A's Doolittle gives 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' glowing review
Oakland Athletics pitcher Sean Doolittle is an unabashed Star Wars fan. He posts on social media about the iconic film series quite often, and as the release date of "Episode VII: The Force Awakens" neared, it was pretty obvious he was excited about the movie.
Doolittle and his girlfriend, Eireann Dolan, attended a screening of 'The Force Awakens' on Thursday night and Sean was blown away -- so much so, in fact, that he wore a Chewbacca costume to the theater. He was also nice enough to compose his thoughts, put them into words and turn it all into a film review. Below, enjoy his take on the new addition to the Star Wars multiverse in his own words -- it's very minimally edited. Don't worry, there aren't any major spoilers in the review, in case you haven't seen the movie yet.
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ok here we go it's starting #TheForceAwakens
— Mace WinDOO (@whatwouldDOOdo) December 18, 2015
Over 32 years after "Return of the Jedi" (1983) was released, we finally have a sequel. And it was worth the wait.
There were a lot of questions surrounding the film leading up to its release, and director JJ Abrams answered all of them in his "Star Wars" directorial debut. Abrams’ track record speaks for itself. He gave us the hit TV shows "Lost" and "Alias", and directed sequels for both the "Mission: Impossible" and "Star Trek" franchises. A self-proclaimed "Star Wars" fan-boy, Abrams turned out to be up to the task of re-energizing the historic, albeit somewhat stagnant, franchise.
What is most impressive about "The Force Awakens" is that it captures the magic of the original trilogy. Although the new trilogy "Episodes I-III" may have looked and sounded like "Star Wars" movies, perhaps they didn’t quite feel like "Star Wars" movies to some fans.
One way Abrams was able to recapture the feel of the original trilogy was bringing back writer Lawrence Kasdan, who wrote both "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi". In addition, the film also figuratively returned to its roots -- as it was shot on the same sound stage in London as Episodes IV, V & VI. And much like the original trilogy, the movie was largely filmed using practical sets -- not relying entirely on CGI, instead incorporating a balance that brings the special effects to life without getting in the way of the plot.
The film also scores big (sorry) with composer John Williams, who delivers yet another iconic "Star Wars" soundtrack.
It is truly remarkable how much the film is able to accomplish in its 135 minute run-time, without ever feeling like it’s rushing or trying too hard. One could understand if a super-fan like Abrams would have missed the mark simply because he cared too much and lacked the necessary perspective and objectivity. Remember, this is both a sequel to "Jedi" and the first movie of a new trilogy. So it had to answer questions and tie up some loose ends while simultaneously creating new cliffhangers and questions.
Another pleasant surprise about the movie was how accessible it was. The viewer does not need to be a die hard "Star Wars" fan to thoroughly enjoy the movie. It has personality, and is refreshingly funny. Daisy Ridley (Rey) and John Boyega (Finn) have genuine chemistry. Add in Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron), and you have an exciting new trio of ragtag heroes.
Of course, "The Force Awakens" also manages to incorporate all of the heroes of the original trilogy, but it smartly accomplishes it without them being overly nostalgic or too much of a sideshow. There are plenty of allusions to the original trilogy, and they are delivered in a way that doesn’t require a wink or a nudge. These references help provide backstory for new viewers while serving as inside jokes for "Star Wars" nerds. The dialogue helps give the characters more of a personality than we’ve seen in any of the previous six "Star Wars" films, chock full of witty banter and one-liners that give the characters more dimension and humanity than we’re used to seeing.
Everything we’ve come to expect from a "Star Wars" film is here, and more. We have our villain: leader of the evil First Order, Kylo Ren (portrayed by Adam Driver), complete with a cool mask, an intimidatingly deep voice, and an obsession with Darth Vader. There is a new droid: BB-8, who rolls through the film with a surprising amount of personality for a piece of metal. The film also takes us to new systems and planets in the galaxy. And in between there are lightsaber battles, aerial fight scenes and an action-packed storyline that keeps things fresh throughout the entire movie.
If the "Star Wars" multiverse exists a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, you would never know it from the way the film was cast. The stars of the movie are remarkably reflective of the world we see around us, tethering the familiar to fantastical.
My favorite part about the film was how natural it was, which is admittedly a strange thing to say about a movie set in the far reaches of outer space. It pays homage to the original trilogy without getting stuck so deep in the CGI valley that many of the prequels fell into (I’m talking to you "Attack of the Clones"). The dialogue was well-written and I found the characters to be more humanized and relatable. It was action packed, but it had a surprising amount of depth. There is more than enough here to satisfy "Star Wars" newcomers and "Star Wars" fanatics alike. It expertly walks the fine line between classic and campy, between drama and Disney.
Quite possibly the best news about the film is that we won’t have to wait another 32 years for a sequel as Disney has announced that "Episode VIII" is scheduled to be released in the spring of 2017. "The Force Awakens" will leave you on the edge of your seat, and it is more than worthy of several viewings between now and then to hold us over.
THAT. WAS. AAAAWESOME. #TheForceAwakens
— Mace WinDOO (@whatwouldDOOdo) December 18, 2015
