Star Wars: The Force Awakens Spoiler-Free Review
I just saw Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. This in no way noteworthy, as the movie made $57 million last night alone. My review of the movie is in no way noteworthy, either, so this post is not that. Rather, it’s basically my stream of consciousness ramblings after seeing the movie this morning. As far as a review goes…all I will say is that, if for some reason you are on the fence about seeing The Force Awakens, I recommend going to see it. The sooner, the better, so it isn’t spoiled for you. (No, this post won’t spoil it for you.)
If that doesn’t convince you, think of it this way. Everyone is going to be talking about The Force Awakens at every Christmas gathering next week, so unless you want to sit in the corner getting drunk on eggnog by yourself, see it for the sake of avoiding awkward conversation.
Seriously, literally everyone you know is going to see it, besides the crazy reclusive types who live in underground bunkers and filter their own urine to avoid Soviet surveillance (hopefully you don’t know too many people like that, and one is too many). I suspect when the dust settles, this will be the top opening weekend ever. Given the limited amount of time remaining in December, topping Jurassic World in terms of 2015 releases will be more difficult, but I’ll go a bit bolder and also predict that.
Even bolder yet, when it’s still playing in theaters next February, I think that The Force Awakens will shatter the all-time record held by Avatar. I know that a lot of people are predicting it topples Avatar, but it seems a lot of that is premised on the basic belief that Star Wars > Avatar.
This overlooks that, historically, Avatar came along at the perfect time when 3D movies were the hot new thing, and many people went to see it multiple times in 3D because of the way it exploited this new technology. The Force Awakens is no doubt a superior film to Avatar in most regards, but the key required to topple Avatar is re-watchability with the general public–not just serious Star Wars fans–to garner enough second and third viewings. It does. I want to see it again for the sheer sake of the experience.
Anyway, enough talk of numbers before I lose all of you (after all, not like any of us see residuals on those B.O. receipts!). While my review of this film isn’t particularly noteworthy, What I think is noteworthy is my perspective when it comes to Star Wars. The last film of the original trilogy, Return of the Jedi, was released two years before I was born. My parents weren’t particularly big fans of the films, so there was no grand introduction to the original trilogy for me.
Although I watched all three movies growing up, I don’t have any particularly indelible or even fond memories of seeing them. I saw them, I enjoyed them, and that was about all there is to say. If there was any “defining” moment with regard to Star Wars I remember, it was the build up to The Phantom Menace, and my pre-release excitement for that film.
By that point, I was a bit of a fledgling film buff, starting to work my way through the AFI Top 100 list and each new Criterion Collection DVD. I think we all know how The Phantom Menace turned out, and that film essentially killed any percolating Star Wars fandom in me. In fact, up until this week, the last time I had seen any of the Star Wars films (aside from A New Hope) was before the release of The Phantom Menace. I didn’t even bother with Episodes II & III when they were released.
The point is not to belabor the fact that I am not a Star Wars fanboy to try to give my gushing more credibility as being from someone with no bias. Rather, it’s to demonstrate the power that this new film has, something that I think will be a significant discussion point in the coming weeks and months as Star Wars attracts a whole new generation of young fans.
While I’m not exactly the “new generation” to which I’m referring, I do want to share more of an anecdotal, personal bit about how The Force Awakens impacted me as an adult. We went to see The Force Awakens this morning at 7:45 a.m. at the Downtown Disney AMC. Despite the early hour, the theater was about 75% full, and the audience was enthusiastic. At key moments and reveals, there was a near unanimous, audible reaction from the crowd. I’ve been in packed theaters with audiences that have been into films before, but I can’t remember anything to this degree–and I can only imagine that this was compounded for last night’s showings and will be likewise for tonight’s.
Unlike with The Phantom Menace, I felt like I was part of something. (Well, I felt like I was part of something then, but not the good kind of something…) Not just the opening weekend of a popular film, but something bigger, like riding a wave as a new pop culture phenomenon crests. I don’t know how to quite do it justice with words, but the experience made me more enthusiastic about Star Wars. It was a shared cultural experience that made me feel like a giddy fan, and I know I can’t be the only one who felt that.
