Matt Reviews "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens" (Spoiler-Free)

First off, let me say, I will not be giving any spoilers in this review. And that is a difficult thing to do because my enthusiasm for this film is so immense that I simply want to gush about all of my favorite parts! That being said, I will say Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens is what us fans have been waiting for ever since that screen went black on our favorite original heroes, giving way to the blue end credits back in 1983.

I will honestly say there is a certain familiarity to The Force Awakens. Its overall blueprint somewhat correlates with the original Star Wars (A New Hope). Now, before any of you diehards roll your eyes out of annoyance, hear me out. There are three or four particular plot points which us fans have seen before, but these points are in no way annoying, unimaginative, or not fun! I have to say that I honestly mapped – and figured – out some of the major plot twists and intricacies soon after Harrison Ford’s Han Solo graced the screen, but it stole no enjoyment from me for this film (Jay and I will have to a have a spoiler-full discussion once he’s seen it)!

Daisy Ridley's Rey makes a hard living while dreaming of better days.

So, the film starts off with Resistance fighter Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) gaining the final piece of a map to find a legendary, mythic-like person. When the town he is visiting gets attacked by the villainous First Order, he stows the map away in his trusty android, BB-8, and sends him away. Sound familiar? If you think about it, it will. But that’s OK. Especially since what follows is a fun, adventurous, exciting, edge-of-your-seat film! No longer are moviegoers given long-winded discussions about trade federations, midi-chlorians (WTF?), or having to see Jar Jar Binks inadvertently sell the Senate – and freedom – away! The Force Awakens returns us to the action, fun, swashbuckling adventure we all got from the original but also has one hell of an emotional punch!

As for the new cast, they all do well. I have to admit I was a little wary of Isaac’s Poe at first, but he grew on me. John Boyega’s Finn is a great everyman, who is our guide through this chapter. And Daisy Ridley’s Rey is EVERYthing I’d hope she’d be! The way her journey is written and portrayed is so damn cool! Twenty minutes from the end of the film, I was hoping it would just go on and on all the way through to the end of the new trilogy. I just wanted it to keep going and going. The script by J.J. Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan (who originally wrote The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi), and Michael Arndt, seems to lay out a bit of its twists up front, but I have a feeling we’re in for much more in the next film (I’ve already made my guess!). Abrams’ directing is finely crafted and the film shows off that sometimes having a superfan direct can be a very good thing. John Williams’ score is still on-point and helps enhance all of the emotion and action us fans have come to expect and love (side note: it’s SO odd to not hear the classic 20^th Century Fox Fanfare before the blasting Star Wars theme). One of the best potentials of the film, though, is Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, who is not merely some basic, seemingly one-dimensional bad guy like how Darth Vader was first portrayed in Hope. Ren has layers of complexity and Driver does well with the character. One of my favorite scenes in the film is a confrontation between him and Rey, which has minimal dialogue.

Not the favorite scene of which I refer to, but still a damn good thrilling one: Rey meets Ren!

Is The Force Awakens one of the best Star Wars films? I almost hate to answer that question without having seen Episodes 8 or 9 yet. But, if I had to rank my favorites, so far, from best to least, it would have to be this:

1.  The Empire Strikes Back

2.  The Force Awakens

3.  A New Hope

4.  Return of the Jedi

5.  Revenge of the Sith

6.  Attack of the Clones

7.  The Phantom Menace

If the number two slot seems like a high spot to place it – and somewhat premature – I’d argue that it is also the exciting anticipation of the new trilogy which places it at such a spot. Calm down, you purists! Don’t get me wrong, Hope is still great – after all, it’s the original! But, let's be honest, Force has so much more going on (in a good way) in its story! Also, if some of you are wondering if this is OK for kids to watch, there’s definitely battles, non-bloody deaths (i.e., troopers getting shot and killed), and thrills, so I would say most kids 9 or older could be good with it. Or, if your kid(s) can watch A New Hope and be OK with it, then they'll be OK with The Force Awakens.

I will say The Force Awakens is easily one of the best films of the year! Its ending wraps up the main story but introduces a new edge-of-your-seat plotline, which, sadly, we have to wait until late May 2017 to see! I most likely will be seeing this film at least two more times before it leaves theaters. So, go! Enjoy! May the force be with you as you cherish the holidays by going to a galaxy far, far away. For this fan, it’s been well worth the wait!