STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS - review

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS
Director: J.J. Abrams
Cast: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, Mark Hamill


HERE'S A TIP - If you haven't seen STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS yet, STOP READING NOW. I can't promise that there isn't anything in here you would consider a spoiler. In fact it's safe to say there are things in here that will spoil it for you. So, if you haven't seen it yet - STOP READING.


*****************************SPOILERS AHEAD***********************************

I MEAN IT GUYS, STOP READING...

OK, so if you're still here then you've clearly either seen STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, or you don't care if something I say might spoil it for you. If you're frightened of spoilers, then run, run far far away.

It's been a while since I've taken myself to the cinema and seen a film. That's the real downside of working in tourism, we are gearing up for our busiest time in the lead up to Christmas and I don't get to have anything that remotely resembles a life for about 4 weeks from mid-November to mid-December. So in the last 10 days I've gone and seen 3 films just trying to catch up. First cab off the rank had to be STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS because I didn't want it ruined and I know a few movie ruiners (purposeful movie ruiners and accidental movie ruiners). As is the norm I toddled off to my local cinema with my crochet and settled in for an evening of magic. I took my brother along with me, who is a "take it or leave" kinda guy when it comes to STAR WARS (don't ask me, I don't get it myself), so I will share some of his opinions as well as my own.

Just a reminder guys - SPOILERS AHEAD

THE FORCE AWAKENS has smashed all the box office records, and is still going strong, opening to 97% positive reviews (note that I made that number up, but it's probably pretty close to the truth). There are a few negative Nancy-pants out there, and some of their points have validity I guess. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a negative Nancy-pants, I really enjoyed the film, but as devil's advocate I can see where they're coming from.

For example, Salon said that "For better or worse - and here's where my hoodie-wearing friend's thought experiment comes in - "The Force Awakens" is more like a remake or a mashup of the first two "Star Wars" pictures than a sequel. Yes, in technical terms Abrams and co-writers Lawrence Kasdan and Michael Arndt are picking up the narrative some 30 years after the destruction of the Galactic Empire at the end of "Return of the Jedi". But they barely even pretend to advance the story of the initial trilogy; they rewind it and repeat it, with new characters substituting for old ones but many of the same action set-pieces, narrative dilemmas and hidden connections." I can see where they're coming from, what with the blowing up of planets, and the father son dramas in reverse, and the Leia-Solo tension. I mean really, there is a lot of same same but different about this latest instalment.

HOWEVER, there wasn't a moment when I wasn't entertained during this film, and there wasn't a moment where I was bothered by the same same but differentness of the film. Really, everyone pissed and moaned like a bunch of babies when the prequels came out because they were all kinds of wrong(and let's be honest, they weren't that great), and now they're pissing and moaning like a bunch of babies because it's too much like the original films. Get it together people, you can't have it both ways!

J.J. Abrams has done a really great job with the direction of this latest instalment, and he really kept the momentum of the film going. There is enough in the film that the kids of today can get into without having seen the original films, but it will still peak an interest to get them to go and watch the films because of the snippets of history. Particularly when these guys enter the scene;

Han Solo and Chewie

Image via Disney

General Leia

Image via Disney

C3-PO & R2-D2

Image via Disney

Hello old friends - and I tell you what, if Harrison Ford didn't just steal the show...What a guy. And just for the record, I'd like to know what happened to C3-PO's arm guys...it's red and we got no explanation...what's that about?

The new characters had some pretty big shoes to fill and some pretty high expectations to uphold and I'll be damned if Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Adam Driver didn't do it. But oh the uproar at a black Storm Trooper. There were legitimately people who were trying to encourage a boycott of the fil because there was a black Storm Trooper. Honestly, what has the world come to *face palm*. I really think that these three key characters brought a bit of life into this film, but the winner for me was BB-8;

BB-8

Image via Disney

Seriously, what a great droid. He may have gone on my Christmas wish list. I didn't get it, but I'm pretty sure I was on Santa's naughty list this year.

