Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens

I remember sitting in a restaurant on October 30, 2012 checking my Facebook app when I read the announcement of a new "Star Wars" film. At first I didn't believe it but the multiple posts about Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm confirmed the news. I was left feeling concerned because I wasn't about to forget how so many fans reacted to the prequels they had waited so long for. I don't consider myself a die-hard "Star Wars" fan and therefore was not disappointed with the prequels. In my opinion, among other reasons that are discussed later and also in my reviews of the prequels, fans ruined the prequels for themselves. For three years up until December 18, 2015, my worry was replaced with cautious optimism about "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens". I was not disappointed. I never have been disappointed from watching a "Star Wars" film. The film had some imperfections but instead of dwelling upon those, I will focus on what made the film great such as certain action sequences, appearances and the humor.

The opening shot of a spaceship after the credit roll is quite important in a "Star Wars" movie and it all goes back to the groundbreaking opening shot of "A New Hope" back in 1977. For "Episode VII", I liked the use of silhouette. "The Force Awakens" really does a good job in setting up the sequel trilogy, as it is now called. I am sure many plot points in this movie will be paid off in the future. One plot point that I pray will be answered is how Maz ended up with Anakin's/Luke's saber. Wasn't it lost on Bespin? The story of this film is meant to pass the torch from the classic characters to the new ones. We even have a character to fill the role of the Evil Emperor in the form of Supreme Leader Snoke. As with the films that initiated their respective trilogies, "A New Hope" and "The Phantom Menace", "The Force Awakens" employs the story archetype of The Hero's journey. We may be getting tired of this plotline and while the narrative of "The Force Awakens" did feel recycled at some times, it worked enough and should easily entertain new fans. The story pattern of The Hero's Journey" generally follows this simplified outline:

1. We meet an ordinary, relatable protagonist who has aspirations. Concerning the first ever film in the franchise, Director J. J. Abrams once said, "At the heart of the story, is some kid who is being called to service, to deal with something that is so much bigger than him." Of Leia, he said, "While she is desperate, she's anything but. She is tough and she's resourceful. She doesn't hesitate to do what she needs to do." Abrams has combined these two types of characters into one, as the protagonist in "The Force Awakens" is female and dressed in the same colors as Luke was in "Episode IV" to symbolize naïveté & inexperience. "Star Wars" is known for its strong female characters. Rey is clever, brave and headstrong just like her predecessors. This isn't the first time that the hero in The Hero's Journey has been female. Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz" is practically quintessential. I think what would have made Rey an even better protagonist was to have suffered some loss at the start just like Luke lost his aunt and uncle. On the other hand, copying "A New Hope" verbatim would have been really bad. I like how at the end of the movie, Rey is dressed in grey colours so as to symbolize her growing experience with using the Force.

2. The hero is called to adventure by a mentor. Abrams also spoke of the role of the mentor in the original trilogy, "In moments of absolute disconnect and loss, and confusion and fear, these characters arrive that gave purpose and confidence to our main character." In the case of "Episode VII", the mentor is surprisingly Han Solo but this was not Harrison Ford's intention. He played the character as cool as we would have expected him to but nevertheless; he takes a shine to Rey and Finn. Han's transition from a cynical, selfish pirate to believer in the Force is an entertaining one. Obi-Wan went from obedient student to the archetypal teacher so why can't Han take on a new role? Just like Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan before him, Han (even though he is not a Jedi) is taken from the new characters by death. This plot point was spoiled to me even though at first I thought it was a joke on Facebook. I forget who it was that spoiled Han Solo's death because I didn't stay long to look at the post but as Kylo Ren took out his lightsaber, I suddenly realized the truth of that post. I was disappointed. The death of Han Solo however is something that Harrison Ford has desired ever since production of "Return of the Jedi".

3. The hero refuses the call at first. Upon leaving Jakku, Rey wants to return to the planet because she is waiting for her family. She even rejects Maz's guidance at first but with the help of Maz, Rey comes to realize that she has a destiny to follow.

