Abrams comes through for “Star Wars” fans


Photo credit - Starwars.com

Peter Mayhew and Harrison Ford return to their iconic roles in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

Camden Metheny, Editor


When the latest entry in the “Star Wars” saga was announced in the middle of 2015, the Internet lost its collective mind. After series creator George Lucas sold the rights to Disney, nobody knew what to expect for the upcoming film. Directed by J.J. Abrams, the film lived up to its hype.

The latest entry follows Rey (Daisy Ridley), a scavenger on the planet Jakku, and Finn (John Boyega), a deserter of the First Order, on their mission to return a quirky robot named BB-8 to the Rebellion. Along the way, they encounter beloved characters from the original trilogy such as Han Solo, Chewbacca, and General Leia Organa.

The movie, while it added to the “Star Wars” universe, felt more like fan-service than an original story. It featured similar plots to the older films, such as a planet-destroying enemy base, a robotic villain wearing all black and a helmet, a pilot from a desert planet, and a plucky robot companion. It also features tons of references to the other movies, like Han Solo’s famed Kessel Run and the quote, “I’ve got a bad feeling about this” that is in every other Star Wars film.

Even though it wasn’t entirely original, it was still full of excellent cinematography, dialogue, and a great mix of practical and digital effects. It introduced a plethora of new characters for a new generation to fall in love with, like Rey and BB-8.

Overall, it was a wonderful movie that appealed to the fanboy in me, as well as anyone else that has loved the Star Wars franchise for many years along with new fans of the series. It provided new content, along with some nods to the older films. I’m excited to see where Rian Johnson, the director of the next installment, takes the series next.