Read User Reviews and Submit your own for Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens - Page 23

6

Philsg1Dec 18, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. My background - massive Star Wars fan (also read all the E.U. books over the last 20 years).

Good:

- Better than all the prequels put together.
- Practical effects favoured nearly always over CGI.
- Several moments of LOL humour
- BB-8 - what a droid! (and completely practical effect too).
- Genuine moments where you were willing the characters on - just like the originals!
- Heartbreaking twist at the end.
- First half of the film felt new, fresh and solidly in the Star Wars universe.

Negative:
- Second half of the film felt like a 2015 reboot of Star Wars a New Hope.
- JJ Abram once again breaking 'in' universe physics (guilty of this in Star Trek - single person trans-warp, phasers firing at warp etc) so this time he has ships performing hyperspace jumps from inside other spaceships, and the worst was hyperspacing down onto the surface of a planet through its own gravity well - literally 20 meters above the planets surface!
- Ironically (as the prequels were all about politics) this film needed more back story and explanation of the intergalactic politics in the last 30 years as well as present day.
- The B.F.G. (The Big Friendly Giant!) portrayal of the evil Supreme Leader Snoke, was ultimately terrible and comical and was very poor motion capture CGI. Space pirate Maz Kanata also was unnecessary use of CGI - with both characters needing to be practical effects rather than computing alone.
- Ultimately too much left unsaid and a lot felt quite rushed. As part of a trilogy I can only see the score I have given only rising - probably to somewhere around a 8 rather than my initial scoring of 6.… Expand

18 of 55 users found this helpful1837

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10

thundercat11Dec 18, 2015

This is the Star Wars movie we should have gotten after Return of the Jedi. The characters are well written and the chemistry between them feels real. The story has the adventurous feel that the prequels sorely lacked. The action scenes areThis is the Star Wars movie we should have gotten after Return of the Jedi. The characters are well written and the chemistry between them feels real. The story has the adventurous feel that the prequels sorely lacked. The action scenes are incredible fun and the practical and cgi effects look gorgeous. The John Williams scores are as always amazing. The only criticisms I can think of is that the movie does indeed borrow much from A New Hope, but there are so many twists and differences that I wouldn't even consider it a con. What keeps the movie from being perfect is a number of coincidences that are obviously there for fan service but the strong performances more thank make up for this. I give this a solid 9/10 but I will write this out as a 10/10 only because I know some bozo is going to give it a ridiculous 0/10 which I don't even believe the prequels deserve.… Expand

175 of 233 users found this helpful17558

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0

drysprocketDec 18, 2015

I remember everyone liking Episode 1 on opening night too....people will eventually wake up. This was horrible beyond words. Truly, truly, horrible.

It barely counts as a movie- it's a reboot that brings nothing new, and doesn't have aI remember everyone liking Episode 1 on opening night too....people will eventually wake up. This was horrible beyond words. Truly, truly, horrible.

It barely counts as a movie- it's a reboot that brings nothing new, and doesn't have a fresh bone in it's body. I so sad to realize that I will never see another SW movie in the theater again. It's just gonna get worse I fear.… Expand

70 of 154 users found this helpful7084

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3

senya666Dec 18, 2015

This movie was a ton of fun, totally unnecessary, and made no sense whatsoever. The Prequels had an intriguing plot and terrible characters. Force Awakens has some really fun characters and a terrible plot. Way too much fan service, noThis movie was a ton of fun, totally unnecessary, and made no sense whatsoever. The Prequels had an intriguing plot and terrible characters. Force Awakens has some really fun characters and a terrible plot. Way too much fan service, no original ideas, and one of the coolest characters ever goes out like a chump. I could go on but there's little point.… Expand

61 of 131 users found this helpful6170

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5

PupitoDec 18, 2015

This movie was a ton of fun, totally unnecessary, and made no sense whatsoever. The Prequels had an intriguing plot and terrible characters. Force Awakens has some really fun characters and a terrible plot. Way too much fan service, noThis movie was a ton of fun, totally unnecessary, and made no sense whatsoever. The Prequels had an intriguing plot and terrible characters. Force Awakens has some really fun characters and a terrible plot. Way too much fan service, no original ideas, and one of the coolest characters ever goes out like a chump. I could go on but there's little point. Here's how I rank the saga 1. SW 2. ESB 3. ROTJ 4.ROTS 5. FA 6.TPM 7. AOTC… Expand

