So you're all aware, the review will be SPOILER FREE!
If I get enough requests for it, I'll talk spoilers.
Let's begin.
Story/Dialogue: In short, this story is once again about good vs. evil. The labels for the two factions are the Resistance and the First Order, respectively. In the midst of all this, a deserting stormtrooper ends up finding a scavenger on the planet of Jakku. Together, they try to get a droid with a map to the find a key ally for the Resistance.
Nice and simple, right?
Okay, so I'm going to get the negatives out of the way, first. The dialogue in some aspects is atrocious. It feels as though certain characters are saying things for the sake of the audience more than anything else.
Plus, between Finn and Rey, it felt as though they had stumbled onto the set of Star Wars and cameras happened to be set up to watch them. Please don't misunderstand, I love these new characters. However, I also feel that my suspension of disbelief was ruined because they felt like fans being on set, rather than characters in a movie.
With that said, the story was pretty solid. The characters base wants are simple and easy to identify. Furthermore, the film was a lot lighter than the other films. There were some genuinely funny moments and the characters felt a lot less...I want to say stiff.
I want to say more, however, I do not want to spoil it, so let's move on.
Cinematography: The fantastic part of this film is that not only did we get to see Han, Chewie and Leia, but they also brought back the crew from the originals/prequels.
The framing in this seemed a little chaotic. Though, it also adds a little more to the action, so it's not a bad thing.
It was fascinating to see how they added CGI to a lot of new aliens. While in a lot of instances the alien work was still done with latex casting and the like, the CGI felt a little out of place. Especially with certain characters that I won't name.
Audio: JOHN FREAKIN' WILLIAMS RETURNS!! The creator of the Star Wars theme added so much extra atmosphere to the movie. Of all the things I love about Star Wars, it's the iconic music. It was nice to see that the theme of the characters of the older films came back into play, but I also feel as though the newer character's themes weren't all that memorable. I wouldn't have minded a subtle weave of electronic music within the orchestral arrangement for the new themes.
Overall: Some have loved it, some have hated it. Does it feel like an Episode IV reboot? Sure it does!
As a film, the Force Awakens is a force to be reckoned with. Solid storyline, excellent visual effects and music make it fantastic as a standalone film.
As a film, the Force Awakens is a force to be reckoned with. Solid storyline, excellent visual effects and music make it fantastic as a standalone film.
As an instalment to an iconic franchise, though, I am still unsure it holds up. In a lot of ways, it feels like a fan film, where the fans snuck in on set and acted out Star Wars. On top of that, the small details, like blaster fire, made it feel inconsistent with the franchise.
As a fan of the films, I find myself torn.
I'm going to give this film 3.5 stars.
Author's note: Thank you guys for sticking around. I know I've been away and busy with a couple of personal projects, but news is coming!
In the meantime, it's back to reviews as always. However, I'm only doing one a week. It'll be randomised. You won't know whether or not it's a book or a movie and that's due to access and time spent on reading/watching. I'll cover series if you guys want, but recommendations are always helpful!
In the meantime, it's back to reviews as always. However, I'm only doing one a week. It'll be randomised. You won't know whether or not it's a book or a movie and that's due to access and time spent on reading/watching. I'll cover series if you guys want, but recommendations are always helpful!
Thanks for reading! I'll catch up with you soon!
Kind regards,
Ravenreviews
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