The Force Awakens [Star Wars]

The Force Awakens (2015) starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher

The Force Awakens is the story of a new threat to the galaxy. Rey, a desert scavenger, and Finn, an ex-stormtrooper, must join Han Solo and Chewbacca to search for the missing Luke Skywalker.

Review of The Force Awakens

Wikipedia defines a Mary Sue as:

“A Mary Sue is an idealized and seemingly perfect fictional character. Typically, this character is recognized as an author insert or wish fulfillment. They can usually perform better at tasks than should be possible given the amount of training or experience, and usually are able through some means to upstage the protagonist of an established fictional setting, such as by saving the hero.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Sue

Rey is a Mary Sue. This is the central problem with The Force Awakens. Without any training, she can:

• Mind control a storm trooper (yes, I know that they’re supposed to be called something else, but … they’re storm troopers).
• Resist a highly-trained force user (Kylo Ren) attempting to read her mind.
• Fight Kylo in a light saber duel, despite never having used one … and defeat him.
• Flies the Millennium Falcon better than Han Solo & Chewbacca.

The universe bends to display just how awesome she is. Repeatedly.

She’s hard to like, hard to root for, has no growth in the film. This isn’t a commentary on Daisy Ridley’s acting ability. She simply has very little to work with.

Haven’t we seen this before?

• The New Republic has fallen, and the villainous Empire First Order has seized control of the galaxy.
• The First Order has a Death Star Star Destroyer that can destroy entire worlds. Wait! There’s been an upgrade! It can destroy entire solar systems! Oooh.
• Protagonist living on a desert planet in the middle of nowhere.
• The Jedi Order has been broken by the villains, and the few remaining Jedi are scattered.
• There’s a heavy hint at the end of the film (no spoilers) meaning that you’ll need to see the next film, The Last Jedi.

Cast of characters

• Han Solo (Harrison Ford). He’s married Leia, but their marriage has been torn apart. Their son, Ben Solo, is a Jedi … who’s turned to the Dark Side. So, Han’s back to smuggling with Chewbacca while looking for his son.
• Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). The MacGuffin that both sides are searching for. Unfortunately, he’s only on screen for a few seconds at the end of the movie.
• General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher). Older, sadder, still fighting the good fight.
• Rey (Daisy Ridley). The Mary Sue protagonist. She’s living on a desert planet, waiting for her parents to return for her. She’s been waiting for years, but abandons that and goes on a quest with Finn.
• Finn (John Boyega). Frankly, my favorite new character. Kidnapped by the First Order as a boy, raised to be a Storm Trooper. But he refuses and runs away at the first opportunity. Not a coward, but not the hero who thrusts himself into danger, either. Unlike Rey, he actually has some character growth.
• Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac). Fighter pilot for the Resistance, who teams up with Finn at the beginning of the film. Only for Finn to think he’s died. But, he hasn’t! Yay.
• Maz Canata (Lupita Nyong’o). Old, wise person living at a bar. She dispenses advice as well as drinks. She somehow possesses Luke’s light saber.

Villains

• Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis). Kylo’s dark master, head of the First Order. An enigmatic individual.
• Kylo Ren / Ben Solo (Adam Driver). The villain of the film, who’s turned to the Dark Side. He even talks to his dead grandfather’s broken mask. He emulates him by wearing a mask as well. In a confrontation with Han Solo, he rejects the Light Side.

Droids

• BB8 – the new cutesy droid that Rey rescues.
• C-3P0 – the old droid.
• R2D2 – awakens.