![]() Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan’s screenplay is with its characters. That is where I’ll stop with the plot, but I will say that the strength of J.J. Into this struggle comes the AWOL Stormtrooper Finn (Boyega) and the scavenger Rey (Ridley), who are drawn into the search for Luke and end up not only crossing paths with the First Order and the Resistance, but come to realize that there may be a bigger role for them in the conflict that they could have imagined. The First Order, personified by Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis), General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson), and Kylo Ren, want to find Luke and eradicate the last traces of the Jedi while the Resistance would like to have Luke rejoin the battle and possibly train new Jedi Knights – which won’t be easy. What we do know is that the Republic is backing a resistance to the First Order’s control of the regions it has captured, and that both the First Order and the Resistance are seeking the whereabouts of Luke Skywalker. As the movie opens, a lot of what we have come to know is quickly established: years after the destruction of the Empire, a remnant called the First Order seems to have gained control over at least some portion of the galaxy. Disney and Lucasfilm have been extra sensitive about any of the movie’s surprises being leaked beforehand, and even in writing this review, I’m not in the business of giving away information that will ruin anyone’s enjoyment of the film. This is where we come to the issue of spoilers. As for Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker… let’s just leave it here for now. But as the story unfolds we see him once again become the Han we know and love, a little more frayed around the edges and more emotional, but as courageous and off-the-cuff as ever with big ol’ Chewie by his side.Ĭarrie Fisher as Leia has less to do than Ford, but she brings a lot of warmth to her scenes and unveils some new layers to her character in addition to being the steely general we remember from the original films. Thirty years on, Han is tired, a little defeated, and more than a bit melancholy. But there are other layers to the character as well – which will not be revealed here – and Driver handles them effortlesly, making Kylo perhaps the most three-dimensional and fully-rounded villain that the Star Wars saga has ever produced.Īs for our beloved favorites, Harrison Ford’s Han Solo gets the most screentime and it’s genuinely moving to see Ford obviously relishing the role and stepping back into it so easily. From his voice to the way he carries himself, Kylo exudes an air of quiet malevolence that is palpable. ![]() The MVP of the entire film, however, may be Adam Driver as Kylo Ren. ![]() It’s also fantastic to see the ostensible lead character in a Star Wars movie be a woman who can kick ass and hold her own in almost every situation – Rey is a welcome successor to Leia and a nice development to see in 2015, and Ridley nails the role.īoyega fulfills the potential he showed in Attack the Block, making Finn haunted, fast on his feet and ultimately deeply humane. We see a bit less of Oscar Isaac than I might like but he’s fun and irreverent and makes a good enough impression that I hope Poe Dameron has a little more meat to work with next time out. Newcomers Daisy Ridley and John Boyega as Rey and Finn, our two new heroes, are both charismatic and compelling, and both have juicy, well-developed arcs to play. Perhaps the strongest part of The Force Awakens is its cast, all of whom are clearly enjoying themselves and giving it everything they’ve got.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |