Star Wars: The Force Awakens brings fresh characters to a classic story

From the moment John Williams’ classic score picked up and the iconic yellow text of the opening title crawl started rolling it was clear that “Star Wars” was back. But not in the same way it returned from it’s 16 year hiatus in 1999. “The Force Awakens”, in part because how closely it adheres to the original “Star Wars” plot structure, has an authenticity that the prequels lacked. Gone is the busy and bustling CGI-polis of the prequels, the locations explored in “The Force Awakens” are similar to the deserts, forests and space stations of the original trilogy. This cutting of fluff allows for a more focused and simple narrative.

The familiar “Star Wars” tropes allow for the old-timers such as Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) to feel right at home. However the newcomers, like Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega) and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), truly shine. The re-imagined plot allows for the new characters to develop and stand out from the old. 

The new characters are introduced into the “Star Wars” universe in a setting where they can be assessed in relation to their contemporaries. Differences and similarities between the pre-existing and fresh characters create a interesting subtext that is itching to be explored in future films.

The prequel trilogy brought the franchise up to date with scale and digital effects, “The Force Awakens” does this with pacing and cinematography. The film is full of striking shots: imposing spacecraft, atmospheric lighting and desolate horizons all combine to create a delightful visual experience. The plot progresses at a blistering pace, bouncing between star systems at faster-than-light speeds.

The diverse denizens of the “Star Wars” universe return, and are accompanied by a host of new well crafted alien races. The refocusing on practical effects is a welcome return to form, the new characters and environments fit right into the established canon. Being a science fiction movie there still is liberal usage of CGI and, for the most part, it is used well. However one character, Supreme Leader Snoke, looks out of place. Snoke is played by motion capture veteran Andy Serkis and the only thing worse than his plastic-y rendering is his silly-sounding name.

“The Force Awakens” has some truly chuckle-worthy moments, but it never strays into the tonal lunacy of the prequels. “Star Wars” loses most of its goofy slapstick shtick and replaces it with more tasteful comic banter. These quips do sometimes contain referential humor, harkening back to the original trilogy, fortunately they never approach the corniness of “The Avengers” one-liners.

While “The Force Awakens” may have not been steadfastly faithful to the “Star Wars” pantheon, it is evident that J.J. Abrams has lovingly crafted an excellent homage to the 1977 classic. The iconography and soundtrack both hint and bludgeon with moments of emotional fanservice.  More than nostalgia however, “The Force Awakens” is “Star Wars” for a new generation, the classic story and endearing characters have been given a modern veneer.