Review: It’s not perfect, but ‘The Force Awakens’ is the ‘Star Wars’ we’ve been looking for

Posted on December 25, 2015

By MARK VIOLA

So it’s finally here, the most anticipated movie of 2015: “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Fans of the venerable science fiction franchise have been waiting with bated breath since it was first announced we would be getting a third trilogy of films, the first of which would be directed by J.J. Abrams (“Star Trek,” “Mission: Impossible III”). The original trilogy, released between 1977 and 1983, includes some of the most celebrated films in history. The prequel trilogy, released between 1999 and 2005, divided fans, many of whom felt the films were mediocre at best and atrocities at worst (myself included).

So this new film, which takes place 30 years after “Return of the Jedi,” had the unenviable task to simultaneously live up to the standard of the originals while also making up for the mistakes of the prequels. Objectively, “The Force Awakens” was never going to equal the originals and Abrams and his crew would have had to go out of their way to make a film as bad as the prequels. As such, the new film finds itself somewhere in the middle, its exact location on the spectrum depending on your individual opinion.

As for myself, since talking about movies is what I do here each week, let me say that “The Force Awakens” is the film we were all hoping we were going to get back in 1999 when “The Phantom Menace” first hit theaters. The special effects, the use of actual sets, the acting, the cast, the cinematography all combine for a terribly fun and exciting adventure, and that’s even before you add in the nostalgia factor of seeing a new “Star Wars” on the big screen.

That’s not to say this is a perfect film. Far from in fact. I do have some issues, some quite serious. Now before I go any further, let me say that the marketing campaign for this movie has been brilliant, avoiding giving away much of anything about the story. Which is going to make this review a bit difficult, because pretty much all of my problems with “The Force Awakens” have to do with the script. Some are specific to the “Star Wars” universe and others are the same I found in other Abrams films, even those he didn’t co-write. Without getting into spoilers, let me just say that the story relies on too many convenient coincidences to move forward the action. The first couple of times can be forgiven, but they continue to stack up at the movie goes on, becoming an increasing distraction. Additionally, the overall story arc really resembles that of “A New Hope,” going from homage to the at times feeling more like a reboot. There are other issues, but to list them without context would feel like quibbling at this point.

This really is a fun and enjoyable movie, even taking into account the problems I alluded to earlier. For “Star Wars” fans, this is the movie we’ve been waiting 32 years for. For everyone else, this is the kind of popcorn entertainment we go to the movies to see. Now we just have to wait another two years for Episode VIII. Until then, may the force be with you.

The film is rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence.

(This is a abbreviated version of the full review available in our printed or e-edition papers.)

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