For Villagers, “Star Wars” has special meanings. It is easy to trace sci-fi roots back to 1977 when the franchise began. Generation X’ers cannot. But both groups, however, will enjoy the current episode now blazing the screens at The Old Mill Playhouse and the Barnstorm Theater.
“Episode VII, The Force Awakens,” finds the Galactic Empire ruled by the cruel, unyielding First Order. really bad guys are dressed in black, but their army of Storm Troopers are in white plastic outfits.
Storm Trooper Finn (John Boyega) is repelled by the bloodshed and deserts. To escape capture and punishment, he heads for a distant planet where he meets a young woman scavenger, Rey (Daisy Ridley), who turns out to be a resourceful fighter. She has acquired a cue-ball robot called BB-8 who carries a secret map that can locate the exiled Luke Skywalker.
The three begin an all-out attack on the First Order. Fortunately, Hans Solo (Harrison Ford) and the hairy Chewbacca (Pete Mayhew) show up to help. Along the way, they join forces with Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), now known as General Organa, who leads the Resistance.
From here on, the film action is non-stop in Star Wars tradition. Aircraft whiz and cause mass destruction while Rey, Finn, Solo, Chewbacca, and BB-8 stay just one step ahead of annihilation.
Tongue-in-cheek humor is laced throughout. When faced with a dilemma, Solo says “I can talk my way out of this.” He never does.
The Resistance prevails. Rey finds an unkempt, aged Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the last of the Jedi Knights, and gives him his father’s lightsaber.
Daisy Ridley takes top acting honors and equals that of Jennifer Lawrence in “The Hunger Games”.
The desolate scenes were filmed on location in Iceland and Dhabi; green backgrounds in Ireland.
“Star Wars” is a hugely entertaining movie and fun to watch. Be prepared to be mesmerized for 135 minutes of action.
Villager Jack Petro reviews movies for Villages-News.com
