Yes Virginia, “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens” is worthy of the name.
The word iconic is tossed around carelessly but the characters and concepts George Lucas created in 1977 are as enduring as Mickey Mouse and Santa Claus.
So it’s fitting that Disney is putting the new chapter in this saga under the tree during this holiday season. “Star Wars” is the gift that keeps on giving.
As he did with “Star Trek,” director J.J. Abrams saves the universe.
But he doesn’t reinvent anything. He revives it, with help from Lawrence Kasdan, who wrote the last two films in the original series.
The result is a film fans have longed for since 1983 when the original trilogy ended and that passes the lightsaber to a new generation.
“The Force Awakens,” opening Friday, is steeped in the mythology, events and characters familiar from the original films and that sometimes run parallel to them to the point of seeming to be their duplicate.
This will be good news for fans who gave up hope in the franchise after the trilogy of simplistic prequels – directed by Lucas – whose ties to the originals seemed more perfunctory than prescient.
The first moments of “The Force Awakens” are utterly familiar: a written prologue explains this world thirty years after the events of “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi,” set against a star-filled sky polluted by the shadow of a massive space cruiser.
The Republic is on the wane and a heavily armed fascist group called the First Order is ascendant.
John Boyega plays a conscience-stricken First Order storm trooper who helps an irreverent rebel pilot played by Oscar Isaac, escape a mask-wearing Darth Vader wannabe played by Adam Driver.
When they crash on a desert planet and Isaac disappears, Boyega teams with a feisty Jill-of-all-trades, played by Daisy Ridley and a droid which, as in the first film, possesses information vital to the rebels.,
They take flight on a rusty scrap heap better known as the Millennium Falcon and soon encounter and join forces with the old gang – Harrison Ford’s sarcastic Han Solo, Peter Mayhew’s yowling Chewbaca, Carrie Fisher’s now rebel general Leia, Anthony Daniels flamboyant C-3PO and Kenny Baker’s chirpy R2-D2.
What about Mark Hamill’s Luke, “the last Jedi Knight?” That would be telling.
Like the original films “The Force Awakens” is relationship-based and ripples with themes of family and loyalty. The old characters are emotionally appealing and new ones are seamlessly assimilated into this existing template. They will be carrying the story forward. And though Driver’s villain is torn by an internal struggle between the dark side and the Force his actions are so reprehensible fans will never forgive him.
While Lucas plastered the prequels with digital wallpaper, the effects are minimalist and organic. There are thrilling battles in the sky and on land, including a lightsaber duel out of a Hong Kong martial arts film.
One memorable new critters is a Yoda-type character with giant eyes and short of stature who plays a role in awakening the Force in the new characters There is even a cantina scene.
The film literally closes with the final notes of John Williams’ familiar musical refrain, though a well-conditioned screening audience stayed through the credits in hopes of a extra scene at the end.
There wasn’t.
Fans will know where they are during every second of this film and will enjoy being there. But you don’t have to be among the converted to enjoy it. Because in awakening the old mythology it builds a new one.
***1/2 Three and one half
With Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Lupita N’yongo, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Domhnall Gleeson.
Produced by Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk.
Written by J.J. Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan, Michael Arndt. Directed by J.J. Abrams.
Rated PG-13; sci-fi violence. Approximate running time: 135 minutes.
Tags: C-3PO, Chewbaca, Daisy Ridley, Han Solo, Harrison Ford, J.J. Abrams, John Boyega, Leia, Luke, Mlllennium Falcon, R2-D2, Star Wars, The Force Awakens Posted by