Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Cinema Review)

Starring: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac
Directed By: J.J. Abrams
Running Time: 136 minutes
UK Release Date: Out Now
Certificate: 12A

“This will begin to make things right.” The first words spoken out loud in The Force Awakens are uttered by a minor character and are clearly not meant to be about the Star Wars franchise in general. But the subtext is clear. For most fans, the three Star Wars prequels – The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith – were to varying degrees cartoonish, often boring disappointments. Ten years on from the last and best of these, Star Wars newcomer J.J. Abrams wants us to know it will be different this time. And it is. The Force Awakens really does live up to the new hype.

From the outset, there are plenty of conscious echoes of the original film: a lone figure walks across a desert followed by a small comedy droid or a sequence with a drinks area which is a dead ringer for the rowdier Mos Eisley Cantina in Episode IV. However, there is always a new spin to it. The sense of familiarity is heightened by the welcome return of characters from the earlier films. Han Solo’s cynical world weariness seems even more appropriate now he is in his 70s rather than his 30s. His scenes with Leia (Carrie Fisher) resonate with a real sense of history between the characters.

And the newcomers are good too with Oscar Isaac (perhaps a bit underused in this first one, expect more later) making an impact as the heroic Poe Dameron and Lupita N’yongo voicing a new character Maz, who seems to be a cross between Yoda (he died in Return of the Jedi, remember?) and ET The Extra Terrestrial’s orange aunt. Somewhat disturbingly, she also seems to want to shag Chewbacca.

Stealing the show, however, are newcomers John Boyega and Daisy Ridley. Despite having something of the look of Keira Knightley about her, Ridley particularly seems destined for a great career and is already challenging Jennifer Lawrence’s status as female sci-fi star of the 21^st century.

Things take a plunge into the dark side later with Adam Driver (of TV’s Girls) adding to Star Wars’ distinguished lineage of villains as Kylo Ren. But director Abrams should be proud. His already fine career (Alias, Lost, Cloverfield, Star Trek) has been building towards this moment.

Overall Verdict: “Chewy, we’re home.” Star Wars fans might well feel the same way.

Reviewer: Chris Hallam