The Force Awakens, also known as Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Force Awakens is a 1989 epic space opera film directed by George Lucas. It is the second installment in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, the fifth installment in the franchise, and the eighth film of the Star Wars saga.
It takes place a few months after the events of The Phantom Menace and sees Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) continue fighting the New Order and Darth Starkiller (Val Kilmer).
It received critical acclaim and became a blockbuster hit, with many praising its bold plot and fresh ideas.
Plot[]
While representatives from the Galactic Union are gathered on Yavin 4 to combat the rising New Order, the New Order attacks the moon, forcing the Galactic Union to flee. Han Solo and Princess Leia evacuate the Galactic Union's Elite Fleet to Ajan Kloss, a jungle moon.
However, Luke Skywalker leaves the fleet to search for more Jedi. He arrives on the planet of Pasaana, where he is shot down by New Order forces, who have taken over the planet. There, he discovers a young boy named Devinn, who has been orphaned following the New Order's subjugation of the planet.
Meanwhile, on Ajan Kloss, Leia discovers an ancient temple in a cave. She sees visions and realizes she is force-sensitive. She finds an ancient lightsaber and uses a kyber crystal from the Millenium Falcon's hyperdrive to activate it. She begins training with it.
However, a New Order Star Destroyer arrives above Ajan Kloss and begins searching for the Galactic Union, renamed the New Rebellion. Han Solo and Lando Calrissian inflitrate the Star Destroyer to disable its tracking system as ground troops begin to invade Ajan Kloss.
Meanwhile, Luke discovers that Devinn is force-sensitive, and gives him a lightsaber made on Yavin 4 for new Jedi. He and Devinn attack the main New Order base on the planet.
On Ajan Kloss, the stormtroopers and Darth Starkiller discover the New Rebellion and attack them. Starkiller duels Leia, who injures him, cutting off his hand.
Luke and Devinn succeed in destroying the New Order base on Pasaana and fly to Ajan Kloss, where they participate in the battle against the New Order. Luke also duels the injured Starkiller, but he flees. The New Rebellion destroys the Star Destroyer and evacuate Ajan Kloss to find another planet.
Reception[]
Reviews[]
Contemporary reviews praised the film's plot, effects, continuation of the story, and acting, and especially praised the inclusion of Leia and Darrin as Jedi characters, as well as the performance of Val Kilmer as Darth Starkiller.
The Force Awakens is given a rating of 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. Time's 2021 ranking of the 15 main Star Wars films put The Force Awakens at number 3, with the review reading "The Force Awakens' plot is packed full of cutting-edge special effects, action, surprises, and growth for every character, while also being one of the most fun Star Wars movies to date."
Imperial Cut[]
Like the other two sequel trilogy films, The Force Awakens was rereleased as part of the Imperial Cut of the sequel trilogy, restoring deleted scenes and VFX shots removed from the released cut of the films. This version added a subplot in which Admiral Ackbar searched for another base.