I'm not sure how I feel about a different director for each new instalment, I think it's going to change the feel of the film, and I did really like what Abrams did with it, but I will of course reserve judgement until I see the next one (in 18 months or so...ugh).

Oh my glob you guys, there's a black guy in space - shock horror

Daisy Ridley and John Boyega on the run

Image via Disney

There were a few moments where I thought "oh man, I know what's going to happen next" and I was right. Like the Han Solo-Kylo Ren scene...I predicted that was what was going to happen and I was a little bit disappointed when I was right. Also, I was sad, a tear or two may have escaped (don't judge me, I know I wasn't the only one). But, there were also plenty of moments where I thought, "really? How? Why? What?" Like how did Maz Kanata have the light sabre? And was Jar Jar Binx on the planets that got destroyed? He was a Senator after all.

2015 will always be remembered as the year of the Star Wars anticipation, and I hope it breeds a new generation of lovers of the franchise. Even though I have no doubt the kids of today will scoff at the ridiculous looking SFX of the original films, I hope they grow to love them as much as I do. Although if you're anything like the Red Haired Amazona and I, you pretty much believe that if kids today don't love Star Wars then their parents haven't raised them right.

Overall, even though there was a bit of recycled material in there, I think Abrams and co have done a marvellous job with THE FORCE AWAKENS, some have said that J.J Abrams is God, and although I'm not sure I'd go that far, it was pretty bloody good. I will be going to see it again at the cinema, so that's gotta be a sign. If you're into the whole STAR WARS thing and you haven't already seen the movie, then you're a fool and you should definitely spend the 20-something dollars to go see it immediately (also if you're one of those people and you're still reading, sorry if I ruined it for you, but I did warn you). If you're not huge on the idea of STAR WARS, but you like a good sci-fiat ion film then I think it's worth you spending the 20-something dollars on to go and see it. You I got be surprised. Also, you might hate it, but there were people in there who had never seen a STAR WARS movie in their lives and they enjoyed it, so it can't be all that bad.

4.5 out of 5

xoxo
The Blonde Bombshell

THE AGE OF ADALINE - review

THE AGE OF ADALINE
Director: Lee Toland Krieger
Cast: Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, Ellen Burstyn, Harrison Ford

I had one day off this week and yesterday was it. Against all my better judgement, I forsook my sleep in, got up early and hopped on over to the local to catch the first session of the day - THE AGE OF ADALINE. I did have my concerns that I would be disappointed. Purely based on my judgement of the trailer and some pretty scathing reviews of said trailer when it first came out 5 or so months ago. Let me tell you why I wasn't. Because it didn't actually suck as a film, that's why. In fact I quite enjoyed it.

So, here's the deal,  Adaline Bowman (Blake Lively) was born in 1908, and is rendered ageless after a freak accident in 1935. Her looks do not change at all throught the 8 decades of her like from the day she had her accident at the youthful age of 29. Adaline leads a solitary existence, always on the run for fear that someone will discover her secret and turn her into a lab experiment to find out why she doesn't age (which they nearly did). She never shares her secret with anyone other than her own daughter (Ellen Burstyn), who follows the normal process of aging and comes to look as if she could be Adaline's grandmother. An encounter with a very handsome, charming and determined philanthropist (Michiel Huisman) brings to the fore her lonliness, and her longing for love. When a weekend away with his family threatens to bring everything Adaline has ever kept secret to light, she makes a decision that will change her life forever.

