Following the initial disaster that was the Star Wars prequel trilogy, there was a greater need for another take to erase the memories of an over-the-top Jar Jar Binks and an annoying Anakin Skywalker, who seemed less like a Dark Lord and more like an unruly teenager. That trepidation was only further increased as the announcement came that J.J. Abrams would helm the trilogy despite, and in part due to, his strong Star Trek reboot.
However, Abrams has found success again, this time in a galaxy far, far away.
While not a reboot as his efforts were with the Star Trek films, Abrams managed to draw up familiar nostalgia with fans of the 70’s and 80’s trilogy through the reintroduction of familiar faces and a John Williams score. Although, the movie could have spent more time explaining the background and motivation of their new characters, given all that the movie sets to accomplish between introducing the First Order and elaborating on what’s happened since Luke defeated the Empire, one would likely suspect that this information will likely be coming in the second film of Abrams trilogy.
The Force Awakens also offers up a few surprises that caught at least a couple people pleasantly off-guard while keeping with the expectations that come with Star Wars movies and managing to avoid the recent plague of movie spoilers that are seemingly present with the release every blockbuster. Instead, viewers were left to theorize based on the premiere of every trailer (Where’s Luke?!?!), and expectations from Abrams’s other films (who really didn’t expect Benedict Cumberbatch to be Khan?).
All in all, The Force Awakens has managed to appeal to fans who are and are not familiar with the originally distributed trilogy. Through their respectful homage to the characters of old, and their introduction of new, and not over-the-top, characters, the movie delivers a strong new story, with a new enemy for the light to defeat. Fans of the old movie will not be disappointed, while new fans will wonder, when can I see the next one?
Check out the trailer here:
Image Credits: Helga Esteb.
