Movie Review: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
I have a confession to make. It may revoke any chance I have at a true "geek" card. But I feel like this may be the safest place to share this. I've never actually watched five of the six episodes of Star Wars. I've seen bits of pieces. I think I know the highlights. Darth Vader is Luke's father. I got that much. I remember seeing Episode III in theaters with Jenn and her family in San Diego. Otherwise I'm not sure I've actually seen a full Star Wars movie. But with all the hype going into Star Wars: The Force Awakens I had to drag Jenn to see what all the fuss was about.
Going in with little to no Star Wars background I'm surprised to sit here and say how much I loved this movie. From the opening moments of the movie to the close I was on the edge of my seat enjoying the ride. It's not a profound movie. It's not a movie that I consider one of the years best. But its easily one of the best times I've had at the movies in a long time.
Both Daisy Ridley and John Boyega the new stars of Star Wars were absolutely fantastic and have nothing but pure stardom coming there way. They carry the show. As someone who has little to no affinity to the returning stars (Han Solo, Luke, and Princess Leia) it was great to see these two steal the show. Also Jenn got very excited when Adam Driver shows up, someone she's been a fan of since watching Girls a couple of years ago. For me though the highlight was watching the pro-feminist The Force Awakens take shape early on. Daisy Ridley's character Rey is a girl who can take care of herself and does a great job putting all the men in the movie in their place.
For me The Force Awakens was an introduction to what all the fuss was about with Star Wars. Will I go back and watch all of Episode 1-6? I'm not sure. I hear Episode 1-3 are pretty rough. But I think that The Force Awakens has "awakened" the force within me and I can say i'm a thousand times more excited for the annual Star Wars movies then I was before this movie.
