Everything Episode VII Got Right

Just got out of a viewing of The Force Awakens. I was going to title this post “Everything Episode VII Got Wrong” and then leave the entire post blank, but I didn’t want people sitting at their computer pressing the reload button repeatedly.

First off, Episode VII turned this mediocre Star Wars fan into a fanatic.

Here’s everything J.J. Abrams did right with the newest Star Wars installment:

1. The special effects were minimal

Thank you Abrams, Disney, and anyone else behind the making of this masterpiece, for realizing that story trumps special effects. They did away with the overt CGI and filmed it on sets and used costumes for, I’d say, about 70% of the movie. Any other CGI, I didn’t notice it.

2. Played the drama up 

It’s dramatic. There’s twits and turns and unexpected deaths, and they’re hard-hitting. It’s as though Abrams decided, “If we’re gonna hit the audience, we need to hit them hard … and where it hurts the most.” And it is a satisfying and resonating pain.

3. Old-Style Star Wars

It wasn’t filled with new gimmicks and gadgetry (though there are some new twists on old weapons). It was the old Tie-fighters and Millennium Falcon, and storm troopers, and everything else that makes Star Wars Star Wars. It was Star Wars to the core. The Star Wars people know and love.

Guys, I can go on and on, but it’s getting real late here and I’ve got to get up early to go to work. If you’re skeptical, don’t just take my word for it: Listen to virtually everyone who sees this film and watch their eyes light up and hear their hearts racing as they try to explain the glory of this movie.

Whoever says “Movies are dead” is wrong. We just have to wait for the right ones to bounce along every now and then, and this one not only bounces, but crushes with full force.

No pun intended.

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