet familiar score
from John Williams.
And when certain characters reunite, you know they’re not
really acting. The Force Awakens certainly
gets the nostalgia juices flowing in its triumphant return to this well-trodden
universe. Yet it’s a gritty view of a universe scarred by past battles, just as
the film itself is haunted by its predecessors. Ruined spaceships lie like
corpses on the ground, husks of their former glory pilfered by vulture-like
scavengers, and returning characters are old and weary with the weight of their
shared history. Far from simply retreading old ideas and ticking boxes, Abrams
has created a new compelling narrative with a foot in the past and the future,
containing all the swooping stomach-churning space battles and light sabre
duels you could hope for, with a whole dose of family tragedy thrown in, appropriate use of CGI, and stunning inter-planetary vistas.
So what’s new? For starters, we finally get to see beneath
the helmets of the stormtroopers, who have more personality this time around
(and are far less inept than before). Specifically we have new hero Finn (John
Boyega), who moves from dark side to light in a twist on Anakin Skywalker’s
trajectory. In many ways he is the new Han Solo (though Oscar Isaac’s Poe gives
him a run for his money), Boyega delivering comic quips alongside a naïve and
likeable personality with just the right amount of conviction. Sadly Gwendoline
Christie’s Captain Phasma – the first female stormtrooper – doesn’t fare so
well. A potentially intriguing character, she is criminally underused.
If you’re after strong female characters, then newcomer Daisy
Ridley delivers as Rey. Despite looking and sounding like a young Keira
Knightley, her Rey is a hero for everyone, a girl who can fend for herself and
refuses to be rescued. Finally, the series has a female character worth celebrating.
Speaking of which, Carrie Fisher’s Leia Organa has finally shed the shackles of
that gold bikini, becoming the military leader she was always meant to be –
even if it’s too late for any actual action.
On the dark side there’s Adam Driver as Kylo Ren. It’s a
tough role, stuck in the inescapable shadow of Darth Vader, but Driver does a
decent job in this one film growth of character. Ren shows true villainy in the
film’s biggest shock, setting the scene for what is yet to come. The less said
about Andy Serkis’ Snoke, though, the better.
And then there’s BB8. He might be the film’s primary comic
sidekick, but wisely he is mute (beyond obligatory beeping), learning from the
lessons of Jar Jar Binks. Far more than this year’s must-have toy, BB8 is the
most expressive robot since Wall-E, providing adorable amusement consistently in a
film that balances well the light and dark sides of humour and grandiose drama.
The Force Awakens,
then, is everything fans could want it to be – an absolute thrill that will
have you grinning non-stop throughout. Though it doesn’t stray too far from
established convention, this is a throwback to the best of the series whilst
laying ground for the future in a cinematic passing of the torch from old to
new. This was the right move for the series, purging us of the memories of the
prequel trilogy as Abrams takes us back full circle. Moreover, with its black
and female leads, we finally have a Star Wars film that’s universal. And if
this is the equivalent to A New Hope,
I can’t wait to see what’s next. Hoth battle reprise anyone?
5/5
Watch: The Force
Awakens is out now.
