Star Wars: The Force Awakens Spoiler (sort of) Review

What can I say that hasn't already been said about the Force Awakens. It is fantastic and in my opinion tied as my second favourite Star Wars film along side A New Hope & Return of the Jedi. The story is great. The characters, old and new, are great and always keep me entertained from start to finish. The effects are amazing and it ends in such away I'm looking forward to Episode 8. The soundtrack is great and the cinematographer deserves a damn oscar. I cannot complain about this film at all. It is unquestionably my favourite film of 2015.

The Story

Episode 7, set 30 years after Return of the Jedi, follows Rey, Finn and Poe Dameron's fight with Rebel Alliance veterans Han Solo, Leia Organa and Chewbacca against Kylo Ren and the First Order, decedents of Galactic Empire, as both sides want the location of missing Jedi, Luke Skywalker.

The New Characters

Rey
Rey is a prime example of my belief that women can do as much as men. She's a strong presence in the film, able to take charge, very athletic, incredibly pretty and extremely talented. Her reveal of being a force user was incredibly well executed and extremely well written. Daisy Ridley is fantastic as Rey. She's able to hold the leading role with such strength and able to be talented in every scene she's in. I'm extremely interested to see where they take her character in episode 8. 

Finn

Finn is one of the funniest characters in the film and John Boyega portrays him excellently. His first few scenes are great and to see how he knows being in the First Order is wrong and how conflicted he is in the opening scene on Jakku. Even though he's in a helmet in that scene i can tell he's also utterly terrified of Kylo Ren. His character arch in this film is perfect. How he goes from running away to being the first person to volunteer to rescue Rey is perfectly done and his fight with both the stormtrooper and Kylo Ren are great entertainment.

Poe Dameron

Poe is simply the most likeable character in any film. He's funny, a strong leader, quick to make jokes and overall probably the most realistic character in cinematic history. It's also great to see how much of a leader he is and that he is a inspiration to the Resistance as he just gives orders and everyones first reaction is "right behind you Poe".  I wish he was in the film more and I hope to see more of him in episode 8 & 9.

Kylo Ren/Ben Solo

I don't care what people say, I think that Kylo Ren is a brilliant villain with and without the mask. He's the perfect antagonist to span this new trilogy. He's personally my favourite Star Wars villain after Darth Vader. In the helmet, he's very imposing, very intimidating and honestly at times, quite funny. His moments with Snoke are perfect and when he's speaking to the remains of the Vader helmet, it's personally my favourite scene with him alongside his reveal on Jakku which was well shot and made him be more menacing than he needed to be. In my first viewing of the film, I will admit I wasn't fond of him with his helmet off. He felt like too much of a whinny teenager. Then in both my second, third viewing and while reading the novel, I understood his motivation more and why he acts like he

does because simply, he wants to be the next Vader and if done right, I think he could be. Also one of my favourite bits of dialogue from him is between him and his father, Han Solo. In a way, him saying "I'm being torn apart. I want to be free of this pain. I know what I have to do but I don't know if I have the strength to do it. Will you help me?" is in away so incredibly twisted that the average movie goer may not see what he really means. Also I love the design of his lightsaber.

 The Veterans

Han Solo

It is great to see Han back. Harrison Ford brings the character back to how he was exactly in the original trilogy. His reveal on the Millennium Falcon alongside Chewbacca was magical and it felt like A New Hope. He's also incredible funny and his banter with Chewie shows how far the characters have come and it's such an incredibly great brotherly relationship. His moments with Leia are great. Reminds me of them in Return of the Jedi and that theres now history between them. His moments with the new characters highlight how amazing the acting talents of Harrison Ford are. His death definitely shocked me and I'm sad to not be able to see him in any more Star Wars films. 

Leia Organa

Though not in it a lot (i'd say the same amount of time as Poe) its great from a story perspective to see how far General Leia Organa has come as both a leader and character. Carrie Fisher brings her back to life excellently. She is definitely a leader and a mother grieving and desperate to get her son back. Her moments with Han are brilliant and convey exactly what i expected from them. I definitely want to see her return in the sequels.

Luke Skywalker

Though only in the last couple minutes on the screen, I think it's the perfect amount of time to see the effect of the events in the intervening time before this film has on him and that he doesn't have a single line is brilliant. The look he pulls off shows the incredible acting talents of Mark Hamill. I can't to see Luke in episode 8 and i desperately hope 9 as he's one off my favourite Jedi. Though I will admit it would have been incredibly badass if Luke appeared in the fight between Rey and Kylo Ren. 

Chewbacca

Chewie is by far my favourite character in this film. He's funny, excellent in the action scenes and i think more human in this film. The banter between him and Han is great and I enjoy his comical moments with Finn. The moment when he tackles Captain Phasma makes me chuckle at every viewing. But the moment that stands out to me is the moment when Han is killed, the roar/screen he makes hits me where it hurts. Chewie essential just saw his best friend/brother be murder by his friends own son and him just shooting Ben in the side was incredible and the scene of him just sitting in the Resistance base hit me also. I'm 99% sure that if he were human, he's silently crying or is cause i don't know if Wookies can cry or not. Best character in the film in my opinion. 

If you have not seen this film, go and see it now. I cannot stress that enough. It is a fantastic film. If you do unfortunately miss it in the cinema, grab it on DVD or Blu-Ray in April.

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