The Rise Of The Panther King

“Tell me something. What do you know about Wakanda?” ~ Ulysses Klaue 

“It’s a third world country. Textiles. Shepherds. Cool outfits.” ~ Everett K. Ross 

“All a front. Explorers have searched for it, called it El Dorado. They looked for it in South America, but it was in Africa the whole time. I’m the only one who’s seen it, and made it out alive.” ~ Ulysses Klaue

“I want the throne!” ~ Erik Killmonger

“Only you can decide what kind of king you want to be.” ~ Nakia

“What happens now determines what happens to the rest of the world.” ~ T’Challa

Marvel’s cinematic universe has been around now for a decade plus, bringing to vivid live heroes on the big screen in a way that hasn’t faltered yet. Now attention is turned to give the spotlight to one of the most formidable and enigmatic of its characters- T’Challa, king of Wakanda, in the new film Black Panther. Indie director Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station, Creed) takes the helm for a story that mixes together heroics, high tech, race and class, and a man coming to grips with his destiny… while thinking six moves ahead.

The film opens with a bit of history of the mysterious country of Wakanda, where a metal called Vibranium has blessed the country, which has kept its secrets hidden behind a smoke screen of isolation as a supposed Third World Country. In the wake of the death of King T’Chaka (as seen in Captain America: Civil War), his son T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) assumes the mantle of the throne and the tribal chieftainship as the Black Panther. He faces challenges from within- a rival tribal chieftain, an arms dealer with history with his country, and a distant relative with a grudge and his own ambitions.

The Black Panther has a long history in comics, first appearing in the pages of Fantastic Four in 1966 before getting a solo title of his own. Balancing between heroics as an Avenger and his responsibilities as a king, T’Challa has often been an enigmatic character. When written at his best, he is the sort of person you don’t want to start a fight with; he’s the chess player thinking several moves ahead of how he’s going to best you, essentially the Batman of the Marvel Universe. There have been plans for years, going back to 1992, for adapting the character to the big screen, with Wesley Snipes initially expressing interest. When the Marvel cinematic universe became a reality beginning with the first Iron Man film, the idea of bringing this character to life started to take shape.

Ryan Coogler not only directed, but co-wrote the script with Joe Robert Cole. Their script gives nods to the history of the character in the comics, as well as what’s been previously established in the Marvel cinematic universe. There is a good deal of influence from a run on the title by the writer Christopher Priest in the story- a wise decision, given that Priest’s extended run with these characters rates as one of the best comic book runs ever done. Their story weaves together the futuristic yet tribal culture of this fantastic world with themes like duty, responsibility, and ambition- themes that play themselves out in multiple characters, in different ways. Race and society status are also examined- something that might appear unusual in a superhero adaptation, but it feels done in a natural way.

Marvel’s cinematic offerings have, especially as of late, taken chances with unusual directors, and have paid off. Coogler might seem at first an odd choice for an epic like this, given his previous experience in what are best described as character dramas. He works quite well in the job, grounding the film in the characters themselves, while handling the epic scope of what is part grand sets and part CGI as a supporting element, not the focus itself. The cinematography of the film is beautifully done, but not in an overwhelming way, and the director keeps the audience on the personal level in terms of how things are filmed.

The production values by the crew are exceptional; the MCU has already shown us fantastic worlds like Asgard and the alien planets of the two Guardians films, and Wakanda’s presentation in the film builds on that. It’s a blend of technology and African landscapes rendered in a breathtaking way- something unique in its manner. This is a part of Africa that in the MCU was never colonized, that developed in isolation, and so Wakanda’s look is something quite different from what we know here.

Some of the cast return from previous films, but much of them are new to the Marvel cinematic universe, and they’re all well chosen. John Kani plays the ill-fated King T’Chaka, who died in Captain America: Civil War, in a flashback that plays to the duty the king has to his country, as well as his dignity and wisdom as a person. Florence Kasumba likewise reprises her role from that film as Ayo, a member of the Dora Milaje, an order of women who serve as a special forces group and bodyguards to the king. Andy Serkis returns as Ulysses Klaue, the mercenary arms dealer from Avengers Age Of Ultron. Klaue is a ruthless, vindictive man with ties to Wakanda and his own ambitions, something that Serkis gets to play to in his return.

