So, we went to Star Wars: The Force Awakens yesterday afternoon and were completely blown away. The story is a great extension of the original trilogy. There are nods throughout the film to those original concepts as well as to Ralph McQuarrie and his influence over the whole visual styling of Star Wars.
Actress Daisy Ridley attends the World Premiere of ìStar Wars: The Force Awakensî at the Dolby, El Capitan, and TCL Theatres on December 14, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
The two newcomers, Daisy Ridley and John Boyega, are absolutely wonderful but Daisy really steals the show. We also get to see some old friends as well and the moment when Princess Leia entered my breath was taken away. Our first look at Han and Chewie brought cheers during our screening, too.
Actor Peter Mayhew attends the World Premiere of ìStar Wars: The Force Awakensî at the Dolby, El Capitan, and TCL Theatres on December 14, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Disney)
The use of practical effects, a la BB-8, also give the film a feel of the “old” days before CGI and provide a sense of reality to this mythology that George Lucas created for us all. That is not to say that there is no CGI because it is replete throughout the film but its integration is near perfect to not overpower the story.
The action throughout the film is excellent, but only to propel the story forward and there are some great twists and turns to the film that will keep you entertained throughout. It is great to see some of these battles with the X-Wings on planetary surfaces and the impact it has on the surrounding environment.
Overall, there is a new favorite Star Wars film here at etckt.com and it is J.J. Abrams’ triumph, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Thank you J.J. for being a fan and delivering a movie that keeps the mythology alive and thriving for another generation of Star Wars fans.