Read on Twitter
Alright, guys. Time for a lengthy review. https://twitter.com/andrflo011/status/1248022598501502981
It's been four, and soon to be five, years since its existence, and over two years since I first saw it, this movie went from being something I find “just okay” to something I really enjoyed...a lot actually.
After the release of The Rise of Skywalker, many fans have tried to...
After the release of The Rise of Skywalker, many fans have tried to...
...spread the narrative that this movie wasn't a critical success and wasn’t adored by fans. It really sucks that some fans love The Last Jedi so much that try to diminish this movie's efforts and the people who love it. Contrary to what people have been trying to tell you,...
...there was a time that this movie was the talk of the town. And I'm here to remind you that this movie deserves just as much adoration, and reverence as any film in the Original Trilogy and The Last Jedi.
It's been 30 years after the Rebel Alliance defeated the Empire. We all assumed that meant everyone lived hapilly ever after right? Nope. The galaxy is in a state of cold war between the First Order and The Resistance. And above all, Luke Skywalker has vanished. Without the...
...galaxy's greatest hero, General Leia Organa sends Poe Dameron and BB-8 to Jakku to retrieve a map that could lead to him. But the First Order is looking for him as well, The evil Kylo Ren wants to destroy Luke and after a stunning turn of events, Poe crosses paths with a...
...desserted stormtrooper (whom he names Finn). And as if things couldn't get any weirder, Finn crosses paths with BB-8 and a young girl named Rey. The two unlikely heroes then team up to get BB-8 to the Resistance with the help of Han Solo and Chewbacca. The movie is mainly a...
...race against time, where specifc individuals encounter one another by fate. As Qui-Gon Jinn once said, nothing happens by accident.
The biggest criticism I keep seeing against The Force Awakens is that it's just A New Hope 2.0. Yes, there are a lot of similairites between...
The biggest criticism I keep seeing against The Force Awakens is that it's just A New Hope 2.0. Yes, there are a lot of similairites between...
...this film and the original 1977 classic, but they're all surface level. The core themes of both films is very different. A New Hope is more in line with the classic Hero's Journey, while The Force Awakens begins the story of young heroes who must correct the sins of the...
...people who came before them. Which is a more than relevent theme for today's audiences.
I'm gonna say it, J.J. Abrams was the perfect choice to start this trilogy and this new era of Star Wars. Abrams' love and passion for Star Wars is felt throughout the entire film.
I'm gonna say it, J.J. Abrams was the perfect choice to start this trilogy and this new era of Star Wars. Abrams' love and passion for Star Wars is felt throughout the entire film.
Even if he shows his love a little too much at time, it's better than hiring someone who has no affection for the franchise at all (you know who you are). Abrams' precision in his direction is astounding, whether he's shooting dialogue or action scenes. This is also helped by...
...top-notch editing from Maryann Brandon and Mary Jo Barkley as well as the wonderful and kinetic cinematography from Dan Mindel.
Lawrence Kasdan couldn't have been matched more perfectly with Abrams if they tried. His master skill of character development, dilaogue, and...
Lawrence Kasdan couldn't have been matched more perfectly with Abrams if they tried. His master skill of character development, dilaogue, and...
...humor shine just as bright here as they did in The Empire Strikes Back (No ill-will towards Terrio, but I wished Kasdan return to co-write IX instead tbh). I should say Michael Arndt and George Lucas deserve all the credit in the world for introducing early concepts for our...
... four leads; Rey, Finn, Kylo Ren, and Poe Dameron. Production designer Rick Carter also deserves to take credit for his contributions to the movie.
The movie's greatest strength is its characters, introducing us to new icons and bringing back some old favorites, which is...
The movie's greatest strength is its characters, introducing us to new icons and bringing back some old favorites, which is...
...why it is crucial for this film to be more character-driven. Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron is a joy to watch despite his small amount of screentime, as is Lupita Nyong'o as Maz Kanata. It was fantastic to see Carrie Fisher as General Leia Organa, and Domnhall Gleeson as...
...General Hux is a delight. But there's fours actors in particular who make this movie shine.
Daisy Ridley's Rey immediately became one of my favorite characters. Even though Daisy has come a long way in terms of her acting capabilities since her introduction, her soul and...
Daisy Ridley's Rey immediately became one of my favorite characters. Even though Daisy has come a long way in terms of her acting capabilities since her introduction, her soul and...
...energy give us a great hero for a new generation. Adam Driver's Kylo Ren entered legend status from the get-go. Not only is he an amazing villain, but he's a great emotional character whose journey is the emotional backbone of this trilogy.