Winston Duke appears as M’Baku, a character well established in the comics as an adversary to T’Challa. Here he is a rival tribal chieftain, fierce and ruthless, but with something of a moral code. Angela Bassett appears as Ramonda, the Queen Mother of Wakanda and mother of our hero. She’s freshly grieving the death of her husband, and yet is insightful where her son’s new role has to be. Forest Whitaker gets a lot to do as Zuri, something of a Ben Kenobi to T’Challa, the wise elder statesman and advisor who is central to the spirituality of Wakanda. Letitia Wright appears as Shuri, the younger sister of T’Challa. She gives the role a headstrong but funny take at times, as her character is an exceptionally bright and gifted tech innovator. Her performance reminded me somewhat of Q from the Bond films.

Martin Freeman reprises his role as American operative Everett Ross, more capable and less comic relief than his counterpart from the comics, though the character does give us some levity as things go along. Ross is calm under pressure, a bit wide eyed and fish out of water when he gets to see the wonders of Wakanda, but a professional through and through, and I like the dynamic of respect that develops between Ross and T’Challa as the story goes along.

This is the first time I’ve seen Danai Gurira in anything. She’s a big part of The Walking Dead, and the actress has quite an eclectic background herself. She plays the pivotal role of Okoye, the head of the Dora Milaje, a traditionalist in her thinking. She’s a capable leader, a fighter but also a tactical and strategic thinker, thoroughly dangerous when she must be, stoic much of the rest of the time, but with spirit. Her take on the character feels very grounded with where the character’s roots are. The character is one resolute in her duty and responsibilities, and the actress makes her compelling to watch.

Lupita Nyong’o gets a great role as Nakia. The character has a romantic history with T’Challa, but has taken a different path in life, into the world of the spy as a War Dog. She’s undercover in a neighbouring nation when we first meet her, undertaking a mission that’s personal and principled. The character is someone we get invested in as another strong woman- really, the film is peopled by a lot of strong women- and the actress gives her a lot of depth in how she plays her.

For a film with technically three villains tied to the Panther’s history (I would love to see how they handle Achebe in a sequel), the one with the most to do is also one whose agenda is not so black and white, but understandable. Erik Killmonger has history and ties to Wakanda, both in the comics and in this film, and has had a rough life of his own. He’s a strategic thinker, patient in what he wants to do, but at the same time forceful when he sees the need. Killmonger believes that Wakanda’s advances should be used in a more revolutionary, forceful way, skewing racial politics, than T’Challa, whose perspective is a peaceful one. It’s a fascinating counterbalance between characters, rather like the Charles Xavier-Magneto dynamic. Michael B. Jordan, who previously played the Human Torch in the misfire that was the last Fantastic Four film, and who’s worked with Coogler before, gives the character a ruthless, menacing energy, yet also allows us to see and appreciate his perspective. This is not a world conquering tyrant, but someone with legitimate concerns, whose tactics are what crosses the line.

Chadwick Boseman has already had an outstanding record in film, having had played Jackie Robinson in 42, James Brown in Get On Up, and Thurgood Marshall in Marshall. He debuted as T’Challa in Captain America: Civil War, making quite an impression as the enigmatic young prince thrust into the leadership of his country as a result of the events of that film. Here the character is new to the role of king, freshly grieving the death of his father, facing the responsibilities to his country and the challenges of other interested parties. He captures the qualities of T’Challa perfectly- the wise and principled man of peace who plays his cards close to the proverbial vest, keeping his options open and thinking ahead. T’Challa finds himself dealing with kingship and the direction of his country- does he continue its quiet isolation from the rest of the world or does he engage with the world? Boseman’s take on the role strikes the right balance of a man coming to grips with the weight of power and responsibility, and coming into his own as a result of it. It’s a masterful performance, one that continues the actor’s track record of exceptional work.