Blake Lively as the ever immaculate Adaline Bowman

If you're thinking to yourself that this sounds like the synopsis of a trashy Nicholas Sparks film, you're right, it does. Sceptical that it could be any good based on the fact it sounds like a trashy Nicholas Sparks film? So was I, but although it shares some of the same qualities, it is actually not a bad film. One of the writers did help adapt a NS novel into a screenplay, which could explain some of the similarities. Now, don't get me wrong, I love a good old fashined trashy Nicholas Sparks movie as much as the next girl, because they're trashy and ridiculous and the leading men are always dreamy. But I go in knowing they're going to be glorious in all their trashiness, and I don't go in thinking I'm going to watch the next masterpiece in cinema history. What I liked about THE AGE OF ADALINE is that aside from the fantastical plot, the emotions were a little bit more genuine, realistic and honest than they might have been if it was a Nicholas Sparks trashy romance.

Lee Toland Krieger is a fantastic director, I loved his last film CELESTE AND JESSE FOREVER, so I was hoping he would be able to pull this fantastical, romance off, because there was a risk that it could be trashy and revolting. Guess what folks? He did it. It's a far cry from the tale of love in his last film, which was honest in its own way, but I think it's a nice step forward for Krieger and I hope to see a lot more from him in the future.

A dreamy voice-over gives is the premise of this film with a lovingly crafted extended montage telling the tale of Adaline's life and bringing us to the modern day. After eight decades of being 29, and bring on the run every decade, Adaline is tired. She may look a youthful 29, but she is old beyond her years and a life of running has taken its toll. The second act is where we get charge of emotion and added depth to this story, although really what are the chances that the man you've falled in love with happens to be the son of a man you loved some 50 years ago? Seems a bit unfair doesn't it, I mean of all the people!

Adaline and William reconnect after 50 years

Let's take a moment to talk about how brilliant Harrison Ford is in this film. I mean really...I don't recall the last time I saw him in something where he triggered such emotion. When his character William meets future Adaline you can see the rush of emotions flood through him - it is raw and he is vulnerable - and his performance draws something out of Lively that gives the film a new spark. You see in the trailer that William and Adaline reconnect, but the reason why they reconnect is a fresh little twist in this film.

Snaps to the casting crew on this film, Lively shows that she's got leading lady material in her and that she's not just some TV 'it' girl who married Ryan Reynolds, Michiel Huisman is divine (I don't watch Game of Thrones, but knowing he's in it makes me want to!), and a massive well done on finding Anthony Ingruber, who plays twenty-something William opposite Adaline. He is beautiful and a great match for the older Harrison Ford.

Anthony Ingruber as a young William

What would you do with eternal youth? You get all the wisdom that comes with age and unlimited time to do everything you ever wanted - have 57 careers, learn 16 languages, travel everywhere and remain everr youthful. Sounds nice in theory right? We all want more hours in the day, days in the week, more months in the year, but do we really? That's something that AGE OF ADALINE adresses quite nicely I thought. It would be quite a lonely life if you think about it. Your family has died long ago, your only daughter is growing old, you can't sustain a relationship with someone more than a few months or at most a year for fear that they will learn your secret, and then what's the point? Why bother to love, go through the heartbreak, cause someone else heartbreak? Put it in the too hard basket and get a dog I say, which is exactly what Adaline did. She put love in the too hard basket and has had a string of King Charles Cavaliers throughout her life to love and keep her company. Heads up if you're a sucker for animals, take tissues, you'll need them.

Adaline and her dog Reece

I won't spoil the ending because it will get you right in the feels, even my heatless friend LahLah said it got her in the feels. She's not really heartless, but unlike me, she's not a big emotional movie watcher. I will say that the acting was solid from all the cast, the direction and cinematography were well done and transcended many of the trappings and pitfalls of this fantasy genre. I was equally impressed with the costume design in this film, and I would think it's up there for at least a nomination during next years award season. 

THE AGE OF ADALINE is a lovely film, don't let the trailer turn you off because it's not what you think it's going to be. If you're not huge into the romance genre, don't bother spending the 20-something dollars to go and see it, but if you are I think it's definitely worth a look. 

3.5 out of 5 for THE AGE OF ADALINE

Adaline and the divine Ellis (Michiel Huisman)...mmmm...divine

xoxo

The Blonde Bombshell