In short, I felt a new sense of fandom for Star Wars. I want to be abundantly clear: there’s no way my experience even comes close to comparing with lining up opening weekend for the 1977 original–from the novel special effects to the social experience, it just can’t–but it was special in its own right. I also don’t want to act like I’ve instantly been transformed into a huge, lifelong Star Wars fan. I’m definitely “into” Star Wars a lot more than I was last week, but I’m still not even close to a superfan. I want to work my way there, but I know that will take serious training (cue “Montage”). I’m not particularly keen on fairweather fans, so I don’t want to act like that. (Someday when my Detroit Lions win back-to-back championships, I’m sure I’ll have to call out all of you bandwagoners!) I suspect Star Wars will see plenty of that this week as its popularity explodes even further.
However, for some people, especially kids around ages 6-14, this newfound fandom will be legit, and will become lifelong. Seeing The Force Awakens with their parents or friends will be their first exposure to the franchise, and it will be such a memorable experience that it makes fans out of them like it made out of many of their parents. Suffice to say, The Force Awakens will go down as a cultural touchstone and be the film that makes a lot of young people lifelong Star Wars fans.
This is significant across the entirety of The Walt Disney Company. Once again, Disney has the “it” intellectual property. Lifelong Star Wars fans are going to think this is a non-story–that Star Wars has been the “it” property since the 1970s. Since it often ranks near the top of “most valuable franchises” lists this makes sense.
It’s unquestionable that Star Wars has a huge global following, and has for decades, but without something new and relevant in pop culture, its I think its hardcore fans might overestimate its long-term, cross-generational appeal. There’s the propensity to do this when you’re incredibly close to a topic and associate with likeminded individuals. In fact, Disney fans have done this, albeit in a different manner, with Frozen–growing fatigued of the property as the general public that is generally less exposed to it remains enthusiastic.
With a new film that is going to do gangbusters at the box office and in merchandise sales, there should soon be no question that Star Wars is the #1 franchise in the world. Sorry Harry Potter, James Bond, and yes, even Avengers fans. With plenty of additional movies in the pipelines and the world’s leading ‘brand management’ company (criticize Disney about synergy and franchises all you want, the company is undoubtedly skilled at managing the properties in its portfolio), this will show no signs of slowing anytime in the near future.
More importantly, if predictions about The Force Awakens‘ box office totals prove correct, what are the implications for the recently-announced Star Wars Land? Namely, I’m wondering if a single land is sufficient to satiate what is sure to be intense demand. It’s certainly going to be tough to do creative justice to the many worlds of Star Wars with a single land, but here I’m talking pure logistics. Especially in a park like Disneyland that already is bursting at the seams, will this intense demand be too much?
While Florida’s Universal parks haven’t had this problem, Universal Studios Japan (and likely Universal Studios Hollywood) had to institute a windowed entry system (think FastPass, except just to get in the land) for Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Will the same be necessary for Star Wars Land? This is definitely a good problem to have, but it’s a problem nonetheless.
Could a huge box office mean the current plans are expanded in scale and scope? (This could prove challenging at Disneyland due to space constraints.) Could it mean Disney itself announces further additions as “counter-programming” to ease the burden on Star Wars Land when it opens?
I can tell I’m rambling, so I’ll stop. These are just a few of the many questions that are running through my head right now as I’m still riding a bit of a Star Wars “high.” While this isn’t the best film of the year (in my opinion), it is the year’s best movie-going experience. As my giddiness subsides and I have more time to reflect, I’m sure my thoughts will better congeal. For now, I just wanted to share some of the thoughts racing through my mind while they’re still fresh.
Hope you all have a chance to enjoy The Force Awakens this weekend.
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Your Thoughts
Have you seen The Force Awakens yet? What did you think (NO SPOILERS)? What was your movie-going experience like? Are you a lifelong, or new, Star Wars fan? I’d love to hear from you, so if you have any opinions to share, please post in the comments below!
Oh well…. this movie is not terrible and is a nice try by Disney, but fails on so many levels I don’t know where to begin. There are so many holes in the story, too much taken from the original movie and too many things that don’t make sense (at least for now). I’m sure they’ll explain all in the next film, but that’s no help to this one. Harrison Ford and the three new main cast are very good and the special effects were mostly pretty awesome. BUT even John Williams score didn’t help it (I blame that mostly on the director and the editing). I rank it 7 out of the 7 films is because I didn’t leave the theater satisfied. Even with all it’s flaws, episode 1, Phantom menace, satisfied me. The bottom line is, Disney focused more on “glitz” than on story development. But I don’t want to spoil anything for those who have yet to see it. I would recommend that you do because only those who were there with me in 1977 are going to agree with my comments.