Black Panther is yet another exciting entry into Marvel’s cinematic universe, and one that is thoughtful in how it carries out its story. It doesn’t shy away from elements like race, class, social status, and ideology, but instead uses those elements as foundations for its narrative. With cinematography and production values that bring a fantastic hidden kingdom to vivid life, the film nonetheless strongly depends on an exceptional cast and their spot-on characterization of their roles. It’s a splendidly entertaining film in and of its own.

Pouting On A Galactic Scale

“The Empire, your parents, the resistance, the Sith, the Jedi… let the past die. Kill it, if you have to. That’s the only way to become what you are meant to be.” ~ Kylo Ren

“When I found you, I saw raw, untamed power. And beyond that, something special.” ~ Snoke

“The greatest teacher, failure is.” ~ Yoda

“I was raised to fight. For the first time I have something to fight for.” ~ Finn

“We are the spark, that will light the fire that’ll burn the First Order down.” ~ Poe Dameron

“I need someone to show me my place in all this.” ~ Rey

“Wipe that nervous expression off your face, Threepio.” ~ Leia Organa

“The Rebellion is reborn today. The war is just beginning. And I will not be the last Jedi.” ~ Luke Skywalker

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is in theatres, the second part in the current trilogy pitting the Rebels and the light side of the Force against the darkness of the First Order and the Sith. Picking up where The Force Awakens, the film advances the storyline, weaves in action, humour, and nostalgia, brings back familiar faces, and increases the tensions of a galaxy long ago and far, far away. Setting its characters on different journeys meant to converge together (not unlike the original trilogy’s second act The Empire Strikes Back), the film proves to be entertaining by the time it all ends.

The film follows its characters on different paths when we first catch up with them. Rey (Daisy Ridley) has found the old Jedi master Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) in his place of self-exile, trying to bring him back to the cause of the Resistance and learn about the ways of the Force. Leia (Carrie Fisher) is rallying the Resistance, which is under attack from the First Order. Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), Finn (John Boyega), the droid BB-8, and a Resistance mechanic, Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran) take an unauthorized mission on in the wake of events. And Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) contends with the will of his dark master Snoke (Andy Serkis) and the ambitions of his First Order rival General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson).

Rian Johnson (Looper) came aboard as writer and director for this second chapter in the trilogy, and it turns out to be a wise choice. A fan of the franchise and what’s come before, his story builds on what has already happened and takes it in new directions. The tone of the story mixes together military intrigue, special operations, a spit in the face bravado on the part of some characters and a melancholy despair on the part of others, themes of temptation and the line between light and dark, and strong characterization in its key players, giving them depth as the story goes along, even in surprising directions. Johnson’s story feels firmly grounded in the mythos and philosophies of the Star Wars universe, and it flows well throughout, as we weave in and out of the different plotlines.

Having the same person write and direct turned out to be wise as well. Johnson gets the best out of his actors as he goes along, maintaining the right balance between what the cast has to do and the CGI special effects that form their backdrop in much of the film (something that was problematic for George Lucas in the prequel trilogy at times). The production crew really does well at bringing new worlds and new characters to life, drawing out of an extensive established framework for some of the story, but giving the audience new species and new backdrops that mesh well with the established continuity. 

This shows itself in costume design, set design, equipment and vehicles for both sides… and the unbearably cute Porgs that end up in the film (think along the lines of fluffy pigeons with the biggest eyes imaginable). The already well established CGI of Lucasfilm handles the special effects exceedingly well throughout, and composer John Williams, who’s been doing this for quite awhile now, gives us another score in his repertoire that successfully builds on what has come before in the franchise, while adding on new thematic material as he goes. It’s a score that stands out well on its own, which you expect out of the best composer in the film music industry.

