Sorry this post is late. I was trying to search for relatively cheap flights to Calgary for When Worlds Collide. It's a little disheartening. Anyway, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a thing that happened.
Sorry fans.
I actually found the prequels that everyone hates so much pretty much true to form, but with more C.G.I.
As I wasn't overly enamoured by the Star Wars universe, I didn't go for any of the periphery stories. I haven't read any books, or seen any of the cartoons that further fill out and (I'm told) better explain the universe and the characters who inhabit it.
So, while this new Star Wars certainly piqued my interest, I wasn't chomping at the bit to go see it. I wasn't the first in line to see it. Not even the second. In fact, I waited until Christmas Eve before going to see it with my brother and father.
The short review:
I really liked it.
The longer review:
Rey was delightful; gifted, a survivor and likeable, but far from perfect. Finn, as her counterpoint, was wonderful; funny, empathetic, with a struggle that a fair few can find relateable. He cannot be what he's told he must be all his life. I liked this.
Despite the hilarious Twitter account, I adored Kylo Ren as the villain. He is clearly untrained but powerful. I mean (SPOILERS), he stops a blast shot mid air. Once he traps someone, he can turn his mind and body to other things, AND THEY STAY TRAPPED. His loose grip on his temper, coupled with his power, is brilliant, in my opinion. There is never anything so terrifying as raw, uncontrolled power. Not knowing when he might next explode in a fit of rage was scary, and I really liked it.
I especially liked it because I could feel how impotent Kylo Ren felt. I could feel the conflict and the rage. It was great. Brilliantly acted, Mr. Diver.
That said, (MORE SPOILERS) this movie was basically A New Hope redux. It was almost exactly the same story with different characters and a few tweaks in the plot. It was far better written and much better acted, but it was still the exact same story.
I was, all in all, quite impressed with the film. It wasn't my favourite film. Star Wars has not become my favourite franchise all of a sudden, but I certainly was not disappointed.
Best of all, the cast was wonderfully diverse. The two heroes are a woman and a black person. I very much appreciated this.
If you haven't already, go see the film. It's not Pan's Labyrinth level of brilliant, but it's a great flick all the same.
Ciao!