STAR WARS The Force Awakens Reaction (Spoiler-Free)

Amanda & the Star Wars Summer

Episode I | Episode II | Episode III | Episode IV
The Force Awakens Spoiler-Free Reaction
The Force Awakens Review

This is mainly directed at those of you who are a little gun-shy about the new Star Wars, who might be holding off until you hear from people you trust whether it's worth it.

You might not know me, but let me assure you, I am an unrepentant Star Wars geek, and as such I am telling you:

It is worth it.

The Force Awakens lives and breathes the tradition of the original trilogy, truly honoring the classics. It is, above all else, a true extension of the Star Wars universe and a very fitting next chapter.




Not only that, The Force Awakens honors the spirit of the Classic Canon. So many of us couldn't believe that they debunked so much of the Extended Universe in preparation for this movie, because there were so many fantastic stories that could be told and that we didn't want to let go of.
I haven't read extensively in the EU yet, but I think I understand now why they did this. And I am okay with it. 
The writers didn't erase the Classic Canon from history. They didn't forget that it existed. They know that it's there, that it has been there in the minds and hearts of fans for decades. It will never be erased. They didn't want to erase it and so they allowed its spirit to live on.

The original cast, bless them, were not just cameos. I was terrified they might just be there to pull in a bigger crowd. They were, and will continue to be, indispensable to the Star Wars story.

The lack of excessive CGI was a heaven-send. I love the feel and the look of the universe again. It is so natural, so original, so beautifully freaking authentic and STAR WARS HAS STILL GOT IT, BABY!

The Force Awakens, while honoring the original, was not. It didn't even try to be. The writers did a marvelous job successfully updating our beloved universe in a fantastic tone that not only felt genuine and so right, but played to a new generation of future Star Wars geeks and current audiences. Humor, quips, snark, dramatic duels, epic cinematography, and the characters! Ack, I can't say more without spoilers! 

This movie exceeded my expectations. I had no doubt that Disney would pull off something amazing rather than ruin the franchise, but even I was beginning to have some doubts; to dread whether or not they could produce an amazing expansion of the Star Wars universe I could love, rather than just an amazing film that I would like.

It wasn't perfect. It had flaws. There are some issues I have with character interaction (or lack thereof), storytelling gaps and holes, and I'm sure everyone has a pet peeve or two about it. But the most important thing is this:

I came away from The Force Awakens with something I didn't think possible:
A deeper love and a greater appreciation of the Star Wars universe and its characters. 

That should be all you need to know right there.

Don't let fear and doubt cloud your judgement. Buy a ticket. Embrace the next step in the Star Wars universe. And as always, may the Force be with you.

There's more where this came from!

Amanda & the Star Wars Summer

Episode I | Episode II | Episode III | Episode IV
The Force Awakens Spoiler-Free Reaction
The Force Awakens Review