I know the new canon disappoints those who wanted to spoil The Force Awakens for many, out of spite for JJ Abrams, Disney and the new vision that we'll be seeing in the new films, TV series, books, etc.
The rest of us wanted to be connected once more to the original trilogy, because it was that special. The original films changed Hollywood and pop culture forever. A grand, epic, classic battle of good vs. evil seen through the eyes of a few memorable characters. A story told with a flourish and with special effects and sets that, at the time, seemed beyond their time.
The problem with the prequel Star Wars trilogy, is that George Lucas overthought things. He has been a good storyteller and had his heart in the right place. But given a tremendous budget and technology that he could have only dreamed of as a younger filmmaker, Lucas crafted a needlessly convoluted subplot, provided clunky dialogue, and at times offered awkward direction. It was hard to connect to a young Anakin Sykwalker, Padme Amidala, a younger Obi Wan Kenob, etc. At times, the prequel films looked gaudy and the story, the outcome of which we already knew, took a backseat.
With all of this, JJ Abrams and Disney had the work cut out for them in restoring in Star Wars fans their faith, and giving new, younger fans a reason to look forward to a universe that finally expands on the big screen.
Is Abrams an excellent filmmaker and storyteller? No. But like Lucas, he respects the cinematic material that inspired him. Abrams grew up on Star Wars and recognizes exactly what made the entire franchise special, with a special inspiration from the original movies. In planning Episode 7, Abrams did well in enlisting help from producer Kathleen Kennedy, infusing a touch of Spielberg, and from Lawrence Kasdan, who wrote The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
I hear complaints that The Force Awakens is no different than Episode 4? Is that entirely a bad thing? Weren't we supposed to have all the feels upon seeing Han Solo, Leia Organa, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2 and Luke Skywalker for the first time in forever? Fans in the theater cheered and applauded with each reveal. When the Millennium Falcon takes flight once more, weren't we supposed to feel nostalgic for when the Falcon soared into our minds and hearts in the original films?
But at the same time, the new younger characters of Rey, Finn, Poe and Kylo Ren -- all based on Han, Leia, Luke and Darth Vader loosely in their own ways -- we're meant to connect to them. I found it much easier to connect with Rey, Finn and Poe, from the start, then the primary characters of the prequels. John Boyega, Daisy Ridley and Oscar Isaac played the roles of a lifetime, and are capitalizing on their opportunity to have their characters become memorable like Luke, Han and Leia.
Rey's strength and tenacity, Finn's reluctant hero, Poe's swagger and confidence, and Kylo's ambition to be more than a Vader wannabe, all seem more tangible, more relatable, than Padme, and younger Anakin and Obi Wan appeared in the prequels. The practical special effects and sets balance the CGI. The dialogue, while not the strongest and award-winning, is easy to grasp. The action is well paced.
But perhaps more importantly, The Force Awakens feels like a complete story while opening the door to that aforementioned wider Star Wars universe. We're invested in seeing who Rey really is. We're curious about how Poe and Finn evolve. We want to know more about this First Order, how exactly Kylo came to be who he is. I want to see more Captain Phasma and BB-8.
The Force Awakens is a joy to watch, not a chore like it is to view Episodes 1 and 2. That's all most of us really wanted. (And the racial and gender diversity only makes sense because, after all, it's a frigging big galaxy out there.) Plus, the Easter eggs embedded in Episode 7, guessing which cameo actors portray Stormtroopers, and all of the actors who supplied voices -- watch the end credits -- that's fun, too.
That's the fun. The fun is back. I look forward to not only the development of Finn, Rey, Poe and Ren's universe, but the spinoffs...the other Star Wars stories that are out there: Young Han Solo, young Boba Fett, how the Rebels stole the plans for the first Death Star, God knows what else is coming. Some folks will complain that under Disney, Star Wars stories really won't take much risks. With different directors and writers contributing, we don't know that for sure.
What I do feel is that finally, it's Star Wars for a wider audience and I for one can't be more excited. I do feel like a kid again.
And I still hope one of you gifts me lightsaber or BB-8 this Christmas/festivus.
