Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens

The best, most thrilling Star Wars movie to date, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, which picks up about 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi, follows a former stormtrooper (John Boyega’s Finn) and a scrappy scavenger (Daisy Ridley’s Rey) as they embark on a quest to track down a long-missing Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). The degree to which Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens improves upon its six predecessors is nothing short of stunning, as the movie boasts all of the elements one has come to associate with the franchise without, generally speaking, falling prey to its various trappings (including kid-oriented supporting figures and superfluous subplots). This is despite a first half that’s occasionally a little slower than one might’ve preferred, although, by that same token, it’s clear that the deliberate pace proves instrumental in establishing and developing the myriad of new characters – with Boyega and Ridley’s respective protagonists faring unexpectedly well and more than holding their own opposite series veterans like Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew). (This is to say nothing of Adam Driver’s consistently magnetic turn as the mysterious Kylo Ren.) The laying-the-groundwork atmosphere is alleviated by a proliferation of thoroughly captivating action sequences and set pieces, including a number of aerial battles that easily rival anything contained within George Lucas’ original trilogy in terms of sheer excitement. And while certain elements contained within J.J. Abrams, Michael Arndt, and Lawrence Kasdan’s screenplay seem just a little too familiar (eg a planet-destroying super weapon), Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens benefits substantially from an almost astonishingly propulsive final stretch that boasts one enthralling interlude after another – which, in the end, confirms the movie’s place as an exceedingly promising first installment in what’s sure to be an iconic new trilogy.

**** out of ****