MEDIOCREMOVIE.CLUB
  • Reviews
  • Side Pieces
  • Shane of Thrones
  • Podcast
  • About
  • Archives
  • Game of Thrones Fantasy

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens

12/28/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
First Review: Drew
Thirty plus years in the waiting and we got a remake with more questions than answers. Those ingredients usually make a terrible film but under the direction of JJ Abrams, however, it was fantastically done.

Abrams made a new generation of Star Wars fans with The Force Awakens. He did it not by rehashing an old storyline, but by placing good actors in suitable roles. Daisy Ridley shined in her role as Rey, a scrap metal scavenger who ended up as one of the major players in the film. Ridley made Rey a fun character who had the sass of a young Princess Leia. Her mostly scrappy personality was also met with a sincere and soft side as viewers saw later with Finn.

Furthermore, Abrams struck gold with John Boyega as Finn. Finn left the First Order to run away but oddly enough found Rey in that attempt. Their onscreen chemistry rivaled Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher's in episodes IV - VI. It was that good and going forward, fans will see more of it. As good as Boyega was, however, Finn wound up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Usually that would make for a terrible character, but Finn had the capability to rise to the occasion and not cower from the fight.  He was a rebel with a cause.

Even Adam Driver as Kylo Ren was correctly placed. His presence as the constant antagonist was something the prequels desperately lacked, so watching his abilities and onscreen presence was refreshing. With his interesting beginning and surprising killing, Kylo Ren fully aligned himself with the Dark Side. What is more, his name stuck and held the aura of the Dark Side champion.

While the acting was no doubt great, what about the story? The story, while a reboot, was exceptional. Abrams held the magic of Spielberg rather than Lucas. That storytelling ability made the reboot s revitalization. The Force awoke with new fans and a new direction. In some way, it had to pay homage to the old order with various cameos and inconsequential roles. That mixture needed a high level director to achieve success and Abrams pulled it off.

One downside about the film was Ren's inability to exert his Sith fighting prowess upon non Jedi. It confirmed that Ren required more training but his trouble to deliver the final blow was bothersome.
The ending, leaving viewers with more questions than answers, was perfectly drawn. Will he take it? Then what? The scene in and of itself would have been futile without the music and John Williams' touch hit the dramatic spot.

With The Force Awakens, Star Wars returned to its paramount of great storytelling. Its ascension was not out of nostalgia but a good story. Its future was built on a solid foundation and that was tremendously done by Abrams.
​
Grade: A-

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Side Pieces

    Random projects from the MMC Universe. 

    Categories

    All
    Action
    Adventure
    Author - Bryan
    Author - Drew
    Author - Jon
    Author - Phil
    Author - Sean
    Best Of 2016
    Best Of 2017
    Best Of 2018
    Best Of 2019
    Best Of 2020
    Best Of 2021
    Best Of 2022
    Best Of The Decade
    Classics
    Comedy
    Crime
    Documentary
    Drama
    Ebertfest
    Game Of Thrones
    Historical
    Horror
    Musical
    Romance
    Sci Fi
    Thriller
    TV
    Western

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015

    RSS Feed