Huh, THANK U for acknowledging it how it really is! I watched all 7 movies in order and TFA doesn’t feel very…. star wars if you know what I mean. It doesn’t have any of the elements that make star wars unique. Star wars was such a huge hit in the first place because it’s something NEW, it inspired imagination into people. TFA is pretty much the same as ANH but worse. Minus well watch episode IV again.
Went to “Force Awakens” for pre-opening day (the 17th) – we never do that – but thought we would give it a try. Being in the theater late at night with super fans was super fun! Fam and I have since gone back to see it again and I think we enjoyed it even more the 2nd time! Thanks for the post…it was a great read.
My best friend and I share a love/fanaticism for Star Wars. We saw it on Friday at an IMAX theater, then again in a private showing at another theater on Sunday. We’ll probably see it together at least one more time together-this time with her 6 year old daughter. The prequels left a bad taste in our mouths, but The Force Awakens made up for that! Should have called it The Force Redemption.
Is it just me, or do you all see Star Wars themed rooms coming to the Contemporary???
I was 9 years old when the original movie came out, and I live in Modesto, California, where George Lucas grew up. I remember the crazy long lines and everyone talking about George Lucas as a hometown hero. We must have seen the movie in the theater at least 7 or 8 times. We just couldn’t get enough. I was planning on seeing this episode after it had been out awhile because, as some others have said, I like to be about the only person in the theater, but after reading Tom’s blog, it makes me want to see it and experience it with a larger audience. I’ll have to give that some thought.
I saw it last night. The shared experience is great because there is an electricity in the audience. I thought the movie lived up to the hype, was well cast and acted. Daisey Ridley and Harrison Ford particularly stood out for me. I left the theater happy and exhilarated and wanting it to be 2017 tomorrow so I could see Ep. 8. I’m a serious Fan of the Star Wars movies (I’ve seen the original trilogy an embarrassing amount of times), but I’m not into dressing up, conventions or collectibles. I share the love of these movies with my Mom who took me to A New Hope multiple times in the theater when I was 3, and then Episodes 5 & 6 when I was 6 and 9. At some point I’ll see this with her. I introduced my son, 7 today, to Star Wars when he was 3. He loves the movies and has watched them multiple times over the years. I am very excited to take him to The Force Awakens tomorrow morning at 10:00 am. It will be his first experience of Star Wars with an audience and the big screen. I know he’ll love it. As Disney fans, we can’t wait for the Star Wars Lands to open. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Tom. I found your perspective interesting.
“I normally try to see films a couple weeks after they open, as close to 10 a.m. as possible both to avoid crowds and take advantage of matinee pricing, so I’m with you on that.”
…Get off my lawn!
Oh you young whippersnappers….
I didn’t see the original in theaters until ’78…took that long to break my mom and let us go see it….and it was in theaters JUST THAT LONG! It took while for people to start lining up for it, I think. It was a very underwhelming start….only 32 theaters or something like that for opening weekend.
Welcome to the cult. Er, club.
Saw it last night just so I could read all the magazines piling up, I avoid trailers and articles on most movies I want to see. Star Wars will always have special meaning for me. My father was a big SciFi fan and took me and my little brother to see the original Star Wars on opening day. We always went to a 5:00pm show since he always said people are eating dinner. There were a total of 6 people at that showing including us. We received “May The Force Be With You” pins. Since my Pop has passed away I always think of him when I watch any Star Wars movie.
Your description of the audience’s collective reactions has me so excited for my tickets to see the movie tomorrow morning. I have been in very appreciative cinema audiences, but the best have generally not been for new releases.
When the AMPAS hosted 70th anniversary screenings of all 10 Best Picture nominees from 1939 at the Lighthouse International cinema in NYC, we went to THE WIZARD OF OZ introduced by Robert Osborne. When you’re in the right room, you laugh at things you forgot were funny. The audience’s emotions were so palpable that I cried when Dorothy told the Scarecrow that she would miss him most of all.
