Having walked into the theater on Tuesday, Dec. 15 for a screening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens with absolutely no expectations and very little knowledge about casting other than a glance at a headline or two regarding the casting of Black actors in this new installment, I am hooked. It paid off be blissful and spoiler averse!
It’s been 30 years since the Galactic Empire was defeated in 1983’s Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. but even in times of peace the fight is never over. The new millennium conflict is with the First Order.
In the seventh Star Wars movie, The Force Awakens, directed by J.J. Abrams, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Lupita Nyong’o and Domhnall Gleeson along with original Star Wars stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher. The iconic fantasy and action film will not disappoint.
With great timing and humor, Boyega plays Finn, a fugitive stormtrooper who crash lands on the desert planet and partners with Rey (Ridley) to protect the robot, Droid, the millennial counterpart to R2-D2 and C-3PO. Droid is the keeper of a top secret map that the Resistance is trying so desperately to get their hands on, and its also the missing link, i.e. intel to find the infamous Jedi Knight, Luke Skywalker (Hamill).
Its Nyong’o CGI character that totally catches this writer off guard, in a good way. In her character, Maz Kanata, a pint-sized orange pirate wearing goggles and the new-age Yoda, the Oscar-winning fashionista manages to own the screen. One of her memorable quotes: “I have lived long enough to see the same eyes in different people. I see your eyes, I know your eyes!”