The cast are well chosen in their roles, and some of them are newcomers to the Star Wars world. Benicio Del Toro has made a career out of playing character roles that feature shades of grey morality, and that features into how he plays the codebreaker DJ, a man who plays the knife edge between two factions and is loyal more or less only to himself. Laura Dern appears as a Resistance admiral, Amilyn Holdo, a colleague of Leia whose instincts at a critical time are in want, but who conveys principles in her decisions. Kelly Marie Tran’s role as Rose is a compelling one- we get a character who earlier in the franchise would have just had a five second appearance and instead gets fleshed out as a full character. She’s a mechanic who is drawn into the larger story and comes into her own. The actress makes the most of her, to the point where we want to see more of her as time goes on.

The previously established villains are back. Gwendoline Christie plays the storm trooper commander Captain Phasma again, conveying a ruthless and cranky energy in her performance throughout. She’s suitably irritable (especially about a wayward deserter crossing her path after the events of the first film) and someone not to be trifled with. Domhnall Gleeson returns as the ambitious General Hux, the First Order commander whose priorities waver between loyalties to his leader and his own place in the galaxy. The actor gives him an arrogant, unpleasant quality that fits with his established persona. Andy Serkis, who’s made a career out of body capture performance, returns as the supreme leader Snoke, a repugnantly evil villain with no redeeming qualities. Serkis makes him a worthy counterpart to the late Emperor Palpatine.

Adam Driver returns as Kylo Ren, the son of Leia Organa and the late Han Solo, once a Jedi in training, now consumed by the darkness. He pouts and schemes, proves to be ruthless and relentless in battle, and yet there are moments when we see him in a different light- as someone who might have the chance to pull away from the darkness, when hints of humanity pull at him. And yet he chooses the wrong path time and again. Pouting or not, the actor makes him a compelling villain, one that you can jeer at one moment and feel empathy for the next.

Two faces return, of course, but one of them with a fresh actor in the role. Anthony Daniels has been playing C-3P0 in all of these films from the start, and he returns yet again as the fussy, anxiety prone protocol droid, mostly spending his days in headquarters and fretting endlessly. It’s a character that would drive you nuts to know personally, but Threepio provides some of the humour in the film in how he copes (or doesn’t cope) with rising tensions. Chewbacca returns as well, but now played by a different actor. Joonas Suomato, a basketball player turned actor, did some of the action work for the Wookie in The Force Awakens. The originator of the role, Peter Mayhew, listed in the credits as a consultant for the character, has retired from the role over chronic pains. Suomato is the requisite height, and since the actor gets buried under fur and prosthetic makeup, it doesn’t particularly matter that it’s a new actor. The character is as cranky as ever- but carries the weight of grief over the death of his friend Han in the previous film, something the actor brings across.

John Boyega started out this trilogy as Finn, the deserter storm trooper who finds himself caught up in the battle against that which he was loyal to, struggling to find his path. His take on Finn this time out is one of more certainty and resolve as the character has allowed his conscience to guide his path. He takes the initiative, steps into risks, and finds himself willing to give his life in service of a greater good. It’s a good nod of growth for the character, and the actor makes him interesting to watch. I do like the rapport he particularly has with Rose as the story unfolds.

Oscar Isaac has done a great deal of work in various films in recent years, and I do like his take on Poe Dameron, the ace Resistance pilot. There’s a hint of swagger and cockiness in the character, something you might expect in his profession, but at the same time it’s tempered by resolve and responsibility for those under his command. He’s loyal to a fault, but not blind, willing to do things that bend or break the rules if it helps save the day, and some of the humour of the film comes from Poe- and how he interacts with friend and foe alike.

Watching this film is tinted with sadness, because you’re watching Carrie Fisher’s final role and final take as Leia. She passed away after filming was complete, and that has an impact in the way you see her final performance. There’s a whole lot of sadness in the character, and for good reason: the love of her life has just died, at the hands of their son. And yet Fisher gives the character the strength and willpower one is used to throughout her take on Leia, the determined leader who people naturally look to for guidance. She invests herself in the role, and thus her Leia is the most poignant take of the cast.