When I saw the JAWS for its 40th anniversary this summer, the theater was about half ful. There were as many people watching the movie for the first time as there were longtime fans. Even though I was in the latter category, I still jumped about a foot in the air at the Ben Gardner scene. And I knew it was coming!
That’s what a good audience can do for an already outstanding film. So between the experience you wrote about here and other praises I haven’t managed to avoid from friends (though I’m doing my best to steer clear of social media), I am so ridiculously excited for tomorrow. I’ll see you on the forums tomorrow. I assume there will be a spolierish thread by the time I return from my show.
I loved the movie (our daughter slept in her Rey costume afterward.) I have a random, barely-related question – they played a wonderfully emotional Disney Parks commercial before the movie in our theater (it was about a deaf woman who went to Disney as a child, and was stunned by all the characters signing with her.) I wanted to post it, but I cannot find it anywhere. Any ideas? Did you get to see it?
I’m by no means a super fan, but I’m not fair weather either (and as a life long Lions fan I can relate!). I had planned to wait a bit to see this film (my movie viewing goal has long since been to be the only person in the theater). However, you’ve got me wanting to experience the shared audience experience.
I normally try to see films a couple weeks after they open, as close to 10 a.m. as possible both to avoid crowds and take advantage of matinee pricing, so I’m with you on that.
This is one that you should definitely see this weekend.
Boy, I’m a little afraid I’ll get flogged here, but I thought it was a bit of the old, but it had lots of problems as a movie. Everyone cheered the levitating lettering as the beginning, then the bad guy is completely unexplained — he doesn’t seem dangerous — he’s too skinny for a bad guy, and he tromps around like a web-footed, angry, evil nun. It failed in the story-telling end for me; the only theme surviving the original saga seems to be that the hero tries, stumbles, believes and somehow the force makes it OK. ONLY, the idea of a hero has been replaced by a feminine-looking bad guy, a girl for the good guy — or “good girl” — and an almost-romance that is — though not rebuffed — unrequited. Plus, and worst of all, they killed YOU KNOW WHO! Unforgivable. Shoot the princess. Maybe he’ll come back; albeit, I can’t see him wearing a Jedi from beyond the Force robe.
You are right about all, but don’t blame the filmmakers for you know who’s death. That was the actor’s doing. I can’t expand on that without giving away who we’re talking about. But the story is weak and they took way too much from the original film. You can read my comments below.
I love your remarks on how the movie made you feel – as I echoed the same sentiments to my husband last night as we left the theatre. While my background for loving Star Wars is much different than yours (my dad saw them in theatres when the original trilogy released, then passed them on to me and took me to see 1-3, and now I get to share the new movie with my 4-year old.) the audience reaction felt like we were in it together. It was a shared experience, something big, something truly amazing (because the movie truly, really, was perfect.) It was redemption for 1-3 and the start of a new chapter. To share that with my own next generation (my son) already is perfect. Next month I’ll take my dad with us to see it again and it will be 3 generations of SW fans, all revisiting the franchise together.
As for Star Wars Land, now it is even more relevant and necessary and I didn’t even consider the crowd level repercussions of that (though even WWoHP’s original opening is a good predictor.) I hadn’t considered the fact that the new franchise would be good! and worthy of its own rides. Now even more I wish Disney would adopt Universal’s once-per-year updates mantra and get SW Land done asap!
I suspect there are going to be a lot of multi-generational audiences like you and your family. I suspect this will contribute to a high box office total, as people our age go, then go back again, the next time taking their parents or kids, wanting to share something special.
I wouldn’t go as far as to say the film was perfect, but it’s a pretty perfect movie-going experience, and one that can be enjoyed by all ages (brilliant move by the filmmakers on that).
I enjoyed the movie as well. I spent a lot of the time trying to figure out which settings might show up in the Star Wars Lands. Maz Kanata’s castle, particularly the courtyard with all the flags and the main cantina, absolutely felt like something that would be in a theme park.
As of the D23 Expo, the location was to be a “new” planet, which presumably means no identifiable locations from any of the films.
I think this is a good strategy if you’re only making one land, because I think it *should* be a single, immersive location, and there is no single location that immediately jumps to mind as the “defining” location of Star Wars.
HOWEVER, if you expand that land into an entire park, I can see Tatooine, Endor, etc. all represented as their own lands in that park. In which case, there are a couple of potential setting options from this film, too.