Star Wars and Star Trek are exactly like the famous “Elvis and The Beatles” conversation in Pulp Fiction. No one likes both in the same amount, and you probably only really like one. That’s inevitable.
Also inevitable, spoilers in movie reviews. I’m going to stay away from those as much as possible here in assessing “The Force Awakens.” Or at least I’ll try to.
The biggest inevitability with “The Force Awakens” was how it stayed true to the original trilogy. Well done, JJ Abrams.
The Force Awakens very much resembles episodes IV and VI (which, if you think about it, have kind of the same plot) and V to some extent. This is a good thing. It stays away from episodes I and II (and I guess III as well). Again, smart choice JJ Abrams.
There’s a whole lot here that you’re familiar with- a giant space station that needs to be blown up, a super villain with ambivalent feelings (kind of), eclipsed by a shadowy, even more super-villain in the background and a bad guy being the offspring of a good guy. If no one has told you yet, well, you’ll be able to figure it out given dialogue in the opening scene.
There’s also Han Solo being Han Solo, the dark side having a ridiculously powerful weapon that can inflict genocide within minutes and of course, the all powerful force.
Really, the fact that we’re even talking about this right now is special just by itself. You’ll get chills when you see the Lucasfilm logo, the “Star Wars” font, the inter-stellar plot scroll, the appearance of Han, Leia and Luke on screen. If the Force Awakens errs, it errs on the side of caution by being too familiar and too loyal to the formula.
I’ll take it! Especially given what a disaster the second troika turned out to be. Phantom Menace (episode I) was just a pile of total crap. It really was so far removed from what we’re used to that it really was just God Awful garbage. “We are all Clones” (episode II) had its moments, but was mediocre at best. Three, “Sith” was actually pretty good, because it connected everything together.
It got better as the film went on, but its still weaker than any of the original triad.
The Force Awakens reminded us of what it was like to be little kids again and of a time when going to the movies was “a big deal” and “an event.” It’s nice to feel that way again. It’s great to be around people cheering the opening credits and/or a character appearing on screen.
And kudos to Abrams for making it a universe where it’s not all white males doing all of the badassery. Actually, the two newcomers, Finn and Rey, an African-American and a woman, probably kicked the most ass here overall.
"….The Force binds all living things together —not just white dudes." -JJ Abrams
— Neera Tanden? (@neeratanden) December 18, 2015
It took awhile but the galaxy far far away has now finally embraced diversity.
The villains here are more detestable and deplorable than ever before too. Kylo Ren does something so despicable towards the end that…again no spoilers. The First Order is essentially The Third Reich in one very brief scene, in which the General plays the role of Hitler, the universe is Berlin in the 1940s and the storm troopers act like SS.
They even included the same colors in the backdrop. The movie probably didn’t need this scene, but it transpires anyway right before The First Order fires their primary weapon.
Overall, the main reason that The Force Awakens works so well is because it has an identity, and it is consistent in staying true to that identity. It’s kind of like the Wisconsin Badgers, in both sports. Wisconsin basketball is really tall white guy, 2 or 3 star recruits who can shoot 3s staying all four years and developing over the course of their career.
Wisconsin football is huge overpowering linemen paving the way for insanely good running backs, pounding the rock over and over. Disney, Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan etc. they made sure that The Force Awakens doesn’t veer away from the formula.
In order to get you ready for Star Wars tonight, here’s a link to an article from Variety about the early reaction to the film. Also, Fandango has this video guide to what you need to know before you head to the theaters. You’ll also want to check out this lightsaber dueling special, hosted by Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill.
You also might want to check out our casting Star Wars, with all Chicago Bears personalities.
Overall, it was good, but not great. Solid but not spectacular. I wouldn’t call it “overrated” because only the greatest movie of the decade could live up to the hype this movie had. Overall rating 7.7/10
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. The website is also featured on News Now.
Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye. He also appears regularly on numerous television and radio talk shows all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone.
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