I finally got around to seeing the new Star Wars movie, days after many of my friends had seen it. One of the advantages of waiting so long is that you can get really really great seats.
Then again, one of the disadvantages is the increased chance that somebody might spoil the plot for you. But I had managed to avoid reading any reviews, and I’d been staying away from social networks, so I came in fresh, not knowing anything that wasn’t in the trailer.
Arriving just a little early, we had our pick of locations in the Ziegfeld (Manhattan’s grandest and most glorious movie theater), so we chose seventh row center. Those are perfect seats for a big 3D movie.
And the movie was good. I mean really, really good. Yes, there was cheesy dialog, but that was part of the fun. After all, this is a Star Wars movie.
And it was beautiful — breathtakingly beautiful. Also smartly paced, wonderfully edited, with a fun plot and great action scenes.
I’m not going to say any more, because I’m very against spoilers. But for the three or four of you out there who were not thinking of seeing this movie, you really should see it. You won’t be disappointed.
For me, it was a total treat. After all, it’s been more than thirty years since I last had the opportunity to go to a movie theater and see a good first run Star Wars movie.
I felt the same way! This one really captured the feel of the original that was missing in the prequels.
I too really enjoyed the film. But with that came a sense of deja vu (I won’t say more than that to avoid spoilers). I decided that in some ways JJ’s genius is in how he so artfully remixed the DNA of the original trilogy. That step was necessary, to make this a Star Wars movie. But having established a new baseline, this means the next director has some freedom to break new ground. And that really is a new hope.