Star Wars Strikes Back in The Force Awakens

Photo Courtesy of www.starwars.com

For Star Wars fans like myself, it's been far too long since we visited that galaxy far, far away. Yes, in the early 2000's we got the prequel trilogy, but with the exception of a few moments of satisfaction sprinkled among the three films, most fans were somewhat disappointed with how things played out in the years before a New Hope. Nothing in the prequel trilogy could really live up to the feelings that diehard fans still have when they see Luke's Lightsaber fly into his hand for the first time, see him battle Vader for the first time and learn of his true heritage or the moment when Vader comes back to the light side and tosses the Emperor into the core of the Death Star. These are but a few of the scenes from the original trilogy which still send a wave of joy rushing through every Star Wars fan; these are the reasons we fell in love with the characters inhabiting this strange galaxy all those years ago.
 With Revenge of the Sith finalizing Anakin's transformation into Darth Vader back in 2005, the Star Wars saga, at least cinematically speaking, seemed complete. Sure, there are countless novels and comic books which told of stories following the events of Return of the Jedi, but it seemed doubtful that fans would ever see any of these stories brought to life on the big screen. Well now, thanks to J.J. Abrams and crew, fans can once more travel to that galaxy far, far away in Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. The film's been out for almost a month now and has already broken every previous box office record, including surpassing Avatar as the highest grossing film of all time. I myself have seen it three times and have come to love it more with each new showing. It manages to recapture much of what fans loved about the original trilogy, but with the flawless special effects of the prequel trilogy. From the first, blaring notes of the instantly recognizable opening score, I felt the same giddy excitement I felt when I was a kid; instantly I felt myself transported back into the Star Wars galaxy at light speed. Picking up thirty years after Return of the Jedi, Force Awakens gives us a new oppressive regime in the form of the First Order, which rose from the ashes of the Empire as well as the old Rebel Alliance, now called the Resistance and secretly supported by the New Republic. In the midst of all this, Luke Skywalker, the last Jedi has mysteriously vanished with both the Resistance and the First Order hoping to find him before the other does.
Despite the lapse in time between films, Force Awakens does an excellent job of bringing us back to a galaxy which feels so familiar in its strangeness while at the same time allowing new fans a chance to jump in fresh with several new characters who already seem to fit right alongside their legendary co-stars. Chief among these new faces, is the mysterious Rey, played by the adorable Daisy Ridley, fast on her way to becoming a household name. Rey is a strong, self-reliant scavenger on the desert planet of Jakku who, much like Luke in A New Hope, gets swept up into an epic adventure when she meets BB-8, a rolly-polly little droid containing info that can lead to Skywalker, and Finn, a Stormtrooper who deserts the First Order and ends up on Jakku. It's not long before Rey and Finn cross paths with a few familiar faces, most notably Han Solo and his trusty first mate Chewbacca, both looking as good as ever. The re-introduction of these iconic characters as well as the Millennium Falcon are sure to send a surge of nostalgia through any longtime fan, but what's even more remarkable is how well the new characters mesh with these legendary characters, feeling as though they're the next generation of adventurers continuing the path forged by the original characters.

Rey: a new hero for a new generation.
Photo Courtesy of www.hngn.com 

The film also introduces a couple new dark side villains in the form of Kylo Ren, a one time student of Luke's who turned to the dark side and his new master, the mysterious Supreme Leader Snoke. Ren has a serious case of hero worship for Darth Vader, even having recovered Vader's burned up helmet from the forest moon of Endor. Of course, Ren has a long way to go and in Force Awakens comes across more as an impatient, moody adolescent trying to act like his idol. I believe this was a deliberate choice and one that illustrates the inadequacy we feel when trying to live up to our heroes. Ren is an interesting foil to Rey because unlike him, Rey is not trying to be like anyone; she is simply herself at all stages, trusting her instincts and strengths, which is one of the reasons she's such a crucial figure in the film. No one knows for sure yet who Rey really is, but certain clues dropped in the film make it clear that she has some deep connection to the Force and the original characters. My first thought was that she's Luke's long lost daughter given her natural force abilities, but this seems to be too obvious to be the truth. Only time will reveal the secret of her cloudy origin. 
The film has no shortage of thrilling chases and dazzling space battles reminiscent of the terrific dog fights in the original films. From the scene in which the Millennium Falcon flies again for the first time in years to a squadron of X-wing fighters duking it out with TIE fighters, you feel as though you're right back in the midst of the action. Abrams brings the same adrenaline pumping action to the film that he brought to his Star Trek films, his previous space saga resurrection.
There are so many call backs to the original trilogy, both little and small which make the film a treasure trove of easter eggs for scouring fans. From seeing Luke's blue lightsaber once more to reuniting with Princess (now General) Leia, C-3PO and R2D2, the film establishes a strong connection to the past while pointing the way forward. Even so, Rey is the highlight in a film that has no shortage of highlights and I for one can't wait to see where they take her character in future films. Her character is almost like Luke Skywalker for a new generation although she's much stronger and more independent than Luke was in A New Hope. Finn provides much of the bountiful comic relief much in a way similar to Han Solo, but even so, both characters are unique and have many of their own distinct qualities and I look forward to seeing the two of them continue the journey begun in the original trilogy. The Force Awakens is the perfect film to reintroduce the Star Wars Universe to a new generation while also bringing long time fans back to a place of familiarity and renewed excitement at the possibilities which lay in store for our beloved characters, both old and new. With The Force Awakens, much like A New Hope 38 years before it, fans both old and new can once again take their first step into a much larger world.