STAR WARS - Episode VII: The Force Awakens

No movie franchise has achieved the near godlike mythology and, in essence, the religious following of the epic space opera behemoth that is Star Wars. As such, it should surprise none when expectations for a sequel - following three full decades of absence - soar beyond any reasonably achievable standards. That being said, the verdict on VII is in - and it's looking excellent.

As this review is written, The Force Awakens stands as the #22 film of all time on Internet Movie Database, with an 8.8/10 score; this position was reached within a couple of days of the film's premiere and due to its proximity to #1, this reviewer - primarily because of his experience with IMDB - speculates that it will remain in the Top 250 indefinitely.

But what about the heart and soul of VII? All technical indulgences aside, TFA succeeds mightily where the prequels failed for several reasons, the most vital of which is its spirit: the constant, never ending struggle of good against evil, love, hatred, friendship, loyalty, bravery, betrayal, kindness, and resilience. Such universal themes will never tire, so long as humans remember that they are humans - and so long as they can muster a childlike sense of awe and wonder about reality and the world in which we live. This classic arrangement of dramatic tension has been found and admired in nearly every major piece of art in every medium mankind has so far invented; not only does TFA embody all of these factors, but it overflows with them in spades.

Let's first address its strengths - and there are many - and take a look at what makes VII a crucial story for the start of the new trilogy. Complete with all the bells and whistles that make Star Wars Star Wars, including the classic yellow opening crawl (essentially perfectly written and to the point), the wipe transitions, and the unparalleled production design, VII features a cast who, despite some being newcomers, are all indeed strong enough to carry the movie on their own, especially our lead heroine, desert scavenger Rey (in a revelation of a performance by Daisy Ridley), who immediately connects with audiences and demands your sympathy from the start. She is tough, independent, self-reliant, and - pardon me - a true force to be reckoned with. Her life, though solitary and perhaps even desperate, has not yet crushed Rey's determined spirit - and thank God, because her destiny, despite her lack of awareness of it, is about to be fulfilled.

Her adventure begins upon meeting a new face, First Order defector Finn (a name derived from his stormtrooper designation, FN-2187). This new friendship is already a classic, and the two display a kind of chemistry reminiscent of the original trilogy's characters, in some ways. Boyega is charming, capable, likable, and - like so many others in the cast - a testament to J.J. Abrams' and Kathleen Kennedy's ability to cast outstanding talent so well.

Adam Driver additionally turns in a crushing performance as First Order baddie Kylo Ren, essentially a Darth Vader fanboy; indeed, some of the strongest moments of TFA involve his confrontations with Rey and, most devastatingly, Han Solo. While this new trifecta of fresh blood - Ridley, Boyega, and Driver - delivers a slew of great new characters all its own, the relationship of these new characters to the classic gang - Ford, Fisher, and Hammill - fuses youth with wisdom both seamlessly and purposefully.

All the rest of the club we know and love are back with a vengeance, as well, including Han's most loyal sidekick, Chewbacca, everyone's favorite bickering astromechs, C-3PO and R2-D2, and even the stalwart Admiral Ackbar. Complementing these old-school icons is a line-up to cherish: wise old space pirate Maz Kanata (Lupita Nyong'o), cocky Resistance pilot, Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron (who Leia has sent on a secret mission), Domnhall Gleeson as General Hux (an ambitious young leader of the First Order), Gwendoline Christie as Captain Phasma (one of the more interesting yet secretive characters who didn't get nearly the screen time she deserved), and the far more secretive and sinister Andy Serkis as Supreme Leader Snoke. All clearly pour their hearts and souls into their work here, and it shows.

I wanted, however, to reserve one paragraph exclusively for one of the new special stars of the show: the charming and inimitable BB-8. This droid, assistant to Poe Dameron, plays a crucial role in the story and, given his unique design and lovable personality, he instantly endears audiences on the same level as R2 so many years ago at the start of A New Hope. BB isn't all he seems, however, and his many special tools and hidden talents serve his human - and alien - counterparts well. You can easily see how much thoughtful planning and designing went into BB-8; his creators and handlers are to be commended.

Whatever criticisms one may level against TFA's story (some claim it to be a little too reminiscent of A New Hope in many respects), its characterizations, designs, and action sequences - be they light saber battles or x-wings versus TIE fighters - are ample recompense for any shortcomings one may point out regarding the film's originality. The simple truth is that, despite any human flaws that inevitably find their way into human products, The Force Awakens is just damn fun. And that is precisely what J.J. Abrams and writer Lawrence Kasdan wanted it to be from the start. 

Before you die, see The Force Awakens in theaters; it's an experience you won't soon forget.      

FINAL SCORE: 9.3/10