Weekly Review -- Star Wars: The Force Awakens

On a sunny Saturday, the first one of 2016, I went to watch a new entry in the ubiquitous Star Wars series. I was looking forward to it, having heard nothing but praise from fans and reviewers alike. The film looked amazing and the helmer was J.J. Abrams, whose resumé traverses fantasies from a shadow-infested island to the final frontier, from a student-turned-CIA agent to a futuristic human/android police force.

On a gloomy Saturday afternoon, I was leaving the multiplex, having seen The Force Awakens. As far as I was concerned, there was no gloom or doom outside. A huge grin plastered across my face, I had just spent two hours revisiting my childhood and reconnecting with some of my favorite characters, as well as getting introduced to new ones. I had just seen a film that schools us on the art of the blockbuster and uses the power of imagination to its fullest. Simply put, Episode VII is cinematic brilliance, showing that there is still a whole lot of wonder in the galaxy far, far away.

**THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS**

Around 30 years after the defeat of the Empire, Luke Skywalker is missing and the sinister First Order is formed, with the mission to destroy Luke, the Republic and the Republic-funded Resistance. On the desert planet Jakku, a stormtrooper (John Boyega) starts questioning his mission and purpose following a massacre. At the same time and in the same place, scavenger Rey (Daisy Ridley) is surviving and waiting for an elusive something, for a day when she can have more than scraps to look forward to. When the two meet and join forces with an intrepid mechanical ally, a new adventure starts...

Abrams's brilliance lies in his talent to preserve the spirit of any original narrative. He did it with Star Trek and he is doing it here. He does not decide to turn the playful into serious or make the action somber because it might be trendy (I am looking at you, Fantastic Four). With Star Wars, Abrams keeps employing the charm and humor that made the original trilogy the classic that it is, injects heroism that is much needed for the continuation of the story and creates some impressive and innovative action sequences.    

And then there is Rey. What else can be said? I love Rey. A beautiful heroine, she is fearless yet human. When Finn grabs her hand as they run from an attack, she is baffled. When he attempts to rescue her from assailants, he is too late; she has already taken care of business. Starving and yearning for anything better, she does not trade a newfound friend for food when she gets the opportunity. Fierce, resourceful and independent, she always saves herself, but knows her limits and knows when to accept help. Her courage and integrity make her who she is -- a woman that Star Wars needed and a figure to reinvigorate the themes of the franchise. This is a character for the ages and the best female character in recent years.

The cast is excellent. Ridley and Boyega's joy is apparent in their lively performances. Ridley makes Rey nothing short of a role model, and Boyega takes Finn's pre-planned life, shatters it and creates a man who puts away blind obedience for unquestioned bravery. The two have wonderful, mischievous chemistry and I admire the fact that the 'love interest' issue is not in the cards, at least not immediately -- a lesser filmmaker might have explored it for its own sake. Adam Driver's Kylo Ren is a sadistic villain with a fascinating background, destined to become iconic, particularly after THAT lightsaber fight. Domhnall Gleeson oozes sleaze as General Hux, one of the main orchestrators of destruction. Gwendoline Christie's Captain Phasma does not have much screen time, unfortunately, but the actor makes it count. Phasma is a zealous and domineering First Order officer, and Christie's regal voice perfectly conveys the character's lack of emotion through the chrome armor. Lupita Nyong'o radiates power and authority through her subtle acting style as former pirate and smuggler Maz Kanata and Oscar Isaac is terrific as a virtuous Resistance fighter pilot. Last and certainly not least, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher get back to their characters seamlessly, as one would expect. The screenplay manages to track Han Solo and General Leia's evolution without us having seen their lives unfolding since Return of the Jedi, combining their earned maturity with their timeless connection. Special mention goes to Ben Schwartz and Bill Hader who provide the voice for BB-8, a delightful tiny soul with a big personality. 

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a clever, entertaining and affecting addition to the series. Right after the film ended, I wanted to watch the next installment and see where it would take us. I laughed, I cried, I empathized and, above all, I was deeply moved. Hats off to Mr. George Lucas for creating this beautiful world and hats off to Mr. Abrams for achieving the impossible and continuing the legacy.

