Movie - Star Wars VII - The Force Awakens

Movie - Star Wars VII - The Force Awakens
Score : 9/10 
Year : 2015
Director: J.J. Abrams
Cinematography: Dan Mindel
Music:  John William
Country: USA 
Language: English
Duration: 2h18
Writers:   Lawrence Kasdan, J.J. Abrams and Michael Arndt  (written by) ;  
George Lucas (based on characters by )

Full cast & team (IMDB)


In this chapter, set in the in-universe calendar year 34 ABY, which is 30 years after the Return of the Jedi's events, Leia is now a General, and she's leading a new Resistance against the First Order, the remnant of the old enemies.


She sends her best pilot, Poe, on a dangerous mission to Jakku, to retrieve information about Luke who has been missing.  

Finn, a First Order Stormtrooper goes rogue, meets Rey, and together they run into trouble, adventure and some of the old friends we came to love. The Force awakens into a new team of freedom fighters, to oppose the new enemies born from the ashes of the older ones... 

The opening crawl and John Williams' famous musical theme remain, despite the time gap since the last movie, keeping traditions alive - whilst reducing greatly the frequency of wipe transitions, which were also part and parcel of the original movies - a modern choice that I personally love. Cinematography is nothing but excellent, both on 2 and 3D versions, the choice in depth or width as well as lighting and shadows are perfected, and J.J Abrams' director of cinematography, Dan Mindel adds lens flares, though not as many as in the Star Trek reboot on which they worked together as well. 

Many scenes are exciting and suspenseful, with more fluid animation, now that technology can deliver these results!  

Fights, with or without Light Sabres are more numerous, even more epic and grandiose than ever. Even their choreography has improved. The Force has grown, and it is calling out to new contestants.

Acting is excellent in dramatic moments as well as in action sequences, with impeccable delivery for the dialogues, which add a much needed naturally flowing humour.

Costumes see a further increase from previous chapters, with more variety in characters, whether they get lines or not ; the Stormtroopers are still conformed to their one-colour outfit (either black, white or red) but to this aspect of conformity, sociopolitical comments have been greatly expanded via particular revelations about Stormtroopers - the backstory given through the rogue soldier. 

With modern writing, therefore, comes a deeper writing, further additions to the sociopolitical aspects, and with updated acting and casting choices that include more minorities, and although still not reaching gender-equilibrium, improves towards it with more women on screen, and with dialogues, both in the new Resistance and the new Order.

I greatly loved this movie, the evolution it brought to the overall story, and its more complex character development. Humour both in dialogue and situations is very naturally written and delivered, and I absolutely adored the feminist nature to the new leading character, not falling into tropes and actually giving her really powerful moments in independence, self-reliance and the capacity to fend for herself - not needing a man's help.

Starring : Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Domhall Gleeson, et al. - including voice actors for some of the characters.