Star Wars: Episode VII – The ForceAwakens — Kevin Aquino
A decade after Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith hit theaters, the triumphant return of Star Wars landed on Dec. 18, 2015 with The Force Awakens, which picked up from the original trilogy’s culmination. Fans spanning generations gathered in anticipation to see where the galaxy would go next, and director JJ Abrams brought a whole lot of punch, giving the audience hits of familiarity along with bold new flavor. Abrams showcased new characters, thrusting them to the forefront of the series while also staying true to the ones we knew and loved.
Compelling newbies such as Rey (Daisy Ridley), a Force-sensitive scavenger with an immensely bright future and Finn (John Boyega), a former stormtrooper previously known as FN-2187 lead the beginning of the new era. Complete with Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), Chewbacca and a Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) cameo, characters from both generations blend seamlessly, with callbacks and easter eggs aplenty.
Contrary to the light, Darth Vader stan, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), serves as the film’s villain as a leader of the First Order and servant of the mysterious Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis). Is the duo as menacing and intimidating as the Vader-Palpatine tandem? No, but that’s okay. Rather than seeing a polished product of evil in Vader, Ren is on the come-up, chomping at the bit to reach his potential and be as strong as Vader—allowing the new antagonist side of the film to feel fresh and new.
However you feel about The Last Jedi and where the direction of the story is headed at the moment, The Force Awakens was a strong start to the new trilogy and a huge comeback statement for Star Wars. It warrants multiple watches, it’s action sequences are loads of fun, and it carries the charm of the original trilogy with the newest visual effects and filmmaking tech.
With Star Wars’ presence on Disney+ and The Skywalker Saga coming to an end this year with The Rise of Skywalker, it’s certain that new people will dive into the series for the first time and longtime fans will rewatch the films in anticipation of the final chapter. Either way, The Force Awakens is a fantastic part of the series and put Star Wars back on the mainstream map. Released smack in the middle of the decade, it was a box office monster and was the highest grossing film of the decade worldwide, surpassed only by this year’s Avengers: Endgame.