4. The hero is given supernatural aid to help them on their quest. This happens when Rey is given the lightsaber from the previous films.

5. The hero has companions on the quest to learn from and get help from. It is not just the hero but also the hero's friends that go on journeys of their own. I think I like Finn more than I like Rey because he leaves the First Order and becomes a good guy. He also has chemistry with every character he interacts with. Another quote from Abrams says, "When I first saw Star Wars, it was so hard to relate to what was happening...As soon as you had [R2-D2 and C-3P0] show up, immediately your laughing and your comfortable and you think, 'Now I know who I am. Now I know I can fit in here...because they're like me'" I felt that way with Finn.

6. The hero must cross the threshold from their familiar world to an unfamiliar world. Rey and Luke, in their respective journeys, find themselves in a cantina with various species of alien. The freighter could also be a threshold moment for Rey.

7. The hero, as part of their quest, encounters labors or tasks that must be completed. The attack on Takodana is one example among a few in "Episode VII".

Besides classic story archetypes, "Star Wars" in the past has also borrowed from history, philosophy and mythology. I cannot as yet make any new comparisons to such things in "The Force Awakens". It was a lot easier with the prequel trilogy. It could take more viewings and more movies to see the historical or mythological connections. One thing I can point out is that final scene with Luke Skywalker comes across as quite medieval because of the use of Ireland as the backdrop. As Rey climbs the stone staircase, it also brings to mind Moses or other Biblical prophets climbing a mountain to gain revelation. All the new characters are relatable besides Rey because like the young kids in the audience, they have heard the names and stories of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Han Solo. These classic characters seem bigger than life and mythical. The drama that we experience in this new movie could be seen as unoriginal but that is something I can also overlook. "Star Wars" is all about conflict between family & friends and to change that would have been risky. The escape of Poe and Finn is a lot of fun in the TIE fighter and I think it is my favorite action scene in the movie. The appearance of Millennium Falcon was a welcomed sight. During this action sequence, I could almost hear the audience as one pleading silently, "Please don't scratch it. It's an antique." The first take off is quite hard to watch for this reason. Other space battles however, especially in the climax, seemed cliché as opposed to reverential but this is after all an introductory film for a new story and generation of moviegoers. The lightsaber battles are not as furious as we are used to from the prequels but as with Luke in the original trilogy, Rey, Finn and Kylo Ren have a lack of complete training. Lylo Ren is also injured. Speaking of him, he comes across to me as a Syndrome-like villain in that he is a fan of Darth Vader. Being that Kylo Ren is Vader's grandson, why not? He is also a troubled teen much like Anakin. I like the irony of Kylo Ren's inner torment concerning the fact that he can't become just like Vader. This inner anguish is very much like what Anakin went through and that creates the irony because in trying to become like Vader and somewhat failing to do so, he succeeds. Kylo Ren is young, troubled and torn between two worlds just like his grandfather was. This connection has been explored in the previous films and it comes from Greek mythology. The sins of the father (Chaos) are passed to the son (Zeus) or at least down the lineage. Another thing that I enjoy about "Episode VII" is how funny it was. This is thanks to the screenwriters. I was awaiting the line "I have a bad feeling about this" and I am glad Han says it. It turns out that all the characters in the movie were asking the same question that fans were asking in the months leading up to the release of this show: "Where is Luke Skywalker?" I wonder whether that was an intentional tactic as part of the marketing. The physical appearance of Luke was very fitting. He has physically become his mentor, Ben Kenobi. I also applaud the way Han and Leia are portrayed from a design and makeup standpoint. The amount of age and change that has occurred with all three of these characters seems perfectly consistent with that for the character of Obi-Wan between "Episode III" and "IV". Although two actors have played Obi-Wan in this franchise, the Luke, Han and Leia we see in "Episode VII" seem just as different from their younger selves as Alec Guinness is from Ewan McGregor. I wanted more time with Luke in this new movie or at least a word out of him but then again, it makes us really excited for "Episode VIII". The ending shot seemed uncharacteristic for "Star Wars". Usually, we get a still "curtain call" shot.

