Star Wars: The Force Awakens - A Nostalgic and Formative Cinematic Experience

Each time I watch or even think about The Force Awakens, my mind instantly jumps back to the memories leading up to and during its release in 2015. It was one of the first films I remember being visibly hyped for, cheering whenever the trailer would play at other movies I'd see in theaters. I remember spending hours and hours on trailer breakdowns I could only barely understand with my most basic, rudimentary knowledge of Star Wars lore. And finally, seeing the movie in theaters was one of my most formative cinematic experiences, and I can vividly remember each detail. I remember going after school to one of the first Thursday showtimes in what was, at the time, one of the largest theaters in my area. I remember seeing everyone around me, patrons and employees, decked in Star Wars t-shirts or cosplay. I vividly recall witnessing the theater shaking with cheers and people's lightsabers shining around me when the title card began playing.

I mention all this because my opinion on Force Awakens and these memories go hand in hand. I admit that almost 75 percent of my love and admiration for the film stems from these memories. However, revisiting the movie, I find it incredibly strong in so many areas that even when putting aside my nostalgic memories, I can still safely say that it's a fantastic film.

I understand the complaints and think they're valid in many ways. The film is a carbon copy of A New Hope, and the script does fill itself with a few plot contrivances and conveniences throughout. However, within the New Hope story structure lies a cast of characters I can't help but find very compelling. Finn is such a fascinating character, a stormtrooper who attempts to flee from the evils of the First Order only to find a sense of purpose in fighting against them. Kylo, too, is incredibly fascinating, a man constantly caught between the light and the dark side. Even Rey, in many ways, has some captivating parts of her character, with her being a lost scavenger struggling to find purpose. Much of these characters' arcs are left open for the following movies, which would go on to pay them off haphazardly. But I still can't deny that I love the characters as we see them here, in their dynamics and slight arcs, quite a bit.

Plus, compared to many of the other Modern Disney Star Wars stuff, the filmmaking of The Force Awakens stands out. The use of color and lighting looks so visually pleasing. The camerawork feels incredibly visually dynamic, getting as much visual information in single sweeping shots rather than lazily cutting from one shot to another. The visuals here also brilliantly convey a sense of scale to the new and returning locations and iconography, with incredible uses of wide shots and a brilliant blend of practical and digital effects that make everything look tangible and real.

It all makes The Force Awakens into a film that I find so joyously entertaining. Its emotional beats work well, its set pieces are incredible, and it generally has that adventurous feel you want from a Star Wars movie. I may look at the film with rose-tinted glasses, but regardless, it's a film I can't help but love due to just how formative of a movie it is for me.

Now Streaming on Disney+ in the U.S.