Star Wars: The Force Awakens (TFA) opens in Malaysian cinemas on December 17th, 2015 and fans are already reeling in excitement for the seventh installment of the much loved series. If you are not one of them though, here are 10 reasons why you should reconsider. May the Force be with you!
1) See The Original Trio In Action
If there ever was a roster of awesomeness, this cast list would be it. It’s not often that a follow-up to a classic film features original cast members, but J.J. Abrams managed to do it. Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford were the original badass trio back in 1977, and the fact that all three (and several other original cast members) agreed to reprise their roles signifies something very special for this film, which even the prequels (Episodes I to III) did not have.
2) Awesome New Cast Members
As beloved as the original cast is, it is always fun to welcome new faces to a franchise, and TFA does not disappoint in that regard. Besides John Boyega and Daisy Ridley, who are fairly new to the silver screen world, the rest of the cast is filled with talented names such as Andy Serkis, Lupita Nyong’o, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Domnhall Gleeson and Gwendoline Christie, among others. All are impressive in their own right, and will certainly add to the film’s quality.
3) Be Part of A Pop Culture Phenomenon
At some point in your life, you’d have seen something related to or inspired by Star Wars, whether or not you realized it at the time. That’s just how iconic the films are, that people continue to reference the characters until today. Perhaps it was a colleague who dressed as Princess Leia at the office costume party, or a friend who spoke purely in Yoda-isms. That’s only going to continue as the franchise does. TFA has already broken records on pre-sales of film tickets alone, even before the premiere. Might as well get with the program and be in the know too, right?
4) That Soundtrack
Legendary composer John Williams was the maestro behind the original soundtrack, and is responsible for the tune every Darth Vader enthusiast will inevitably hum as they pretend to take on enemies in our lighstaber deprived world. DUM DUM DUM DUM DA DUM. Yup, THAT tune. And if the iconic track is anything to go by, audiences will also be treated to a symphony once again in that galaxy far, far away.
5) J.J. Abrams
In addition to being an award winning director and writer, J.J. Abrams is a self-professed Star Wars fanboy. This is important, because it means the film will be lovingly made, as opposed to just being another film churned out by Hollywood purely for profit. Long before he was selected to helm TFA, he was known to include subtle homages to Star Wars in his other films. It’s almost as though he was just meant to direct this film.
6) Fun For The Whole Family
While Star Wars is rooted in concepts related to science fiction and fantasy, it has got something for everyone in terms of the themes within the film, which makes it perfect for all to watch. Romance, humour, thrilling action sequences and drama are all present in the former films, which makes it the perfect film to enjoy with just about anyone, really. Going on a date? Why not Star Wars? Work event? Get your Jedi on.
7) Have You Seen The Malls Lately?
If you haven’t heard about Star Wars until now, it is safe to assume you’ve been living under a rock. Just a stroll through any of Malaysia’s big shopping malls today and it will lead you to anything and everything Star Wars, including clothing, toys, plushies, accessories, footwear and even pewter figurines. You name it, it exists. There’s really no escaping Star Wars, so if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!
8) The Sidekicks
Anyone who thinks Star Wars is a solemn series, hasn’t met the cutest sidekicks in the Galaxy. The original films introduced us to furry friend Chewbacca and the dynamic droids C3PO and R2-D2, but TFA is upping the cute factor with BB-8. See, even that name is so adorable. How could anyone dislike anything with the name BB?
9) Special Effects
The effects used in the previous films were limited but spectacular nonetheless, and way ahead of its time. Considering how technology has advanced tremendously since 1977, as well as movies keeping 3D effects in mind during filming, TFA will probably have a fair share of fantastic visuals to delight viewers, young and old.
10) Diversity
The diversity of the new characters/actors in this film is rich, and the roles they play defy labels and transcend stereotypes. Films inspire and entertain people of all walks of life, and this is why representation matters, whether in terms of ethnicity or gender. In this sense, TFA does not disappoint, with characters that will undoubtedly inspire future generations to “use the Force” and be whatever they aspire to be.
