I’ve seen The Force
Awakens three times now, and it seems to get better with every viewing – or
at least to further cement itself in my mind as a classic and outstanding
episode of the saga. Do I even need to
warn you about spoilers? Go see the
movie!
I just can’t stop thinking about this film. I’m awed by the magnificence of the casting. Did Daisy Ridley fall out of another "more
civilized age"? She feels like she
belongs to the Golden Age of movies. And
she’s perfect in this role! She captures
characteristics of both Luke and Han from the originals, but makes this
character feel unique in her own right.
On my third viewing of the film she seemed more young and vulnerable
than she had before, but that did nothing to diminish the strength and
brilliance of Rey. If anything, it
reinforced the drama of her story and the significance of her agency. Ms. Ridley has achieved a deep and resonant
character that can morph into different versions, depending on our needs and
expectations.
Lupita Nyong’o’s timeless voice breathes life into a
thousand-year-old alien and makes me want to sit down at the bar in Maz’s
castle and talk with her about the Jedi.
John Boyega’s Finn is often played for humor, but consider his more
serious moments: “We all need to run” and that wonderful, desperate, almost
suicidal dash across the ruins when Kylo abducts Rey. It’s powerful stuff. Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren is cruel and yet regal,
crazy and conflicted. In the mask, he
stalks through the movie like a demonic vulture, poised to devour his
prey. There are scenes where his
movements are so smooth and eerie he almost seems like a special effect – in a
good way. Even Poe Dameron seems to get
cooler with every viewing.
There are so many fun puzzles to muse over. Of course, there’s the obvious question of
Rey’s heritage, but there are plenty of other matters to consider. Did Luke personally battle the Knights of Ren
when his Jedi Order fell? Why is he reaching
for R2 at what seems a pivotal moment? Who
is Snoke? How much does Leia know about
him and his influence? Will the Republic
be reborn? Who will lead it? Are we going to pick up with Episode VIII immediately after this film – or will we
never know exactly what Luke first says to Rey?
Do you have complaints about this film? “Let go, Luke!” It’s like the cave on Dagobah – perhaps you’ve
brought too much cynicism and negativity with you. Are you really worried about science in a space fantasy movie? How does Starkiller Base shoot across the
cosmos? ... Who cares? Maybe it burns a
hole in the fabric of space-time. Maybe
it’s secretly fueled by the power of the Dark Side! Star Wars needs big space-guns and gigantic
explosions. Why does R2-D2 wake so
conveniently? For the same reason that
Han showed up at just the right moment during the Death Star assault in A New Hope – to make amazing
cinema. Outside the film, J.J. Abrams
actually provides a fine explanation, too, about R2 processing data from his
long-ago Death Star interface, and slowly reawakening after BB-8 prompts him
for information. But maybe Luke’s
mechanical hand has transformed his connection with the Force, transcending the
ordinary boundaries of organic life and forming a spiritual-mechanical link
with R2, thus stirring the droid once there is a great disturbance in the
Force. Anything’s possible in Star Wars.
It’s derivative of A
New Hope, you say? Classic Star Wars
was derivative of all sorts of stuff – but it still managed to be amazing, and
the same holds true here. To me this
movie feels fresh and dynamic – watch Rey and Han when they arrive on Maz’s
planet and Rey marvels at the lush landscape.
Han can’t quite believe that this kid still sees the universe with
innocent eyes, but she does, and so should we.
Okay, maybe this movie isn’t as seamless as The Empire Strikes Back, but I think The Force Awakens has a better closing scene than Episode V. Cliffhangers can be frustrating, but this is
in the tradition of the inspirations behind Star Wars, like Flash Gordon. Besides, it’s all just so beautiful – the
scenery, the cinematography, the music.
And Rey’s look and gesture at the end all but say “Help us Luke
Skywalker, you’re our only hope.” Yet,
just as in the original film, the true hope may reside not in the old teacher
but in the young student – in this case, Rey herself.
The Force Awakens
is well and truly Star Wars – and
Star Wars triumphant! The old characters
are there, exploring new elements of a familiar galaxy. The new characters are as archetypal as they
can be without turning into carbon copies of the old ones: a scavenger letting
go of a traumatic past, a deserter struggling with his place in the world, a
prodigal son who breaks his parents’ hearts.
The music is glorious, the battles are exciting, and there is wonderful alien
weirdness throughout! And such
tenderness: that moment with Rey wearing the Rebel pilot’s helmet while sitting
beside the wrecked AT-AT is priceless. I
admire the reverence for the legacies of the saga, as when Rey’s force vision
shows her – and us – “the future, the
past… old friends long gone.” It’s all
here and I’m going to savor every moment of it.
There’s a little dialogue running in my head…
Me: “I love you.”
The Force Awakens:
“I know.”
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