10/10

Weekly Review -- The one road to take

Point Break (2015) -- In the realm of cinematic remakes, keeping the spirit of the original narrative is key to the second film's effectiveness, no matter what thematic or stylistic approach the new director takes. Point Break was never a traditional action film and the 2015 incarnation is not a traditional remake. Mostly quiet and contemplative, it feels as though someone had created a philosophy class out of the 1991 work. While Kathryn Bigelow's high surf fable was about subversive acts versus a broken system, Ericson Core's remake certainly deals with these themes, but also explores the idea of one's own path and looks at how our choices define us.

**THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS**

Former extreme sports star and novice FBI agent Johnny Utah (Luke Bracey) is on the trail of a criminal gang that has perpetrated a number of daring corporate heists. It does not take him long to realize that the masterminds are also extreme athletes attempting to complete the Osaki Eight, a series of trials honoring the forces of nature. When Utah infiltrates the gang, he falls under the influence of charismatic leader Bodhi (Édgar Ramírez) and soon has to question his life and choose a side...  

First and foremost, it has to be said that Point Break is gorgeous. It is a stunning tribute to human capability, boasting scenes that will have you ponder everything that you have ever learned in physics. To name an example, I have never seen anything like the exhilarating wingsuit flight sequence. I love and respect the fact that Core used no CGI and that the stunts were orchestrated and executed by experts. The 3D technology was made for a film like this one, so please see it in 3D if you have the chance. 

Kurt Wimmer's (Equilibrium, Salt) screenplay makes some intriguing revisions. Giving a tragic past to Utah and linking Bodhi to the Osaki trials in a personal way are fantastic ideas, but I do wish that they had been examined in detail rather than mentioned in passing. I also like the love story twist in the context of the script's eco awareness. We live in a world that is a lot darker than the sun-drenched and fairly optimistic 1991 California. While that utopia still managed to maintain a bit of wide-eyed purity, the globalized and digitized planet that we inhabit today has been ravaged by terrorism, cybercrime, climate change and general apathy. Not every love story is necessarily going to have a happy ending, especially not one that has fallen victim to a corruption of ideals.  

The cast is terrific. Bracey seems resolved not to emulate Keanu Reeves, which would have been an easy and obvious option. Instead, he imbues the character with an identity crisis and lack of direction, one that Johnny himself might not be aware of. While Bracey holds his own, it is Ramírez that is magnetic to watch. His Bodhi is more intensely menacing than Patrick Swayze's creation. He does not understand that he had crossed a line long ago, since he does not believe that there was ever a line to cross, a paradoxical trait that adds a dimension of fanaticism. Swayze's Bodhi was a 'to the max' type of man; Ramírez's is someone that goes beyond. The character is a unique antagonist and his whole perspective could have been developed even further. On another note, the two leads do not project an instant bond like Reeves and Swayze did; in this version, the tension between the two builds until one side prevails. Teresa Palmer's ethereal Samsara is a new type of love interest, reminding me of a water nymph and making me wonder if she is possibly a metaphor for our world's lost innocence. The great Delroy Lindo and Ray Winstone have good turns, and seeing the original Roach -- James Le Gros -- as an FBI department director is simply, well... radical.

The only thing that I dislike about this film is its North American release date. It is a huge letdown and does a great disservice to the cast and crew. Releasing any actioner -- especially one that does not rely on sheer adrenaline -- the weekend after any Star Wars installment is guaranteed to diminish its success, if not annihilate it altogether. In my humble opinion, a May or June date would have proved to be a bigger draw.

Based on the trailer, I expected to enjoy Ericson Core's Point Break, but did not expect to be moved like I was. Action films that run fast and play with weaponry are a dime a dozen; however, those that make you think are needles in an increasingly bland cinematic haystack. The universal search for freedom is presented here through an extraordinary lens and the result will doubtlessly inspire you. After all, going your own way and living an adventure should be a right, not a choice.  

8/10