I have not done a film review in a long time. It's only fitting and proper for me to do a write up of the latest installment in the
Star Wars franchise.
First and foremost, I must say I'm glad we will be seeing more of this great universe first visited in 1977! I'm actually more excited about the spin-off films rather than the anthology because I prefer to explore the world of
Star Wars outside of the Skywalker family.
Now, quickly, I'll my synopsis without any major spoilers: The evil First Order rises after the fall of the Galactic Empire to take over the galaxy. A band of misfits unite with the help of The Resistance to defend the system against The First Order.
If I could sum up my review into one word, it would this:
Letdown.
I bought into the hype machine not because I expected an epic, sci-fi masterpiece. I bought the hype because its frickin'
Star Wars without George Lucas! At the same time, it was J.J. Abrams at the helm. I found that J.J. is better suited to the small screen (
Alias, Lost), and not so much in cinema. Still, with more practical effects, no George Lucas, actors that are really acting, no George Lucas, a continuation of the beloved anthology (not prequel!), and no George Lucas, I had higher hopes this new film would be great. Aside from some pretty cool, yet generic, action set pieces, the film did not break any new ground, and worse yet, did not bring anything new to the long-running franchise other than fresh young faces. The new characters could at least have been made more interesting...
Its hard to talk about the film without giving much key information. So I'll just say this: I expected a lot more freshness and a lot less "homage" to the old films. (Stupid fan service.) Overall, the film felt like a true and serious
Star Wars film. The acting was good. the visuals were cool. The pacing was uneven, but the sound and music were firing on all cylinders!
Given the amount time it took to do the film, I thought some of its issues would have been ironed out, yet the final act felt rushed and uneven.
I enjoyed the movie for what it was, but as a whole experience to the anthology, it's a letdown. No new ground was realized, and once again we are stuck following some extension of the Skywalker family as opposed to seeing some actual Star Wars.
Would I watch it again? Absolutely. Its better than most popcorn movies tend to be, but being that this film is a part of a such a beloved franchise that has long been neglected and maligned at the hands of its creator, a lot was riding on this film to restore its respect. I can say it will definitely make a whole new generation of fans, and it will feed the nostalgia of the existing fan base alike. What it failed to do was bring something new and exciting to the core audience, but I can always hope to tread new ground with the next chapters.
One last note, the Storm Troopers are better shots this time around, and they are scary.
My Rating: B+
Keep reading for my spoiler-filled rant of issues with the film or stop here!
You've been warned!
