Yes this post contains spoilers so stay away from this post if you don't want to get damaged in the process, you have been warned
So here's the thing: I grew up with Star Wars Expanded Universe which means I have close connection with stories before and after the six movies, especially the Jedi Knight series which tells a story about Kyle Katarn, second in command to Luke Skywalker in his Jedi Academy as well as his best friend, as a reformed Dark Jedi and former smuggler Kyle has colorful stories from both light and dark side
Star Wars Episode 7 throws every stories after episode 6 out of the windows, which means i have to put aside every connection to Jedi Knight series, in episode 7 Luke did train young potential Jedis but suddenly disappears due to some treachery of one of his student named Kylo Ren, which now commands remnants of the empire called The First Order, which the ultimate goal is to resurrect the iron-fisted galactic empire, to counter this the New Republic founded remains of the Rebel Alliance, now dubbed The Resistance, commanded by General Leia Organa
I like the way the characters are introduced, Finn is a former stormtrooper which grow conscience after saw the brutality of the first order, Rey is a scavenger stumbled into the BB8 carried a map location of Luke Skywalker, this map is the focus of the story which ping ponged between factions. Han Solo as the 'old guard' guide this new heroes as well as trying to bring Kylo Ren (a.k.a Ben Solo, his son) back to the light
Unfortunately the dark side is in trouble in this movie because of Kylo Ren, he's not a Sith, just an unstable and obsessed brat, the portrayal is perfect on cast but fall weak on the story, because we never knew what his story is to be fallen, his rage and fear reflect anakin's feature on episode 3 (which is the weakest on the prequel trilogy) and yet he keeps pushing until the end without clear explanation of what was he's truly seeking. He's a character meant to be defeated in the end, too easy, yet too clouded to garner interest, perhaps on episode 8 he'll be made more interesting
What a star wars movie without superweapons? as Death Star on episode 4, this one has the Starkiller, an interplanetary laser turret which capable of annihillating an entire star system, which again fall flat into the Old Republic fans' mind since Sith Lord of this non canonical age is capable of destroying a planet with just utilizing the Force, but hey!! we need a capable adversary for those newly designed Resistance fleet right? Fortunately the space/aerial battles are good enough with a popcorn.
Apparently, even by putting those years of Expanded Universe aside I still ended up comparing this movie to them throughout those two hours, hoping that a slight hint of a character as interesting as Kyle Katarn or rooting for Kylo Ren's to abandon his spoiled-brattyness unfortunately yielded me none of them, even the twist in the final lightsaber battle is..... not too good, if only Finn and Rey can fight together, the Force-summoning scene of Rey also has a weak effect but i was relieved that midichlorians wasn"t mentioned
A Force Awaken is both good and refreshing movie but only as a new continuation story built by the previous movies, or for fans who were disillusioned by the prequel trilogy, or for the 'only movies' fans. For fans who have trouble letting go the non canonical universe it might be a little disappointing, as for me I have mixed feelings about it, as a movie I liked it and look forward for the sequels, as an expanded universe fanboy i'd rather stick to the old republic stuffs at least until they made a movie character as good as Kyle Katarn.
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