34 of 78 users found this helpful3444

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10

DCharlesDec 18, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Luke Skywalker has gone missing and General Leah Organa has dispatched her best resistance fighter pilot, Poe Dameron, to investigate. These details (as you probably can tell) are part of the opening crawl and sets the tone for the seventh Star Wars movie. It's a fun, emotional and poetic motion picture that really captures the spirit of the original trilogy. It's imperfections are few (the film may have left me wanting a little more than it should have), but this is still the joint second-best chapter in the series. It's as good as A New Hope, but The Empire Strikes Back remains my favorite.

What is truly astonishing about Star Wars: The Force Awakens is how it manages to retread the familiar beats of A New Hope, but remains fresh and exciting nonetheless. I loved the new cast. Rey, Finn and Poe are fantastically realized characters, especially the very good Oscar Isaac who plays Poe (he's the new Han Solo of this trilogy). The ending is not a definitive one, but it's emotional and moving; the final shot will grab you and leave you thinking about what it could mean for the next two episodes. The original Star Wars movies are legendary. This film is magical.… Expand

219 of 292 users found this helpful21973

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8

sscott0829twDec 18, 2015

Star Wars the force awakens reminds me everything I love for Star Wars,this entire movie kinda feels like "a new hope".It the same kind of formula.The story this time tells a good story.2 heros in a movie this time,Finn and Rey.They are theStar Wars the force awakens reminds me everything I love for Star Wars,this entire movie kinda feels like "a new hope".It the same kind of formula.The story this time tells a good story.2 heros in a movie this time,Finn and Rey.They are the best characters I have ever seen in a Star Wars movie.J J Abrams is really good at making a good character.Kylo Ren is also an amazing character,he is unique in his own way.Not just a Vadar-like villian,He is more like a emotional person.Other people in the first order just feel disappointing.Space battles are too few in this movie,it focus on ground combats and the characters.The lightsaber battles are fantastic,it is like real person fighting with a sword,you can see Kylo Ren,Rey and Finn all very afraid with each other,and when they start to fight against each other,it just the best lightsaber battle I have ever seen.Overall The force awaken is an outstanding movie,but some of the characters don't do much in the movie,like Captain phasma.The whole movie and the ending is very epic.But there are some questions that the movie don't answered,probably going to explain in the next episode,I recommend every star wars fan to watch this movie right away.… Expand

155 of 206 users found this helpful15551

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9

VALERockDec 18, 2015

This movie makes things right.

Prequels be damned, the Sequel Trilogy is in the hands of a great director, and if the movies after it are similarly good, this might be the best trilogy. It does have its flaws, but the humor is on point,This movie makes things right.

Prequels be damned, the Sequel Trilogy is in the hands of a great director, and if the movies after it are similarly good, this might be the best trilogy.

It does have its flaws, but the humor is on point, the mix of action, comedy, drama is very well done, the story is beautifully crafted, and the visuals - fantastic in every sense of the word.

The movie is amazing for veterans and newcomers alike, but it looks like it's made with veterans in mind.

Instead of watching Metacritic user reviews of it, just go watch it right now, J.J has done a great job, and i'm happy that the Sequel Trilogy is in good hands.… Expand

314 of 417 users found this helpful314103

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10

MrMovieBuffDec 18, 2015

The Force will be strong in this review. If you were ever looking for a movie that lives up to a very long hype, that movie is 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens', a movie that, in my opinion, is just as fantastic and thrilling as "A New Hope"The Force will be strong in this review. If you were ever looking for a movie that lives up to a very long hype, that movie is 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens', a movie that, in my opinion, is just as fantastic and thrilling as "A New Hope" (1977) and "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980).

Directed by J.J. Abrams ('Star Trek' and 'Super 8'), the movie is filled with gorgeous set pieces, some fast-paced action scenes that is pure eye candy, and a well-told and well-paced story.