Daisy Ridley has taken on the role of the orphan Rey (who happens to be quite strong with the Force) and made it her own. A strong character, Rey is trying to understand her place in the galaxy, even as she has come to accept it without quite understanding it. Ridley gives the character a stubborn, fiercely loyal quality, and an underlying sense of empathy and compassion that makes her compelling to watch. Rey is a wonderful character to watch, the cornerstone of this trilogy, and Ridley keeps her grounded, reminds the viewer of her basic decency, and makes us root for her.

Mark Hamill has an interesting take on his signature role of Luke Skywalker, having had appeared briefly in the last film looking like he’d just woken up from a thirty year nap. He has retreated away from the galaxy and its struggles, a disillusioned Jedi who blames himself for how things have gone wrong and has been punishing himself ever since. He is in many ways a broken man, but not completely; it is the student who draws her teacher out of his despair and reminds him of who he is. It’s a completely different take on Luke, who is the reluctant teacher, reinvesting himself back in the cause.

The Last Jedi takes the mythos that is Star Wars in brand new directions, some of it dark and tense, some of it lighter and hopeful. The cast is splendidly chosen, inhabiting their roles and developing their characters all the more as they go along. There’s a great deal of poignancy in the film too, all while the viewer deals with space dogfights between fighters and strange new creatures. All while blessedly shielding us from ever seeing a trace of Jar Jar Binks again.

And Not A Trace Of Jar Jar Binks

"You changed your hair." ~ Han Solo

"Same jacket." ~ Leia Organa

"Why are you helping me?" ~ Poe Dameron

"Because it's the right thing to do." ~ Finn

"I didn't think there was this much green in the whole galaxy." ~ Rey

"I will fulfill our destiny." ~ Kylo Ren

"There's been an awakening. Have you felt it? The Dark side, and the Light." ~ Snoke

"I was raised to do one thing, but I've got nothing to fight for." ~ Finn

"Hope is not lost today, it's found." ~ Leia

"What are you going to do?" ~ Rey

"Same thing I always do, talk my way out of it." ~ Han

It has been thirty two years since Return Of The Jedi, the last film in the original Star Wars trilogy was released. Since that time a prequel trilogy by creator-writer-director George Lucas came out (complete with a whiny pre-helmet, pre-evil Anakin Skywalker and the most obnoxious comic relief character of all time- Jar Jar, I'm looking at you). Now director J.J. Abrams has helmed a new chapter in the sprawling space saga, catching up with some favourite characters from the original trilogy while bringing us face to face with new heroes and villains. The Force Awakens succeeds, thrills, and entertains, and ends up being a worthy addition to the Star Wars world.

Thirty years after the destruction of the second Death Star and the fall of the Empire, the galaxy has a Republic, but all is not well. A new malevolence has risen up out of the remnants of the Empire, an army calling itself the First Order, seeking to take back the galaxy from the Republic. Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher, reprising her role), leads the Resistance, the front line of the Republic against the First Order. Her brother Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the Jedi knight who was busy trying to rebuild the Jedi, has vanished, and is now the subject of more than one search by interested parties. Leia has sent one of her best pilots, Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) on a mission to find him.

Poe's search takes him and his droid BB-8 to a desert world called Jakku. The pilot and his droid are separated during an attack by First Order stormtroopers- Poe is captured while the droid flees into the night. One of the stormtroopers (John Boyega), soon to take on the name Finn, is unable to kill for the First Order, has a crisis of conscience, and frees Poe, helping him escape. The droid, meanwhile, encounters a solitary scavenger on Jakku named Rey (Daisy Ridley), and their paths will draw the characters back together, as well as into a meeting with two familiar old Rebels and smugglers, Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and his sidekick Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew).

George Lucas had sold off Lucasfilm (and the rights to his characters) some years ago to Disney, after the prequel trilogy had been done and over with. He had mused for some time about follow-ups to the original trilogy, though nothing had ever come of it, choosing instead to delve into how Darth Vader became Darth Vader and how the Empire rose up out of the Old Republic. He also spent a good part of the prequel trilogy boring us with things like trade federations, Senate discussions, and tariff disputes. This first chapter of a new trilogy is very much in the spirit of the original trilogy, a sprawling epic across worlds that doesn't get itself bogged down in political machinations. 

