My Grade: A+
If you’re going to see Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens, you already have. And if you don’t care to see it, me writing a review isn’t going to make you want to because there are hundreds of positive reviews out there. If those haven’t convinced you, then what makes me think I can? So, I’m not going to write a review of The Force Awakens, I’m going to write a review of my experience with The Force Awakens.
I have been a Star Wars fan for a long time. I have seen the original trilogy too many times to count. I used to own and play Star Wars Trivial Pursuit (and I usually won). I used to play the underrated and, now, discontinued Star Wars Customizable Card Game (the cards are still in my attic). I have Star Wars shirts that don’t quite fit me but I still wear them. I wore Darth Vader socks to a close friend’s wedding (sorry Rachel). I did, however, marry a woman who had never seen any Star Wars movies EVER! In regards to that, I jokingly (sort of) told her that we couldn’t get married until she had seen the original trilogy. She sat through episodes IV and V in one sitting which is quite commendable, but she still hasn't seen Episode VI (or VII obviously). That’ll happen, though, don’t worry.
That is a brief glimpse at my history with this franchise that has not only shaped the art of film in general, but it has also shaped the entirety of pop culture. So, yes, I was pretty darn excited when Disney bought Lucasfilm and announced they were set to continue the story. Even if the new films were as bad as the prequels, at least there would be more to the story. And, to make matters even better, there would be anthology films each year in between the episodic installments? This fanboy couldn’t be happier about that (especially the Han Solo spinoff).
Anyway, back to my The Force Awakens experience. I can’t remember how many times I watched that first trailer. And, obviously, I applauded when Han and Chewbacca showed up at the end. Yes, I was alone in my house with nobody but the dog to hear my cheers; but I cheered anyway (you did, too… just admit it). Then that first full trailer dropped and broke the internet. I think I read that it was the fastest video ever to hit 1 million views. I contributed at least 25 of those million.
With each piece of news that came out, I got more and more excited. And, fortunately, they were largely spoiler free. That might be the most impressive thing about this movie: the marketing campaign. They could have shown videos of grass growing then play a snippet of that iconic John Williams score and plaster a release date on the screen and people would still line up for days. But they didn’t. They gave everyone just enough to build the excitement to beyond a fever pitch but they never even showed one shred of the actual story so everyone got to go into the theater fresh.
Tickets went on sale that first day and I snapped mine up. I had my ticket for a 9:40pm showing on Thursday, December 17. Meanwhile, my wife and I were expecting our first child with a due date of December 31. I’m not sure how much you know about due dates and pregnancy, but it was feasible that our baby girl could be born on or before December 17, thus making the ticket I pre-ordered a mere tease. Obviously the birth of my first child was vastly more important that “some stupid movie” (as it was called by my wife once or twice… she was kidding, I think) but I am certainly glad that our baby girl hadn't shown up before that Thursday. Closer to the due date would be better anyway, right?
Finally, it was Thursday. I had to work that day and it was the slowest day ever. All I could think about was the next chapter in this story with which I grew up. Work ended, I grabbed some food, then met up with my friends to wait in line. If you know anything about opening night movie events, you have to get there early unless you want to get stuck in the front row and risk neck trauma while trying to enjoy the film.
As the minutes ticked away, we finally got seats and the lights dimmed. Trailer after trailer prolonged the time before I got to witness the rebirth of the greatest franchise in film history. Finally, it was time. That iconic score blasted and the opening crawl burst onto the screen to uproarious applause from the crowded theater. The next two hours and sixteen minutes flew by. It was a glorious mix of nostalgia, fan service, classic storytelling, epic action, strong acting, and a mix of new faces that blended perfectly with the classic old faces we know and love. Not only is it the movie that we wanted as fans, but it’s just a good movie. Sure it shares a lot of close similarities with Episode IV but that is one of the greatest examples of classic storytelling in the history of cinema; so, if you’re going to borrow, borrow from the best, right? And there was enough new to set itself apart from its predecessors.
Once the film ended, I was equal parts excited for what is to come next and angry that they left us on such a cliff hanger (literally). It’s like when you watch your favorite show every week and this week’s episode ends on a shocking reveal that will have game-changing implications… then the closing credits roll. You have to wait a whole week to see what happens next. Well, in this case, you have to wait two whole years! What makes it even worse is that Episode VIII is being directed by one of my favorite directors in the business, Rian Johnson (Brick, Looper). But until then, I’ll just re-watch The Force Awakens on blu-ray (which I ordered the day it came out) a handful of times. Also, I guess the first anthology film, Rouge One, will tide me over.
