January 1, 2016
Random Acts… Newest “Star Wars” awakens nothing
I am a mild “Star Wars” fanatic.
I’ve seen the original three episodes more than a dozen times. (Sorry, George, but the prequels just don’t compare to your first three.) I’ve read “Star Wars” novels galore, and looked forward to seeing the newest film, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”
Sadly, director J.J. Abrams’ effort was more a snoozer than a film that awakens the Force.
In “Star Wars: A New Hope,” I’ll never forget Obi-Wan Kenobi, explaining what The Force was to young Luke Skywalker, sharing a vision of spirituality that touched a generation. That mythology inspired devoted fans to become Jedi knights, and even if you dressed up as Darth Vader for Halloween, you knew the difference between the Light and the Dark side of things.
This new narrative never explains what The Force is to viewers who have not seen previous “Star Wars” films. There are no climactic moments that give you the chills because the narrative is devoid of a storyline that is greater than a popcorn action flick.
And that is a shame, because we need reminders that the future is not doomed to become the dystopian society of young adult novels, which form the basis of most movies today.
The best thing about this newest film is the casting. By giving starring roles to a black man (John Boyega as Finn), a woman (Daisy Ridley as Rey) and a Latino (Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron) – all of whom are delightful to watch — diversity is now more than a passing nod in the “Star Wars” universe.
Obviously, Abrams wanted to pay homage to the original tale, but “The Force Awakens” is so derivative of the 1977 film that it does nothing to move the story forward.
“The Force Awakens” is the first feature produced by the Walt Disney Co., which purchased Lucasfilm in 2012. Its formulaic premise is clearly designed to drum up attendance at “Star Wars” theme park rides, sell merchandise, and increase commercial licensing opportunities.
The torch has been passed to a new generation of “Star Wars” characters, and Disney is sure to make big bucks off the franchise.
We can only hope that The Force inspires future filmmakers to do a better job of carrying on the true legacy of “Star Wars.”
Dinah Eng 