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This review not contains spoilers. For a very simple reason: if you know Star Wars, there is virtually nothing to spoil, because you have already seen the whole plot. Star Wars: The Awakening of the Force is a copy-paste of scenes you've seen in the classic trilogy. Copy-paste so that the movies I, and who was with me we have repeatedly anticipated softly several jokes, never having seen the film, because they were the same, identical of the classic trilogy.
Mind you: the quotes are always pleasant, the freebies as well. But when the film is made up exclusively of repetitions of things already seen in the previous films in the series, changed just that bit you need to not be dragged into court for plagiarism, and when the entire story is similar to that of the first film (Star Wars: A New Hope, or Star Wars), is no longer quote. It is no longer free. You copy. It trim heated soup fresh guise.
I do not know about you, but I feel taken for a ride. Again, because J.J. Abrams did the same copiaincolla with Star Trek. I was hoping that Star Wars was more in his ropes and I dared to be optimistic, but I had to reverse.
You like it? To those unfamiliar with the original probably yes, because it does not know that The Awakening of the Force is a shameless rip-off and there is a lot of action, there are spectacular scenes, there are interesting characters, there's an epic story. Fans a little 'vintage men, those like me who have fallen in love as children wonderful universe created by George Lucas, probably not, if not due to nostalgia.
It could have been worse? Certainly. If the comparison is with Episode I: The Phantom Menace, this film is very successful. Abrams has certainly done less worse than Lucas. But with all the money you give to the writers, because we always have to make do with a measly lesser evil? Paying the difference, you could have at least a flicker of originality? A plot not already seen and stravista? Why not just take the scenes of previous films and stir a bit 'the assignment of beats to the characters to say that he wrote a screenplay (a method already used by Abrams for Star Trek Into Darkness).
Dear brothers and sisters starwarsiani, now you'll know how we felt we Star Trek fans after we got their hands Jar Jar Abrams. I prepare the tissues for you.
What you save
The music of John Williams. The theme of Rey is wonderful, a great classic theme, romantic and adventurous than those who only know John Williams to compose; the rest of the soundtrack is a great support for images, also it is not likely unique levels of A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, and initial fanfare still puts chills after almost forty years. If J.J. Abrams published a version of the Awakening Forces of no dialogue and only with the musical soundtrack and sound effects volume down, buy it.
Special effects. Excellent and flawless, but it is also true that today is the norm, if you have a good budget, and here there were about 200 million dollars. I can not say anything about the 3D, because I saw it in 2D.
The visual style. This film is wonderfully true to the style, design and photography of the original trilogy. Many sets and physical models (though extended and enhanced digitally), many creatures made in animatronics instead of computer graphics, the same air lived and worn rooms and vehicles that has always been one of the characteristics of genius and inventiveness of Star Wars missing so dissonant in the prequel, too glossy (also because of the time other than that described) and digitized. Among other things, the lens flare that Abrams fastidiosissimamente overused in his previous films here can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
The actors. Harrison Ford, despite the years have passed, is perfect in the play the role of Han Solo's oldest and most bitter, and Carrie Fisher is equally up to the task. All other new players get along very well, especially Daisy Ridley, the protagonist (Rey), which is good and strong, and John Boyega (Finn). The droid BB-8 is cute and adorable. Peter Mayhew also makes good Ciubecca (or Chewbacca, depending on the dubbing that considered canon), perhaps even better than in the classic trilogy, much to rip several smiles of fun and affection for an old friend found. See them in action is a joy, although refer things already seen.
The humor. There are jokes dazzling and memorable, but there are funny moments, and we are light years (or should I say "twelve parsecs") far from the levels of George "do-the-pound-a-crap-that-is-always- laugh "in Lucas prequel.
The choice of humanizing an Assault Troop. This, I must admit, it's a decision that shows the original look unexplored universe of Star Wars. It well be the choice to play the part by an actor of color.
Choosing to have a woman as protagonist. Considering that women in the original trilogy (except Leia) were practically irrelevant, this is a good step forward.
A scene. I promised that I would not spoilers, so do not tell you which one, but a scene that moved me so much there was.
What goes in the flush
A mistake of translation. More than once, in the wake of the Force, the characters speak of the "Dark Side" (the Force) and then the "light". But in the original it is "The Dark Side and the Light", which implies Light side. It is not light: the adjective is clear. Possible that there was a translator able to do a second search before making a blunder so spectacular? It's not that the concept of the Force, with a dark side and a light one, it was hard to find: it is well known to have entered the common lexicon. Just a click on Wikipedia, which even has an appropriate heading. Oh, and do not translate stormtrooper Stormtrooper, but shock troops (as famous line from Leia "Not a bit 'down to belong to the shock troops?" In Star Wars).
The bad guys. One is a spoiled brat; another is a tedious and disconcerting banality. Neither it is formidable. Darth Vader, the Emperor and Tarkin were quite different.
The plot. Throughout. The explosive force of the first Star Wars not only stemmed by the innovative use of special effects: gushed from disruption of the archetypes and the classic rules of the plot. The unblemished hero who conquers the princess; the princess instead of a damsel in distress is a tuff sarcastic; the universe frayed and worn, with things falling apart instead of being shiny and aseptic; the choice to get straight into the action, skipping even the opening credits (so that George Lucas is why it took a fine); the irony; aliens who speak with subtitles; etcetera, etcetera. Awakening to the Force completely lacks this charge of innovation. We already saw the fair.
I promised that I will not spoiler, so I'll be vague, but this is a short list of the many, too many conditions or scenes lazily copied and repackaged. If you do not want even these vague hints, stop reading here.
- No longer it called the Empire, but the First Order. Same soup first.
- It is not called Tatooine, but Jakku. Same sandy planet populated by beggars.
- They do not call Jawa, but it's the same old story.
- The bad guys have built a superweapon ammazzapianeti that must be destroyed.
- The above superweapon is destroyed using exactly the same technique of his earlier films. Even Han Solo points it out.
- The secret plans of something important hidden and stolen by good using exactly the same trick of his earlier films.
- An alien very old and wise, of small stature, dispenses advice to life and preserves important secrets. Only this time it is not green: a prodigious leap of originality ... is orange.
- The villain wears a long black robe and a mask.
- The villain is obsessed with power and is manipulated, without realizing it, a bad meaner.
- The dream scene in which a character is confronted with the ghosts of his past (as in the tree magic on Dagobah in The Empire Strikes Back).
- The bar filled with bizarre alien where there is a complex of other aliens who play music Earth very badly: virtually the Mos Eisley Cantina - New management.
- Some say that a character has yet passed to the dark side of the good within themselves and have perceived (as in The Return of the Jedi).
- The villain speaks via hologram with the bad in second in a breakfast room (as in The Empire Strikes Back) and discusses the idea that one of the good should be brought to the Dark Side (as in The Empire Strikes Back).
- The bad guys are asking each other if they have experienced a tremor (sorry, an awakening) in the Force.
- While the heroes are hidden in the belly of the enemy base, to one of them something serious happens, another cries of shock and so the Imperial troops ... er, the First Order realize suddenly the presence of intruders (in A New Hope, Luke cries when Ben Kenobi is shot down by Darth Vader's Death Star hangar).
- There are many other, absolutely central to the film, but as I said I will not do spoilers. You'll know yourself. And you too will cry out "NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!".