The filmmakers had more freedom in creating this story because unlike the prequels, there is no set future to lead up to. Creator George Lucas had the general plotline for the prequels outlined all the way back in the 70's but this time, Disney could do their own thing. I am sure that resonated with many die-hard fans. Part of me wishes that Lucas were more involved, at least in the writing phase. He was a creative consultant on the movie but in the end, fiction came to mirror reality. He has become the mentor who leaves the heroes and as in fiction, it was not by choice. Lucas never intended to make a sequel trilogy but still had story treatments that he gave to Disney. These were discarded. At least, Lucas himself chose Abrams as director of "The Force Awakens". This is the first time a "Star Wars" fan has directed a "Star Wars" film. Abrams had to keep his fan side in check so as to affectively make the movie. I was worried there would be too much of Abrams' trademark lens flare but those kinds of shots in "Episode VII" were no more numerous than in the prequels. Abrams made of point of cutting back on these shots for this movie. As a result of Abrams' approach, this movie didn't really feel like a typical Abrams film so that is good. I did though sense some visual connections to "Mission: Impossible III" and "Star Trek". When you make a highly anticipated film, it is more than helpful to have an unknown cast supported by well-known actors. Even though I won't mention every actor, I will say that all the new actors did very well. I thought "Star Wars" was my introduction to actor Adam Driver but then, after the "Episode VII" digital copy was made available, I watched this movie back-to-back with "Lincoln" on my phone when I was away from home for most of one day. I had assumed that the only thing in common between the two films was composer John Williams. Suddenly, while watching "Lincoln", I recognized Driver as Sam the telegraph operator. That was a neat discovery. He was even in Clint Eastwood's "J. Edgar" apparently. I first became aware of Domhnall Gleeson at the end of the Harry Potter franchise and he specifically did very well. Tim Rose is back as Admiral Ackbar and Bill Hader was a vocal co-consoltant for BB-8. Daniel Craig has a cameo as a stormtrooper in a humorous scene with Daisy Ridley because Craig was filming "Spectre" in the same studio. Other cameos include Warwick Davis, Ewan McGregor, Simon Pegg and Kevin Smith. Unlike other movies of his, Andy Serkis' vocal performance was imperceptible. It was only by process of elimination that told me he was doing motion capture for Snoke. Too bad Denis Lawson didn't accept the invitation to come back as Wedge. As with the cast list, the film crew were a mixture of old and new blood. You have the familiar name of Lawrence Kasdan on the writing team as well as a new name to the franchise but still familiar to moviegoers: Michael Arndt. The sound team is full of "Star Wars" alumni: Ben Burtt, Gary Rydstrom and Matthew Wood (he is also the voice of General Grievous in "Revenge of the Sith"). Two-time Oscar winner Rick Carter was one of the production designers. This is yet another similarity between "Lincoln" and "The Force Awakens" because Carter won his second Academy Award for his work on the former film. Thank heaven John Williams is the composer but for the first time ever in the franchise, he did not record the score with the London Symphony Orchestra but rather a "freelance" orchestra. That makes me a little sad. I was also hoping for a new main theme piece of music like unto "Duel of the Fates" or "Battle of the Heroes". It is very fitting that with his score for "The Force Awakens", Williams earned his 50th career Oscar nomination. Other Academy Award nominations garnished by this film include Best Editing, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing and Best Visual Effects. When "The Phantom Menace" earned three Oscars nominations, "The Matrix" swept those categories and a similar thing happened to "The Force Awakens". "Mad Max: Fury Road" also beat out "Star Wars" in three catagories.