I have been a Star Wars fan for a long time. I have seen the original trilogy too many times to count. I used to own and play Star Wars Trivial Pursuit (and I usually won). I used to play the underrated and, now, discontinued Star Wars Customizable Card Game (the cards are still in my attic). I have Star Wars shirts that don’t quite fit me but I still wear them. I wore Darth Vader socks to a close friend’s wedding (sorry Rachel). I did, however, marry a woman who had never seen any Star Wars movies EVER! In regards to that, I jokingly (sort of) told her that we couldn’t get married until she had seen the original trilogy. She sat through episodes IV and V in one sitting which is quite commendable, but she still hasn't seen Episode VI (or VII obviously). That’ll happen, though, don’t worry.
That is a brief glimpse at my history with this franchise that has not only shaped the art of film in general, but it has also shaped the entirety of pop culture. So, yes, I was pretty darn excited when Disney bought Lucasfilm and announced they were set to continue the story. Even if the new films were as bad as the prequels, at least there would be more to the story. And, to make matters even better, there would be anthology films each year in between the episodic installments? This fanboy couldn’t be happier about that (especially the Han Solo spinoff).
Anyway, back to my The Force Awakens experience. I can’t remember how many times I watched that first trailer. And, obviously, I applauded when Han and Chewbacca showed up at the end. Yes, I was alone in my house with nobody but the dog to hear my cheers; but I cheered anyway (you did, too… just admit it). Then that first full trailer dropped and broke the internet. I think I read that it was the fastest video ever to hit 1 million views. I contributed at least 25 of those million.
With each piece of news that came out, I got more and more excited. And, fortunately, they were largely spoiler free. That might be the most impressive thing about this movie: the marketing campaign. They could have shown videos of grass growing then play a snippet of that iconic John Williams score and plaster a release date on the screen and people would still line up for days. But they didn’t. They gave everyone just enough to build the excitement to beyond a fever pitch but they never even showed one shred of the actual story so everyone got to go into the theater fresh.
Tickets went on sale that first day and I snapped mine up. I had my ticket for a 9:40pm showing on Thursday, December 17. Meanwhile, my wife and I were expecting our first child with a due date of December 31. I’m not sure how much you know about due dates and pregnancy, but it was feasible that our baby girl could be born on or before December 17, thus making the ticket I pre-ordered a mere tease. Obviously the birth of my first child was vastly more important that “some stupid movie” (as it was called by my wife once or twice… she was kidding, I think) but I am certainly glad that our baby girl hadn't shown up before that Thursday. Closer to the due date would be better anyway, right?
Finally, it was Thursday. I had to work that day and it was the slowest day ever. All I could think about was the next chapter in this story with which I grew up. Work ended, I grabbed some food, then met up with my friends to wait in line. If you know anything about opening night movie events, you have to get there early unless you want to get stuck in the front row and risk neck trauma while trying to enjoy the film.
As the minutes ticked away, we finally got seats and the lights dimmed. Trailer after trailer prolonged the time before I got to witness the rebirth of the greatest franchise in film history. Finally, it was time. That iconic score blasted and the opening crawl burst onto the screen to uproarious applause from the crowded theater. The next two hours and sixteen minutes flew by. It was a glorious mix of nostalgia, fan service, classic storytelling, epic action, strong acting, and a mix of new faces that blended perfectly with the classic old faces we know and love. Not only is it the movie that we wanted as fans, but it’s just a good movie. Sure it shares a lot of close similarities with Episode IV but that is one of the greatest examples of classic storytelling in the history of cinema; so, if you’re going to borrow, borrow from the best, right? And there was enough new to set itself apart from its predecessors.
Once the film ended, I was equal parts excited for what is to come next and angry that they left us on such a cliff hanger (literally). It’s like when you watch your favorite show every week and this week’s episode ends on a shocking reveal that will have game-changing implications… then the closing credits roll. You have to wait a whole week to see what happens next. Well, in this case, you have to wait two whole years! What makes it even worse is that Episode VIII is being directed by one of my favorite directors in the business, Rian Johnson (Brick, Looper). But until then, I’ll just re-watch The Force Awakens on blu-ray (which I ordered the day it came out) a handful of times. Also, I guess the first anthology film, Rouge One, will tide me over.
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