Yes, there are similar beats to the original trilogy. But, one has to understand the task that J.J. Abrams had to undertake. Many Star Wars fans were extremely disappointed with the prequel trilogy and wanted the new trilogy to feel like Star Wars again. To make that happen, while bringing in new fans to the franchise, J.J. had to make this film feel familiar to the previous generation and he delivered on a grand scale.
Avitt then mentions the cast having superb performances, except for Adam Driver. He believed that the character of Kylo Ren was just a "spoiled brat" and wasn't an imposing villain. One particular statement left me absolutely astounded. Avitt says, "This was the result of bad casting more than bad scripting. In "Revenge of the Sith" when Anakin turns to the Dark Side, he radiates evil. You can see Darth Vader in the eyes, and the physical performance. You don't get this from Adam Driver's Kylo Ren when the mask comes off." So, in essence Avitt is saying that Hayden Christensen's portrayal of Anakin Skywalker is better than Adam Driver's Kylo Ren. Wow.
First off, Kylo Ren aka Ben Solo has already turned to the Dark Side. We don't see the progression, unless you want this to be a 10 hour movie. You also see the conflict within this character that makes him unhinged at times, and that alone makes him an imposing figure. Darth Vader had no conflict within him until Return of the Jedi. Finally, he killed his own father, which happened to be Han Solo. The amount of emotion, or lack thereof, from Adam Driver during that scene was incredible. In my opinion, at that moment, he surpassed Anakin slaughtering the youngling in the Jedi Temple, something Kylo Ren had already done.
As for Starkiller Base, history repeats itself. The easiest comparison I can make is that of Iran's nuclear program. Does anyone think they will stop trying to accomplish that goal just because they have tried it before and were unsuccessful? No. Same with the concept of Starkiller Base. It destroyed 5 planets and was much harder to penetrate! Could I have gone with something else instead? Sure. But, I understand why they did this. Again, familiarity. Plus, George Lucas always said the Star Wars saga was like a poem. It rhymed with each stanza.
While Star Wars: The Force Awakens has similar beats to A New Hope, it does a good job of standing alone as a new installment in the trilogy. We are introduced to a character we have never seen before in Finn. Never before have we seen who s underneath the armor of a storm trooper. We have never seen a character quite like Rey either. Her strong connection to the Force is unmatched in the original trilogy Luke when he begins his journey. He also isn't forced to duel with a lightsaber against anyone either. Kylo Ren is also a very different villain and the most intriguing one we've seen in these films, aside from Vader and the Emperor, but I think that can change. Finally, Supreme Leader Snoke could be a huge reveal for many hardcore fans and be a character that ties in the prequel trilogy with the current trilogy.
Above all, this movie wasn't trying to answer every question, nor did it have to have a definitive end. When the original Star Wars was released, George Lucas didn't know if he would be able to make a sequel, so that film felt like it had its own conclusion. This new trilogy knows where it's headed, and Disney is planning on releasing a new Star Wars film every year, so that fear is gone. Also, The Force Awakens, as Kristian Harloff put it, is playing the long game and are wise for doing so. If J.J. Abrams tried to cover all the bases and go through 30 years of history in one film, it would have been terrible.
I respect the author's opinion, but I disagree wholeheartedly with his assessment of this film. Star Wars: The Force Awakens succeeded in bringing in a new fan base while appealing to the old. The box office and fan reactions show it. The amount of repeat viewings this film has had says it all.
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