Luke Skywalker has disappeared since the events of "Return of the Jedi" (1983), and we meet some new characters who try to find out where Luke is. We meet a pilot named Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), who is sending a BB-8 Droid the map to where Luke has disappeared to. We also meet a former Storm Trooper whose name is Finn (John Boyega, in an ambitious performance) who is on the run from the orders of the film's main enemy, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), who promises to finish the job that Darth Vader set out to do.

Finn ends up in an accident and meets up with a young, female protagonist named Rey (Daisy Ridley) and they agree to help each other to send the droid where it needs to be in order to find the missing, legendary Luke.

Harrison Ford returns as Han Solo, and his accomplice, the wookiee, Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) in order to help the two young warriors find Luke and finish their mission.

More familiar characters do return in this movie, but the main focus is on; Rey, Finn and Han. These are the three reasons why anyone, "Star Wars" fans in particular, should see this movie.

Back in 1999, everybody was waiting so long to see "The Phantom Menace", and the result was disappointment, and mostly hate. That wasn't the movie everybody wanted to see. In my opinion, "The Force Awakens" is what "The Phantom Menace" should've been. Filled with superb action, a memorable plot, and some troubled characters with a dark past, who we end up caring for.

Many of you may, or may not know about my strong dislike for 'Guardians of the Galaxy' (2014), a Marvel comics movie made very similar in style to "Star Wars". This was also the movie I wanted "Guardians" to be. The humor has to be reduced to when it's appropriate to joke, the characters need drive and focus instead of being so thinly written and having forced romance (Drax and Gamora from "Guardians"). The action needs purpose and the villain needs motivation and needs to be memorable (Does anybody still remember Ronan from "Guardians"?).

All in all, 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' is a movie that is worth the hype, everything from the action, to the characters, to the plot, right down to hearing the iconic theme by John Williams while the opening credits still remains the yellow text crawling upwards on the screen. It's nostalgic, but also new and fresh.

J.J. Abrams did a fantastic, albeit very complicated, job of bringing in over 30 years of "Star Wars" into one movie, it may look overcrowded, but it's organised to a fault. You will have no trouble following the story, plus with a few surprises added in, this is a movie that is not to be missed, and must be seen in the theater.

This is why, for me, it is a 10/10. Absolute perfection...… Expand

268 of 357 users found this helpful26889

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10

groobreDec 18, 2015

The Force Awakens is the movie we've wanted for years. It has great characters, cinematography, music, just everything. The plot is basically the same as A New Hope but it doesn't matter in this case because that subplot isn't what'sThe Force Awakens is the movie we've wanted for years. It has great characters, cinematography, music, just everything. The plot is basically the same as A New Hope but it doesn't matter in this case because that subplot isn't what's important in this movie, It's the story about Rey, Finn and Kylo Ren that is at the centre of attention and JJ pulls it off incredibly good!. Amazing movie and me and a lot of other people just can't wait for 2017 when we get to continue this new piece of film history.… Expand

207 of 276 users found this helpful20769

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9

ArendelleawesomDec 18, 2015

A long time ago in a galaxy far away there was great sci fi movies that went by the name of Star Wars and we have finally returned there.

This movie was the best possible return for the original great trilogy. Not just playing off ofA long time ago in a galaxy far away there was great sci fi movies that went by the name of Star Wars and we have finally returned there.

This movie was the best possible return for the original great trilogy. Not just playing off of nostalgic moments(although it did have it's moments) but also adding great new characters that we grow to love and respect just as much as the original cast like Han Solo and Luke. And a villain although certainly not as great as Vader(not at all surprising) but fascinating and unique in his own way he wasn't like Darth Vader and it's a very good thing because no one does what Darth Vader did like Darth Vader.

Not to mention the superbly filmed action scenes that i just sat and drooled over while watching the epic battles unfold before my eyes.

There is a few complaints that i do have however they are quite minor but i am going to warn you there are some spoilers ahead and if you have not yet seen the movie i recommend that you do not read the following entry into my review you have been given a good long proper warning so here we go.

