MOVIE REVIEW: A Saga Reborn In STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS

Allow me to take a quick time ride, if you will. I was a ditzy youngster when Revenge of The Sith premiered in 2005. Despite the heavy rain and the impending threat of our periodic exams the following week, me and my uncle chose to line up during its opening weekend. We felt that Episode III would be a shot of redemption for the franchise, following a disappointing Episode II (You can blame Anakin and Padme’s cringe-worthy romance for that matter.). As seasoned fans of the franchise, we never gave up on it, and believed that Star Wars deserved a chance, just like how Luke placed his faith on Vader three decades ago.

Truth be told, it was spectacular. We loved it. While there were apparent flaws, it was made clear that George Lucas wanted to conclude the prequels with fireworks. It was a fitting farewell to a galaxy far, far away. Amidst the smoke and ravages of Mustafar, I was left to wonder:

What’s next? Was it really over?

Fast forward to the 15th of December, 2015. Funny, the events of that day are direct parallels to 2005’s premiere. I hurriedly drove to the gala premiere despite the depressing traffic, the increasing amount of work backlogs, and the stormy weather. That did not stop me from rushing to the cinema, though. It was a chance for me to return to a place I knew my heart belongs with. It was an opportunity to reunite with my friends from that galaxy far, far away. It was a moment of reawakening. A day of rebirth.

Enter, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

A Story, Reawakened

Set 30 years after the events of Return of The Jedi, both the Rebel Alliance and the Empire have become the Resistance and the First Order, respectively, as conflict ignited anew across the galaxy. Trapped between the crosshairs of the two sides are Finn and Rey, who are both trying to find a sense of purpose with their journeys. Clearly, these are dark times, and only their faith in the Force might be their last hope. 

A lot of things have changed post ROTJ, and the galaxy isn’t the same place we knew a decade ago. However, it still felt a whole familiar, as the film remained true to the core template of a Star Wars story. To put it simply, it is the same Star Wars we all love, but fine tuned for a modern audience.

A Galaxy, Reawakened

One thing I love about Star Wars are the varying environments and locales explored in each episode. Every planet had their own feel, story, and beauty. From the desserted wastelands of Jakku, to the lush greens of Takodana, the production and staff made sure that a sense of individualism would be felt with each world our ragtag crew of heroes come across. The set pieces, alien prosthetics and costume designs are nothing short of impressive. J.J. Abrams’ decision to shift to practical effects definitely paid its reward.

Let us also take into consideration Abrams’ take on Star Wars’ central key piece: The lightsaber duels. This time around, the duels are raw, thrilling, and gritty. They are a visible departure from what the prequels have offered. Gone are the flashy moves and lengthy fights. It felt real and suspenseful, which helped complement the feel of the film.

A Conflict, Reawakened

Despite being a fresh entry in the Sequel Trilogy, the film didn’t waste time in delving into the topic of realizing one’s identity, and I meant that not in the literal sense of the word. A good amount of The Force Awakens was spent in tackling Rey’s reluctant quest into tapping who she really is, and what she could become. Interestingly, it echoed the same journey her predecessors – in this case, Anakin and Luke – took, though the last six films did not capitalize on this. Even the antagonist Kylo Ren had the same conflict in him, as he strives to achieve what Vader failed to accomplish throughout his entire life. In a way, Rey and Kylo are mirrors of one another, and it would be great to see how their chosen paths would help shape their fates in the next episodes.

A Saga, Reawakened

Indeed, it is a great time to be a fan of the franchise. Abrams did well in reigniting the saga for modern audiences, while allowing room for old fans to reacquaint with familiar faces and tropes. You will laugh. You will hold on to your seats. You will smile. Hell, you may even cry tears of joy. Perhaps it is befitting to say that Star Wars has awakened anew, and will be staying for the next generations to come.

That said, may the Force be with us. Always.

Special thanks to Walt Disney Philippines. Star Wars: The Force Awakens premieres nationwide on December 17, 2015.