‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’: Is It Really That Good, Or Have The Critics Given It A Free Pass? [Spoilers]

I went to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens over the Christmas holidays. I have to honestly say that it was not what I expected at all. Although the previews promised a great movie, this Star Wars exceeded my expectations. It is definitely well worth the ticket price.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the seventh installment in the Star Wars franchise. It takes place about 30 years after Episode 6, The Return of the Jedi. In the Return of the Jedi the Resistance has defeated the Empire. Darth Vader and the Emperor both die. Now, 30 years later, a new threat to peace has arisen, The New Order. It is led by a mysterious character named Kylo Ren, (Adam Driver), who promises to finish what Darth Vader started, and that is to bring balance to the Force.

According to Tech Radar, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a worthy sequel to the original Star Wars trilogy, and I have to say I agree because it has the look and feel of the original movies. It isn’t loaded down with all the CGI of Episodes I, II, and III, and the best part is that the dialogue doesn’t seem clunky the way it was in the first trilogy. This movie feels like the original trilogy.

As mentioned before, it takes place 30 years after The Return of the Jedi. Jedi Luke Skywalker, (Mark Hamill), the last of the Jedi, has disappeared. The rebels and the Galactic Empire are gone. They have been replaced by the resistance and The First Order. With this new storyline comes a new set of characters.

The first is Rey, portrayed by Daisy Ridley. She is shown in the opening scenes of the movie on a desolate planet where she is a scavenger. It feels very similar to the scenes of Luke Skywalker on Tatooine in Episode 4.

John Boyega portrays Finn, a stormtrooper who develops a conscience and turns his back on the Dark Side after The First Order appears on Rey’s home planet Jakka and kills many of the inhabitants. The First Order, with antagonist Kylo Ren, are there to find a map that contains the location of Luke Skywalker. Ren wants to bring balance to the Force by killing Skywalker.

Oscar Isaac portrays Poe Dameron, a starship pilot for the resistance, who has been sent by General Leia Solo, one of the leaders of the resistance. Here is where the Star Wars story is connected nicely because it brings both the old and new characters together. Princess Leia, portrayed by Carrie Fisher, a member of the original cast, has married Millenium Falcon captain and hero of the rebels, Han Solo. Harrison Ford reappears as Solo, who is now estranged from Leia because of their son, Ben Solo. Chewbacca also returns with Han Solo as his partner.

The story itself is very straightforward. There are very few subplots, and there is plenty of action. It feels like many of the battle scenes are from the original trilogy, and there is plenty of light saber action for old fans as well as new ones. The chemistry of the cast meshes nicely, and the scenes are seamless as they transition from one action scene to the next, the same way they did in Episodes IV, V, and VI.

The Messenger said that the actors for the four new characters, Kylo Ren, Finn, Rey, and Poe Dameron, really knocked it out of the park. They also said that the movie’s biggest strength is also its biggest weakness, and that’s that Star Wars: The Force Awakens feels very much like the original Star Wars film. For Star Wars fans who saw the original films though, this is the perfect blend of old and new with the same sharp directing skill and scenes older Star Wars fans have come to know and love. This movie is definitely a must-see. It will delight new fans and satisfy old ones.

[Photo Credit: From the Public Domain]