star wars the force awakens movie theater poster han solo

The new power, like the old, borrows elements from the tyranny of Nazi Germany with all of its evils and totalitarianism. Now, a new power threatens that balance and the Republic. The story is set some 30 years after Luke and his father, Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader, conquer the Dark Side and bring balance to The Force by defeating Emperor Palpatine. It is nice to see familiar faces and personalities while being introduced to those who will undoubtedly play a role in the films that are sure to follow. It avoids the stark feeling of starting over that marked the first several episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The combination of the old and the new helps the transition. Many of the characters from the previous films are there, joined by new characters. It may be a long time before another film makes more than half a billion dollars in three days.įrom the opening scene, The Force Awakens delivers. Estimates are that the film grossed $238 million in North America alone and more than that much abroad.

With everything Disney and Abrams put into The Force Awakens - from top notch writing, directing, and production, to good actors and smart marketing (including keeping a tight lid on the plot and ending) leading up to the release - it is no wonder the film shattered all box office records during its opening weekend. If you plan to see The Force Awakens, see it in 3D if you can. The sets are amazing, and the battle sequences are larger than life. I imagined another trilogy of great stories poorly told, but I hoped that the company famous for great story-telling could take the worlds and characters Lucas had created and finally make truly great films about them. So, when Disney bought Lucasfilm and announced a new batch of Star Wars films were in the works with JJ Abrams writing and directing, I was both excited and anxious. I have since watched all six films several times and my impression is unchanged. I watched each new installment with the same feeling. I realized something I had not as a child Lucas had created a great story, but he did a lousy job telling it. The magic was still there, but only because of the story. In anticipation of the upcoming trilogy of prequels, I rented the re-released original trilogy. I quite literally grew up on Star Wars.īy 1999, I was a more discriminating movie-goer. I subsequently saw both Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. I collected cards, hung posters, played with action figures (they were not dolls, thank you), and waited with bated breath for the next installment. I watched with the wide-eyed wonder of a six-year-old boy as Luke, Leia, Han and the others battled for freedom against the overwhelming power of the Empire. I saw the original Star Wars: A New Hope at a drive-in in 1977.

Star wars the force awakens movie theater poster han solo