At first, I didn't feel much connection to the original trilogy. Then I remembered that as a 16 year old while watching "The Phantom Menace", I forgot up until the end that I was watching a "Star Wars" movie. This memory led to my realization concerning "Episode VII" that because this movie takes place 30 years after "Return of the Jedi", "Episode VII" is less about connection and more about passing things on to the next generation. Still, this level of difference could cause some changes that fans do not like. People however can't really say that "The Force Awakens" will automatically be better than the prequels because of the return of the classic characters. That is like saying J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" films are better than "The Next Generation" TV show. The prequels, original trilogy and sequel trilogy of "Star Wars" each take place in different time periods and societies. Fans should instead be saying that "Episode VII" has a higher chance of success of pleasing them because classic characters can be portrayed in their later years. "Star Wars" back in 1977 helped to create the blockbuster era of Hollywood if not initiate it. I have a feeling that in this new century, fans are tired of blockbusters that try too hard to be big. I felt a lot of sincerity in the telling of the story of "The Force Awakens" and this might set it apart from other big movies recently made. One reason why "A New Hope" did so well and maybe why the prequels were somewhat rejected is because of timing. Society during the 1970's and also at the turn of the century were different from today's society. In the late 70's, the war in Vietnam was just ending and Watergate was still fresh in people’s minds. The world had become a pessimistic place and the economy was inflated. Hollywood and the media reflected this time of turmoil also, providing no escape from the world for audiences. Movies were full of anti-heroes and tragic ends. People were in need of a pick-me-up. It is true that the prequels came out around the time of September 11th but those movies resemble a Greek tragedy. They were never meant to have a happy ending but instead tell a back-story and set up the original trilogy. Around the release of "Episode VII" however, terrorism has transformed into homegrown terrorism. While things may not be as pessimistic as back in the 70's, "The Force Awakens" may become another pick-me-up in hindsight. Some people thought that the prequels were reflective of the world situation at that time with the Iraq War but that is a narrow view. Similarly, I don't think the filmmakers behind "Episode VII" were trying to make any references to terrorism. As mentioned, a high degree of anticipation can ruin one's movie experience. Expectations of some fans were too high back in 1999 for "The Phantom Menace" and now, they are too vocal about their disappointment. This has led to many other fans taking their side because we thrive on negative criticism. These days, trailers and previews can be watched online innumerable times and can be dissected by hard-core fans. There is a danger in this because it can raise excitement levels. You shouldn't make a big deal out of a trailer, which is designed to be attractive and enjoyable otherwise it wouldn't be doing its job. Sometimes, a great trailer can be made out of a bad film. I think the filmmakers expected this level of scrutiny, hence the amount of story elements that were left out of the marketing. With how well "Episode VII" is being received so far, it is impressive considering the hype preceding it. I wonder though if those same die-hard fans that have turned against Lucas decided subconsciously to like this new movie for the sole reason that Lucas wasn't involved as much as before. As for myself, even though I had a few reservations after seeing this movie, I do not hate it. I love the movie. It was fun. It belongs next to all the "Star Wars" films. I will not let my criticisms get in the way of enjoying a fun movie. That is a mistake committed by others concerning the prequel trilogy. I applaud hard work. Heaven forbid but if "The Force Awakens" looses its value over time, I will still always have the other movies that I can watch and enjoy any time. My life will not be ruined. That still sounds pessimistic however and I have faith that "Episode VII" will always be fun to watch. A few days after the release of this movie, I was already hearing that some people do not like this new installment but I think we all saw that coming. I will say this towards those who might consider looking into why it is despised: "Don't give into hate. That leads to the dark side".

Just like in 1999, some companies closed on opening day to allow for those who wanted to see the film and despite reserved seating and the ability to purchase tickets online, many fans camped out in front of theaters for days before the release. Ticket websites crashed when "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens" went on sale and pre-sales for tickets were worth more than the total box office gross of an average Hollywood flop (100 million dollars in the US alone)! Maybe this movie will become even better after subsequent installments in the franchise and I hope for that. It was funny, full of homage and had action. It was nearly good enough to be my favourite film of 2015 at the time but "Inside Out" got the honor. With Disney now heading up Lucasfilm, we are in store for two more Star Wars sequels and lots of spinoffs. I don't know yet if that will work but I won't look a gift Wookie in the mouth.

4 Stars out of 5