Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Director: J.J. Abrams
Year Released: 2015
Rating: 2.5
Disney-led continuation of George Lucas' money-hoarding enterprise has scrap-scavenger Rey (Daisy Ridley) and former Stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega) teaming up with the Resistance (and old favorites like Han Solo and Princess Leia and Chewbacca) to fight the Dark Side (Adam Driver, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson) ... who, naturally, want to destroy things. It's actually such a complete rip-off of the 1977 Star Wars its only appeal is as homage and popcorn fun: there are no new ideas at play - there's another Death Star, there's another Darth Vader (Driver, playing against type), there's another desert planet, there's another droid (the chirping BB-8), there's another Young Jedi Master - so all Abrams (and Lawrence Kasdan and Michael Arndt) had to do was use the same formula. It's Old Lucas but made with younger eyes ... and those younger eyes like lens flare a lot. Also "borrowed" from George: Daddy Issues (rest in peace, Mr. Solo).