But this movie belongs to Harrison Ford and John Boyega; playing Han Solo and Finn respectively. Harrison Ford and the character of Han Solo have not been this great since The Empire Strikes Back. Seeing a more mature (if we can call it that) and hands on Han Solo was so much...
...better than the cranky old cowboy shtick every fanboy under the sun dreamt up. And Finn is pretty much the film's heart and soul. It's great to see the male lead be a man of color, and John Boyega's talent for emotion and comedy really shines.
His chemestry with Oscar Issac, Daisy Ridley, and Harrison Ford are off the charts. While Boyega continuted to bring his A-game for the next two movies, Finn sadly never got the same amount of spotlight as he did in this movie. This movie belonged to him.
John Williams' score is of course a win. His new themes for Rey, Kylo Ren, the Resistance, the Jedi Steps, Poe, and Finn are all classics to me now. Nothing gets me more pumped than seeing Finn and Poe blast a gun on a space ship with Poe's Theme blast heroically.
Nothing sends chills down your spine like Kylo Ren's theme dominating the screen as his ship decends to Jakku. Nothing more beautiful than Rey's Theme playing during her introduction or the music for the Jedi Steps when she finds Luke at the end of the film.
And of course, Han Solo's death is one of the best acted and scored scenes of the Saga that even rivals the aftermath of Anakin and Obi-wan’s showdown in Mustafar in Revenge of the Sith.
Let's talk about the action, which is freaking spectacular. Finn and Poe's escape as I...
Let's talk about the action, which is freaking spectacular. Finn and Poe's escape as I...
...mentioned is always a delight. The Falcon chase on Jakku is pure J.J. magic at its finest, never letting the thrills go every time I watch it. The lightsaber duel between Kylo Ren and Finn, or Kylo Ren and Rey, is a wonderful contrast to the great saber fights of the..
Original Trilogy and the Prequels.
Of course, it's easy to find flaws in this movie. It's too safe, it's not as thematically rich as The Last Jedi, Starkiller Base feels like a last-minute add on, blah, blah, blah. I get it. But there's something that people seem to forget.
Of course, it's easy to find flaws in this movie. It's too safe, it's not as thematically rich as The Last Jedi, Starkiller Base feels like a last-minute add on, blah, blah, blah. I get it. But there's something that people seem to forget.
While there's nothing wrong with thematically rich and emotionally driven Star Wars movies (The Empire Strikes Back and The Last Jedi are still my favorites). But sometimes seem to forget that some Star Wars movie being thrilling, entertaining, bang for your buck adventure...
...movies are just as valid and nobody is less of a fine or any less smart for appreciating that kind of storytelling.
To write this off as a forgettable, unoriginal, and "stupid" movie because the masses enjoyed it is to me just as lazy as the concept of Starkiller Base...
To write this off as a forgettable, unoriginal, and "stupid" movie because the masses enjoyed it is to me just as lazy as the concept of Starkiller Base...
... (At least it looked cool).
While it plays it a little too safe at times and some of the more "out there" concepts from its art book never saw the light of day, The Force Awakens revitalized Hollywood's most significant cinematic achivement (I went there). Star Wars...
While it plays it a little too safe at times and some of the more "out there" concepts from its art book never saw the light of day, The Force Awakens revitalized Hollywood's most significant cinematic achivement (I went there). Star Wars...
... isn't just a franchise, it's it own language, its own form of storytelling, its own brand of adventure. While the fandom can become loud and obnoxious at times, nothing will ever change that these movies mean something positiive to me and others.
People can try to convince me that this movie was never good, never liked, or (as someone told me recently) "The Last Jedi makes it look good.". I love my boy Rian Johnson, but people forget he's not the only person who has help revitalize this series.
J.J. Abrams understood exactly what he needed to do and pulled it off in his own way. No amount of psuedo-woke takes or angry fangirls and fanboys can convince me otherwise.
With phenomonal direction, a tightly written screenplay, a wonderful score, thrilling action,...
With phenomonal direction, a tightly written screenplay, a wonderful score, thrilling action,...
strong performances, remarkable editting, breathtaking visuals, and a fantastic score, Star Wars: The Force Awakens continues to be a prime example of pure fun blockbuster excitement at its finest. It's safe yes, but never lets go of the wonder.
No matter how annoying the discourse surrounding this trilogy can get, this movie actually exisiting makes it all worth it. I have nothing but love and respect for J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan.
Story: 8/10
Visuals: 10/10
Characters: 9/10
Overall: 8/10
Story: 8/10
Visuals: 10/10
Characters: 9/10
Overall: 8/10