The complaint that i have is that in pretty much every Star Wars movie i do like to see a well done light saber duel a battle between two masters such as Obi Wan and Darth Vader however you didn't really get that in this movie it was really only two i'm going to be honest here rookies going at it and my second complaint was that you didn't get to see Luke Skywalker until the very end of the movie which kind of disappointed me because i really like the character of Luke. Overall though disappointment doesn't take away from the awesome experience that The Force Awakens brought us and it gets a 9/10… Expand

276 of 365 users found this helpful27689

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10

AldmeriDominionDec 18, 2015

A return to form for the franchise. Highs, lows, tears, laughter, an absolute masterpiece of movie making magic. The returning characters that we all know and love do wonders for the film, and the new characters are interesting, lovable andA return to form for the franchise. Highs, lows, tears, laughter, an absolute masterpiece of movie making magic. The returning characters that we all know and love do wonders for the film, and the new characters are interesting, lovable and all around brilliant. " It's good to be home. "… Expand

228 of 304 users found this helpful22876

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8

LamontRaymondDec 18, 2015

As many of the professional critics have written, we can finally write off the prequels and get back to the Star Wars we've known and loved. The franchise is now in really good hands. The two young actors playing Fin and Ray are absolutelyAs many of the professional critics have written, we can finally write off the prequels and get back to the Star Wars we've known and loved. The franchise is now in really good hands. The two young actors playing Fin and Ray are absolutely terrific - I was worried that they wouldn't be. Adam Driver is solid, though not outstanding. Loved seeing the actors from the first films (withholding the significance of each for obvious reasons). Having been deluged with so much BB-8 merchandising, etc., I was concerned that "it" wouldn't be nearly as likable or endearing as R2, but I was happily flat wrong - love that little robot. The technology is brilliant - advancing from the 70s and early 80s, but not losing the charm from individual set pieces and objects. Bottom line: it's very similar to the "A New Hope", but it's a very solid launching pad for many more sequels to come. Of course, some scenes dragged, and the lack of originality dings it a bit. Not enough to take away from my whole-hearted recommendation. I'll see it again - not right away - but I can see young people (and many who are new to the series) eating this up.… Expand

238 of 316 users found this helpful23878

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10

Deathstroke_42Dec 18, 2015

“This will begin to make things right.” So speaks Max Von Sydow in the first words of The Force Awakens; and how appropriate that is. In short, The Force Awakens is an enormous triumph, a return to the ways of the original trilogy, and,“This will begin to make things right.” So speaks Max Von Sydow in the first words of The Force Awakens; and how appropriate that is. In short, The Force Awakens is an enormous triumph, a return to the ways of the original trilogy, and, specifically, what made them so loved, and so good. All due respect and admiration to George Lucas for creating the Star Wars universe, but JJ Abrams truly seems to understand what made the originals so damn good better than Lucas himself- intrigue. Mysticism. Tragedy. Fun. Is it a perfect movie? No. No movie is, truly. But for everything that didn’t quite sit right- of which there aren’t many- there were a plethora of other things which Abrams and his crew perfectly hit the target with.

The Force Awakens is a sequel worth waiting 30 years for (and it is, make no mistake, the best Star Wars movie since at least 1983), with a stellar cast (Ridley and Driver shine, but every new and old face alike command the screen and so obviously want to be there, and that brings the whole thing to life); incredible direction and smart writing; and stunning aliens, visuals, and great characters- all of which are so fresh and unique with the perfect blend of old and new it injects life into this universe sometimes just by aesthetic, with Chewie, Han and C390 still bringing the laugh, while new additions like BB-8 cement themselves as worthy, the quirky droid destined to be a fan favourite and loved as only two droids ever have been. How I’ve missed the magic of this galaxy, far, far away. And here we are, launched back into two and a half hours of sheer brilliance, with all of the magic, wit and fun which made the original trilogy what it was. Episode VII is certainly a great indicator for things to come, leaving you craving more with its phenomenal ending and, even still, it provides a triumphant, hugely satisfying adventure on its own, realising my hopes as a fan, and surpassing them. Accordingly, while no movie is perfect, it gets a 10 from me.… Expand

563 of 811 users found this helpful563248

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