I suspect that it is because that I am a member of the generation that saw Episode 4 when a teenager that leads me to see 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' as Harrison Ford’s film.
From the moment he first appears, Ford dominates the screen in his every scene. The film proves his amazing screen presence, that he is a true movie star. He has a significant share of the movie’s best lines (“Okay Big Deal…”, “Women always figure out the truth. Always.”, “That’s not how the Force works.” to cite just a few). Not only does the audience swiftly bond with Daisy Ridley’s Rey because of her strong portrayal of an independent, capable woman, but also because of the link the film makes to Ford’s Solo. From her reversed decision to use the garbage spacecraft, through their pilot banter, to her joy at an unexpected job offer, the writers use the two characters’ poignant relationship as an avenue to establish Rey in the audience’s heart. Whereas the younger generation will not be upset by the sparse use of most of the original cast, the film’s creators really seem to understand that Han Solo has always been the most interesting and colourful of those characters, and have given Ford the space to exceptionally shine.
And what a good couple of new leads we have in Daisy Ridley and John Boyega. Ridley is terrific, wholly believable as the feisty Rey, and comfortably carries the film. Boyega’s Finn gives a different insight to Stormtrooper lore, and a marvellous comic foil to Ford’s wise-cracking turn.
There is action aplenty, and marvellously well executed it is too; this is EXACTLY why JJ Abrams is helming - he steers the ship very efficiently. He brings to the action sequences (such as the absorbing dogfights) all the characteristic innovation that he has presented in his previous movies. We see the fighters touching the floor mid-fight, sit atop the planet crust as the ships fly towards, over and beyond us mightily close overhead, and watch the seas churned by the rocket-drives of the great inter-galactic vessels. And all with very little of the lens flare he so over-used in his Star Trek productions. Hurrah.
What I found interesting was what seems to be a very positive, deliberate choice to use natural habitats for the film’s set-pieces. This means that the action takes place in a physical rather than a CGI world. Instantly, the drawbacks of the CGI of Episodes 1 to 3 are eliminated. CGI trickery and weightlessness are replaced with more credible, physical and earthy action.
There are many throwbacks to Episodes 4 to 6 for the diehard fans to enjoy. And there are great new twists on old ideas thrown in; characters being seduced by the unwanted side of The Force, a pilot who intuitively understands the frailties of a favourite heap of space garbage, and a dawning realisation for one individual that The Force is strong upon them.
And (yes, whisper it quietly) yet…
I still felt slightly disappointed because it all feels so ‘safe’.
The story is broadly a re-tread. There is nothing that really hits us from left field. I have seen all of the aforementioned JJ Abrams tricks before. Although exhilaratingly new to the Star Wars franchise, they are still a mere repetition of what I have seen him do elsewhere - more of the (albeit very good) same. Having previously seen him excitingly breathe completely new life into tired ideas, I had high expectations that he would do something similar here. Yet, it seems that this was possibly deemed too risky for the franchise after the relative failure of Episodes 1 to 3.
Equally unhelpful is Adam Driver (Kylo Ren) who I kept expecting to sell me hair products saying “Because you’re worth it!” I am afraid I found his long mane rather distracting and so never really bought into him following in the illustrious steps he tries to follow (although the film pointedly highlights this very dilemma itself, so this may be a little more by design than I am willing to credit it). With his hair moments, Ren carries no more threat than the hair-flicking Prince Charming of 'Shrek 2'. Moreover, if it had remained true to Star Wars' own lore, the film would never have asked us to believe in a nascent knowledge of The Force awakening and developing so quickly in a character with such remarkable results.
So, Episode 7 is an interesting and exciting set-up for Episodes 8 and 9, but ultimately remains not quite a wholly satisfying offering.