Three writers are credited- Abrams and writer-director Lawrence Kasdan appear to have had the bulk of the work in the film, and Kasdan had a hand in a couple of the scripts for the original trilogy, while Michael Arndt is also credited. The story pays homage to the original trilogy in various ways- returning characters, bits of dialogue that nod back to the first trilogy, but also themes. The lone character, restless and seeking destiny on a backwater world, the struggle between good and evil, the dynamics of characters coming together for the right cause- these are themes that play out through the film. The screenplay strongly focuses on characterization and adds a healthy dose of humour along the way.

Abrams, who's had a history of working in television and film on a lot of high profile material, has been also directing that other cosmic franchise (the rebooted Star Trek films, with their excessive lens flare camera techniques, are his work). This doesn't feel like that- the film feels very much set squarely in the Star Wars continuity, not like an unseen corner of the Trek universe. The ships have a familiar look- both X-wings and TIE fighters look like they're upgrades from the earlier films, as do the star destroyers- and it's refreshing once more to see the Millennium Falcon in action. The planets and worlds the film shows feel true to the Star Wars mythos as well- the look of the Starkiller base, for instance, definitely feels like something out of an Imperial nightmare. 

There are creatures and aliens both new and familiar, worlds that seem both familiar and fantastic (the crew filmed on location in many places and added details like ruined Star Destroyers in by CGI. And yet unlike the prequel trilogy, the CGI doesn't feel overwhelming; Abrams' directing technique seems to follow the better strategy of using special effects as a tool rather than let it dominate the story. He chooses instead to emphasize the personalities and relationships of his characters as the bedrock of the film. Wisely he also chooses to have John Williams (still the master of the profession) do the musical score for the film, and Williams gives us a lot of original music that greatly expands his contributions to the Star Wars mythos, while weaving in previous themes.

The casting choices in this case are well made. When I first heard Max Von Sydow was cast in the film, I wondered if he was replacing the late Alec Guinness as the ghost of Obi Wan Kenobi (there is an audio appearance of sorts by the dead Jedi knight, however). That's not the case- the actor plays a new role early on, a wise and enigmatic retired adventurer with connections to Leia and Luke, a resolute sort of man. Lupita Nyong' o appears as a wise alien, a friend of Han and Chewbacca. Her performance is more CGI and stop motion capture, but it's an interesting one, a cantina owner with a sense of humour but an internal wisdom and grace. There's also a priceless cameo featuring a stormtrooper who has a one on one scene with Rey- watch the film before looking up who was beneath the mask.

The villains are many in this whole tale. Andy Serkis, the stop motion capture expert actor who gave us Gollum in the Lord of The Rings films, appears as the First Order's supreme leader Snoke. It's another stop motion capture performance- we see the character as a gigantic hologram, someone with a very distinctive look. The actor brings a suitable malice to the role, a character steeped in the Dark Side of the Force. Gwendoline Christie appears as the stormtrooper Captain Phasma,  strict and disciplinarian in her approach to commanding her troops. General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) is a ruthless officer, commanding armies of the First Order, coming across as a very young alternative to Peter Cushing's commander from the first film. Nonethless, Gleeson plays the part with authority, acting as a kind of counterweight to the main villain of the film. 

Adam Driver plays Kylo Ren, the masked Sith who follows the lead of Snoke, a dark warrior who thinks what he's doing is morally justifiable. He has connections to other characters, seeks to be righting what he sees as an old wrong, and the way he plays the character has multiple facets- ruthlessness, sorrow, malevolence, and the occasional temper tantrum (the reaction of two Stormtroopers hearing his rage from a nearby hallway is strangely hilarious). It's a compelling performance, even if one thinks the character might well be a mad dog that has to be put down.

