If you didn't make it out opening night, we're here to echo the breathless exhortations of your Facebook friends: Go see Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and do it as soon as possible.
It seemed unlikely that any film could live up to the manic hype that's been manufactured over the past year or so. And on one hand, it's good to divorce the film itself from Disney's merchandising machine. But on the other, the hype and the merchandise have created a collective fervor not seen since Harry Potter, or the 1979 JPII papal visit.
The ushers at Valley View can certainly attest.
That's part of why you should see it this weekend. Experience it with droves of others (unlike this guy) who saw the originals when they were kids, who laugh and cheer when J.J. Abrams delights and astounds with references and revelations that both honor George Lucas' original vision and satiate the expectations of 21st century moviegoers. (Even the classic wipe transition, deployed to laughable effect in Episode III, here feels less a cheap callback and more an attempt to integrate into Star Wars' epic fabric).
We won't say much about the story itself, because part of the joy is experiencing it for yourself. (It's a testament to original trilogy, and the greatest twist of all time, that fans are still so nervous about spoilers). Producer and Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy revealed that are no ewoks in the film — "Harrison insisted on it," she said — and we can confirm. Beyond that, know only that the episode's sinister Kylo Ren and two new immediately lovable protagonists hit the mark.
Skip work if you have to, cancel (or modify) weekend family plans if you must. But go see this movie. It's so much fun.
