Access Hollywood's Scott Mantz weighs in on "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," and says the latest installment in the franchise strikes back!
From one "Star Wars" fan to another, it's about damn time…
More than 10 years after the release of the last "Star Wars" prequel, "Revenge of the Sith," and over 32 years after "Return of the Jedi" concluded the original trilogy, "Star Wars" returns with a vengeance that not only recaptures the magic of that timeless phenomenon, but also wipes the slate clean after the disappointing one-two-three punch of those inferior prequels.
No question about it, this is the one we've been waiting for, and it was oh-so very well worth the wait. "The Force Awakens" not only represents a welcome return to form for the beloved series that first debuted in 1977 and changed the face of Hollywood forever, but it's also a rousing, exciting and incredibly entertaining stand-alone film that's bound to introduce the "Star Wars" legacy to a whole new generation of fans.
"The Force Awakens" has a lot riding on it, especially because it represents a series of firsts, and on so many crucial levels: It's the first "Star Wars" film to be released through Disney, which purchased Lucasfilm for more than $4 billion in 2012; it's the first in the series to be made without the direct involvement of its creator, George Lucas; it's the first film to premiere in December instead of May; it's the first "Star Wars" movie to be made by the director of two "Star Trek" films, JJ Abrams; and it's the first part of not only a brand new trilogy, but also a series of stand-alone spinoff movies.
But "The Force Awakens" also represents the return of several key players that made the Original Trilogy so brilliant in the first place. Of course, there's Oscar-winning composer John Williams, whose scores for the previous films were among the very best in motion picture history. Then there's co-screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan, who co-wrote the screenplays for both 1980's "The Empire Strikes Back" (the best "Star Wars" movie, by far) and 1983's "Return of the Jedi." But without question, it's the return of original cast members Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and…well, maybe a few other familiar faces that really make "The Force Awakens" feel like a vintage "Star Wars" movie.
Taking place more than 30 years after the events of "Return of the Jedi," everyone seems to have forgotten about the great battle so long ago in that galaxy far, far away. Though the Rebellion was victorious, out of the ashes of the defeated Empire comes an all new and potentially more powerful threat called the First Order. Its evil leader, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), has vowed to pick up where ominous Darth Vader left off, leaving a whole new generation of freedom fighters to stand in his way. But in order to be truly victorious, old friends and new will have to search the galaxy to find the one person who can once again restore balance to the power of the Force: Luke Skywalker.
Eschewing the reliance on computer-generated visual effects that all but overwhelmed the three "Star Wars" prequels, "The Force Awakens" marks a return to more practical sets, models and stunts that make the film more visceral, engaging and exciting. This is movie magic at its finest, but it never threatens to overpower the scope, the story or the refreshing and fully-realized characters. The new cast members led by John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac and Adam Driver give superb performances, which is only surpassed by the welcomed (and chill-inducing) sight of returning players Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher, among others. And screenwriters JJ Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan and Michael Arndt juggle the multiple storylines seamlessly while striking the perfect balance between the old and the new.
But if there's one drawback to "The Force Awakens," it's that it tries to recapture the glory of what made "Star Wars" so great without really advancing the story to a whole new level. History repeats itself, and the only things that have changed are the names. The Empire is now the First Order. The Rebellion is now the Resistance. The Death Star is now Starkiller Base. It's still a fantastic movie, so newcomers and casual fans won't mind. But for diehard fans who have seen the Original Trilogy hundreds of times, the story and plot points are all too familiar – so familiar, in fact, that it almost feels like a reboot or doppelganger of sorts of the very first "Star Wars" film, "A New Hope," rather than a real continuation of the series.
"The Force Awakens" plays it safe (maybe a little too safe), but it still fits the bill as an amazing "Star Wars" movie, and a great movie, period. It's not as trailblazing as the original film, nor is it as bold or as audacious as "The Empire Strikes Back." But it is still very good, and it's at least as good as "Return of the Jedi" (it might even be better, but I'll need some perspective and a few more viewings to make that judgment call). From the opening crawl to the ending credits, it's the "Star Wars" movie we waited decades for, and it sets the stage for even bigger, better and bolder adventures to come.
And for this "Star Wars" fan, that represents a new hope, indeed.
