While I could never rattle off a list of the fauna on Tatooine, identify the various species who frequent the Mos Eisley Cantina, or describe the different podracers used by the residents of Coruscant as any self-respecting Star Wars fanboy could, I still consider myself a devotee of the series. I saw all six of the existing films on their opening day and was completely transfixed by George Lucas’s mythological world even before the original Star Wars became known as Episode IV: A New Hope.
On the day in 2012 when Disney announced its purchase of Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion, I happened to be at DreamWorks Animation in Glendale at a press junket for the film Rise of the Guardians. With the purchase came the immediate news that there would finally be an Episode VII of the series, picking up the story of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo 30 years after we last saw them in Return of the Jedi. The bona fide fanboys in our group that day (including fellow journalists and some of the creative people we were talking to such as director Guillermo del Toro) went apeshit over the news, and it was all we could do to get back to discussing the film at hand.
As someone who grew up with the Star Wars films, including the unfortunate prequel trilogy, I was excited and nervous to see the story continue. Excited because I had given up hope that the final trilogy would ever see the light of day (Lucas had declared on numerous occasions that there would be no more Star Wars films) and nervous because I worried that the original trio (now ranging in age from 59 to 73) would be given short shrift by the Disney overlords in favor of a bevy of younger stars, perhaps populated by folks we diehards would consider unworthy of donning the Jedi robes (Justin Bieber as the son of Han and Leia?). Ugh.
Three years later, I am here to say that none of these fears has been realized. Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a spectacular film that completely matches the tone and emotions of Lucas’s best work and gives the proper focus to the original characters. Among the many miracles associated with this film is the fact that none of the story’s major plot points were leaked before the release date. As a film viewer, I am not someone who usually minds spoilers. I will read everything I can about a film before going to see it. Knowing what’s going to happen doesn’t bother me the way it does some people — sometimes I think it even adds to my enjoyment. However, in this case, I fully support Disney’s entreaties to journalists and viewers to not give away the twists and turns of this story that surprised me, thrilled me, and even brought me to tears on several occasions. I will reveal nothing except to say that The Force Awakens is a great continuation of the saga, a fully engaging film with so much to offer the older generation of fans who have been anticipating this film for decades as well as people who have never seen a Star Wars film in a movie theater.
My worries about the younger cast were thankfully unfounded. Daisy Ridley as Rey, John Boyega as Finn, Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, and Adam Driver as Kylo Ren are superb additions to the Star Wars universe and fit in seamlessly, as if they’ve always been there. I was especially impressed by Ridley and Boyega, neither of whom I’ve seen on screen before.
The way that Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, and Harrison Ford are positioned in the film is respectful, appropriate, and satisfying, not the cameo-like passing of the torch that I feared. Seeing each of them in these roles so many years later is like having the best kind of reunion with an old friend. You can’t wait to catch up and see what’s been going on and part of you feels like no time has passed at all. It’s a delight to see everybody’s favorite droids, R2-D2 and C-3PO along with their new friend, BB-8. And it’s impossible not to feel genuine affection at the sight of Han Solo’s faithful companion, that 200-year-old Wookie Chewbacca, once again played by the now 71-year-old Peter Mayhew.
There’s not much more I dare say about this film beyond expressing my admiration at its provocative depiction of good and evil and the complexities of human nature. Given that Star Wars: The Force Awakens is poised to break every box office record in film history, everyone will know the secrets of the story soon enough. As I say a silent prayer of gratitude for this film’s unabashed success (and make plans to see it for a second time later this week), I can now transfer my neuroses to the upcoming films — not only Episode VIII (coming in May 2017) and Episode IX (slated for 2019) but also the offshoot films such as next year’s Rogue One and the planned Han Solo film for 2018. Will Disney overplay its hand? Will the next two episodes achieve the same level of success without J.J. Abrams at the helm or the writing contributions of Lawrence Kasdan and Michael Arndt? Oh well, let’s not panic about that just yet — now is the time to revel in the continued tale of the Resistance and the First Order, of the light and the dark. It’s time to enjoy the brilliant storytelling, the stellar acting, and the breathtaking cinematography and visual effects.
I hope I’ve been able to talk about this film without giving anything away. However, I will allow myself one little spoiler — there is one character that, may the Force be praised, is nowhere to be found in Star Wars: The Force Awakens: Jar Jar Binks.