I thought I was going to be disappointed by the new 'Star Wars' movie - but it blew me away
First, let me explain why I felt so negative going into the new movie. I'd greedily hoovered up every plot leak and scrap of information about the new movie. This was a mistake.
I fully expected to sit in the cinema thoroughly bored while the events played out on screen. But the new movie still hooked me in, even if I knew ahead of time what the big reveals were.
I've been hurt by "Star Wars" in the past. The prequel trilogy should have been great, but it was a misjudged mess, filled with racist characters and bad acting. In the back of my mind I was worried that the new movie would feel the same way. A major part of the new movie is introducing the new characters: Rey, Finn, Poe, and the evil Kylo Ren. Sure, Han Solo, Princess Leia, R2-D2 and others all return, but there's a passing of the torch. Thankfully the movie doesn't labour over the introductions, it felt natural.
There are a couple of plot spoilers coming, so look away now if you're worried about ruining the movie for yourself.
At one point, midway through the new movie, I nearly shed a tear. It's the moment when Han Solo is reunited with Princess Leia (now a General). Sure, it's an emotional scene, but I was also feeling a bit fragile because I realised that the new movie recaptured the spirit of the original films so perfectly. The plot leaks and new characters didn't matter - it still felt right. The music was there, the original characters were there, and everything fell into place. You'd cry at that too.
Surprisingly, there are no bad performances in the new movie, either. I was expecting to cringe at the new characters, but they're relatively subtle in their performances. There's no awkward Hayden Christensen-style delivery here. The new villain, Kylo Ren, is menacing and intriguing in equal measures. Everything works, even the new droid, BB-8, which is a sphere with a head that beeps a lot. It could have been annoying, but it wasn't given screen time just for the sake of it.
Harrison Ford is the centrepiece of the new movie, whether he likes it or not. When he walked on screen for the first time, the cinema erupted into applause. I cringed slightly, but it was still a great moment. Ford's performance felt reluctant at times, but it's still masterful, and he dominates every scene he's in. Carrie Fisher, meanwhile, doesn't really do a lot in the movie other than hang around her bunker and wander outside to the parking lot, but it's good to see her back in "Star Wars" again.
The new plot isn't especially clever, nor is it new. There are some bad guys with a big spherical weapon and they're going to shoot it unless the good guys stop them. If you've seen "A New Hope," you know how it goes. However, I'd gladly take a rehash of the original 1977 storyline over a "Phantom Menace"-style rundown of Trade Federation policies any day.
I had a smile on my face when I walked out of the cinema. The new "Star Wars" movie is a success. Director J.J. Abrams has given fans what they wanted: A return to form for the series, and it includes the original cast. Does the new movie beat the original trilogy, as some people have claimed? I don't think so. But it's miles better than the prequels, and it's even fun to sit through when you know what's going to happen.