There are returning characters. Anthony Daniels returns as C-3P0, still as neurotic as ever any droid has been, living among the Resistance and currently an aide to Leia. Kenny Baker, who like Daniels has been in all of the Star Wars films thus far, returns as the more snarky droid R2-D2, though the two droids don't have as much exposure this time out as in previous outings. Nonetheless, it's good to see them. Hamill returns as Luke Skywalker in what's basically a cameo- we'll see more of him in future movies. He's haggard and worn, and certainly looks like a man who's retreated away from the world when we finally see him, and yet he still carries himself like a Jedi. 

Carrie Fisher's return as Leia is very welcome indeed. The character was always a strong willed, stubborn, principled person (a strong contrast to her mother in the prequel trilogy, in which she ended up falling in love with the galaxy's whiniest Jedi student and dissolved into an emotional puddle). Years have passed for the character, and there are reasons why she and Han are where they are, and yet that inner strength and resolve of the character are right there as always, as is the sense that she's still crazy about Han.

Peter Mayhew returns as the wookie Chewbacca (with a double doing some of the action for him, as it turns out). We the audience can't really understand his growlings, though we can make a guess at some of what he says. And Chewie provides both some of the humour and the heart of the film- there's still that dynamic with Han of partnership, two very different beings who snipe with each other on occasion but have a very basic trust of each other. One must wonder, given that Chewie appeared in the third of the prequel films and still doesn't look in this one like he's getting older... just how long do Wookies live?

Oscar Isaac's been doing a lot of different character roles in recent years, and will be turning to another franchise soon as a villain in an X-Men film. Here he plays the Resistance pilot Poe as capable and courageous, a confident man who doesn't cross the line into swagger and arrogance (that can happen with some pilots). Poe is the sort of person who puts others before himself, and Isaac plays to that, as well as conveying the sense of a natural leader.

John Boyega gets a very interesting role as the stormtrooper who turns away from what he's become. Finn finds himself in battle for the first time, and is horrified by what he sees. His conscience gets to him, leading him to do something reckless (First Order types don't seem the forgiving sort, after all). He spends a good portion of the film trying to conceal truths about himself, preferring to find some place to disappear and hide in. And yet as the film goes on, the character reluctantly moves to do the right thing for the right reasons, to stand up against the building darkness. It's a good character arc for Finn, and another compelling character to add to the story. Boyega interacts well with Isaac, Ridley, and Ford in different ways, and I look forward to more from the character and the actor.

This film pretty much establishes Daisy Ridley as the driving force for what is the third trilogy. We meet her eking out a living scavenging wreckage in a wasteland- and yet we sympathize with her because she offers assistance to a wayward droid- and then refuses to profit by an offer for the droid. It shows integrity in the character. She's alone, seemingly abandoned by her family, entirely self sufficient, but ends up caught up in an epic adventure. Ridley brings out a sense of strength, resilience, resolve, and principle in the character- Rey becomes the touchstone character for the audience. It's a performance that leaves one impressed by the actor and the character. 

Harrison Ford does what we might have never expected of him- return once more as the swashbuckling rogue Han Solo. And it's such a welcome sight to see- the audience cheered wildly when Han and Chewie first appeared on the big screen. Han gets a lot to do through the film, and a lot of the best lines. A lot of the rogue is still there in him after all these years. A former Rebel general, Han's gone back into old habits and still has a way of associating with the wrong people. And yet there's that scoundrel's energy in the character that comes right out in Ford's performance, the sense of a guy who can think quickly on his feet. There's also a wisdom we see in him- he sees right through Finn's cover story. I also like that he's a bit reluctant to get back involved in the cause, so to speak, and yet he still does. And of course the sparks are still there with Leia.   

The Force Awakens starts a new chapter in the Star Wars story in a big way, reviving the spirit of the original trilogy. The film successfully blends the older and new generations in a story that feels very much authentic to the history of these tales- every small detail and large planet feels thoroughly tied to Star Wars as opposed to something else. The story gives us strong heroes and villains, a tale with heart, and a status quo that leaves us wondering where they go from here.

And of course, the film does us a favour and doesn't even mention Jar Jar Binks.