Star Wars: The Force Awakens (12A)

Directed by JJ Abrams
Starring Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hammill, Daisey Rey, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Domnhall Gleason

While quite enjoying the original film in 1977, I've never really been a big Star Wars fan. It just seemed plodding in plot and those irritating droids and puppets just left me cold. So, I went in with pretty low expectations for The Force Awakens. On the whole I had a pretty good time - and certainly more fun than those awful prequels which were deadly dull. New characters Rey(Daisy Ridley) and Finn (John Boyega) are appealing although JJ Abrams revisits a LOT of the beats from the original movie from the orphan scrambling on a desert world, to evil empires with dastardly leaders, crusty character actors, light sabre duels, space battles, alien puppets propping up the bar, etc etc.

However, while familiar, the film cleverly recaptures the same sense of fun and stirring action the original film did. I could have done without the John Williams score - I may be alone, but I've always found the Star Wars incidental music pompous and manipulative. The return of old favourite characters evokes that feeling of nostalgia, and there are plenty of thrills and feels along the way. Boyega and Ridley are great but I especially enjoyed Adam Driver in a very different performance that he usually gives. I was sorry Gwendoline Christie didn't get to take off her helmet though. She's been in two mega blockbusters this year and been rather wasted in both!

I will never be a rabid Star Wars fan in the way some people are but this was a lot of fun.

8/10

December 2015