The Force Awakens combines everything I love from the Star Wars saga; the engaging story, and memorable characters from the classic trilogy to the state-of-the art visuals and breath-taking worlds of the prequels. All accompanied with the magnificent score by John Williams with the exhilarating lightsaber duels and aerodynamic space battles.
Before Force Awakens, every new film always took place before A New Hope and while I’ve enjoy them, I’ve waited forever on a new story that takes place after Return of the Jedi. I want to see what happens to Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Han Solo. George Lucas originally wanted to do a third trilogy but progress went as well as the third Ghostbusters movie. Once Lucas sold his franchise to Disney it quickly became a dream come true.
Is the story original and ground-breaking? No. Is it the same plot of A New Hope? In some parts yes, but even the film acknowledges that with lines such of the new base of the villainous First Order being called a bigger Death Star. Like with the Disney films I don’t mind the familiar tropes or storylines if they can tell it in a unique way with memorable characters and good dialogue, which it does. As good as the story is in Rogue One with seeing the rebels who would turn the tide in the saga, one knows the outcome whereas in Force Awakens this is a new story no one knows will head.
Both films are strong in the visual department and I’ll give Rogue One points on creativity in the final space fight. But once again where The Force Awakens edges out Rogue One is that it’s a new story set after the classic trilogy and Rogue One is technically a prequel set before the trilogy. The prequels have access to state-of-the-art effects that weren’t available when the first Star Wars movies were made. For a story set years before the events of Darth Vader, it looks flashier and newer than what the future will hold in the galaxy's timeline. Seeing these new visuals with characters we've grown to love like Han Solo and Chewbaca interact in this new environment makes the experience all the more thrilling.
Next is the direction. J.J. Abrams is no stranger when it comes to breathing new life in a well-known franchise and knowing when to shift the tone from entertaining to serious and back again. His directorial debut with Mission Impossible III helped that series recover from an underwhelming predecessor and have success with the next installments. I'm not a trekkie but his reboot of Star Trek (2009) got me hooked with its sequel Star Trek Into Darkness. Gareth Edward's foray with blockbusters first came was his reboot of Godzilla (2014). Like Abrams he knows how to make great action sequences and retelling a familiar property but goes The Dark Knight whether it's with the king of monsters or in a galaxy far, far away. Force Awakens feels more like a Star Wars movie while Rogue One emphasizes the "war" in Star Wars. Not a bad thing but compared to the former, Rogue One is a tad bit darker than Revenge of the Sith. Regardless, its a bit of draw here. If I had kids I would stick with the classics and show the newer movies when they are older though Rogue One I would wait a bit later.
The big turning point comes down to the characters and that's the biggest issue with Rogue One. Don't get me wrong the movie has a good variety of noteworthy characters but the same cannot be said for the main lead Jyn Erso, something I stated in my Rogue One review :
“The main characters are what make these films work and I was looking forward to seeing another strong female protagonist like Rey from The Force Awakens, instead we have a monotonous and bland character. I understand the turmoil that Jyn’s been through but is it too much to ask to show some sort of emotion when in a situation?! Even in the serious and heartbreaking moments I still didn’t feel anything for her. I could tell that she had some depth but it’s not well executed onscreen. I cared more for the side characters including Cassian who starts out a bit unlikable but managed to show some development especially in a scene involving Jyn’s father. I’ve felt more sentiment from Anakin Skywalker in the prequels.”
My opinion hasn’t changed. Say what you want about Jake Lloyd or Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, you felt for the guy from his expressions of joy, sadness, fear and hate in many scenes. Jyn Erso is just a blank slate throughout the entire film; Daria, Raven and Maud Pie had more personality.
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| Clockwise Top Left: Maud Pie, Daria, and Raven |
The Force Awakens delivers a great ensemble of characters with Rey and Finn as the new heroes with an intimidating foe in Kylo Ren. While on the subject of villains, this is another area that Rogue One falters. The film's villain Krennic is rather wimpy and menacing as a cartoon character. You could have him cut from the story and the outcome would be the same. The only reason he exists is to provide a foil for Jyn as it was he who recruited her father to build the Death Star. Kylo Ren may have a different persona under the mask but unlike Krennic, you get on his bad side he can kill on the spot with a swish of his crimson blade or with the dark side of the force.
Overall, The Force Awakens is movie I have revisited more times than Rogue One. The latter isn't bad but in capturing the spirit and fun of this space saga and enhancing for a new generation, Episode VII knocks it out of the park.
What does the future bring with The Last Jedi and Solo: A Star Wars Story on the horizon. Whatever it is you can bet I'll be there and enjoy the ride.
This is a collaboration with Crit Hit who pops the hood of mainstream media from the big screen to the DVD bins, and a counter argument to why I believe The Force Awakens is the superior film. Click here if you wish to see his his thoughts on why Rogue One is the better film.
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