Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.5

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens Blu-ray Movie Review

The Blu-Rey is strong with this one.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman March 25, 2016

I sense something. A presence I've not felt since...a long time ago, in a galaxy that feels far, far away in some respects but, with the brilliance of The Force Awakens as the next chapter in the storied Star Wars saga, right here and right now in others. Star Wars has never not been relevant since the original film's blockbusting debut back in 1977, but its revitalization in 2015 with the long-awaited seventh franchise film, and the first to release since George Lucas transferred control to Disney, has been nothing less than a re-awakening of the core fan base and the franchise's worldwide appeal alike. Not since 1999, in the months and days and hours leading up to The Phantom Menace's release to theaters, has there been so much palpable excitement in the air around a movie, a feeling of youthful revitalization and unadulterated hope for a film franchise that has, unlike any before it or any since, so perfectly married whimsical fantasy, keen dramatic storytelling, and movie magic as well as Star Wars. Those prequel films, and the first two in particular, didn't quite live up to fan expectations, but part of the problem was that they looked the wrong way, choosing to gaze backwards in time rather than push the series forward. They re-introduced a previously established universe and lore rather than evolve them in a meaningful way. There's something magical about the way forward, fully exploring the unknown rather than being led through a past with an inevitable destination clearly in sight. And The Force Awakens is filled with bold new strokes and striking happenings, all the while remaining ever faithful to the source and all of its biggest concepts and tiniest intricacies alike. More than any film since The Empire Strikes Back, The Force Awakens exudes Star Wars and all that those two words imply.

Awoken.

The Empire has been destroyed, but in its place a new menace to the galaxy has emerged: The New Order. Led by the mysterious Snoke (Andy Serkis), General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson), and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), the organization has constructed a new weapon many times larger and more powerful than the Death Stars before it. The Rebellion remains, though it's been rebranded as The Resistance. The warring factions have one goal: to track down the long-missing Luke Skywalker, the Jedi who stands in the way of The First Order and represents the only hope for The Resistance. General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) has sent The Resistance's best pilot, Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), to the planet Jakku to retrieve vital data that could lead The Resistance to Skywalker. Dameron is captured, but his droid, BB-8, escapes with the information and stumbles upon Rey (Daisy Ridley), a scavenger who has lived a life shrouded in the haze of a destiny greater than selling off scraps for bites of food. She's soon aided by a morality driven Stormtrooper who has fled The First Order and taken to the name "Finn" (John Boyega). The two escape The First Order with the droid and its information, but they'll need more help than an old, practically mothballed, Corellian freighter if they're to survive the pursuit and get the information to those in desperate need of it.

The movie begins and...something isn't right. The 20th Century Fox logo and fanfare are missing. They had become synonymous with Star Wars, in some ways more identifiable as the start of a Star Wars movie than the iconic "A long time ago..." prologue, the crawl, and the music, and even, arguably, the studio that logo and fanfare actually represent. That disconcerting absence, however, is quickly forgotten when those words appear, the yellow text scrolls, the music soars, and the movie begins. And what an experience it is. For longtime, dedicated fans who know the movies forward and backward, are familiar with every line, each detail, all the sounds, and can practically smell the Star Wars universe, however, a first viewing of The Force Awakens feels less like seeing it and more like experiencing it, soaking in the greater spectacle and sorting out all of the emotions it engenders. No more true words are spoken in the film than when Han says, "we're home." That first viewing isn't so much about grasping all of the story intricacies, analyzing its place in the Star Wars canon, and theorizing about what's to come. It's instead about taking in all those details that Abrams and his fellow filmmakers -- every last person who contributed as much love as labor to making it work -- have put into the movie. It's about rediscovering the sensations, reuniting with old friends, making new acquaintances, and absorbing all those sights and sounds that make the movie more than a simple narrative journey but rather a tangible experience that stirs the soul quite unlike anything else in movie history. That Fox logo? Now a fond but distant memory that still holds a special place in Star Wars lore that serves as a reminder that the whole is greater than the parts, that the spirit is greater than the details, that the universe is larger than a single image and sound. Kudos to Abrams for leaving the Disney logo off the beginning as well, and for the studio allowing him to do so. The film, and its universe, speak for themselves.

With the story now moving forward rather than backward, there's plenty of opportunity for healthy advancements in technology and refinements from the first three films while still, certainly, retaining the same basic shapes and textures and, in all of the key areas, keeping up appearances, right down the finest little details fans have come to know, love, and expect from a Star Wars movie. Storm troopers and TIE Fighters are a bit sleeker. Characters are a little bit older. Yet the Falcon is perfect. Finn digs up Luke's training remote and triggers the holographic tabletop game in the lounge. Han still has his same blaster. The filmmakers have paid attention to every detail, and their love, more so than their work, is evident in every shot. The film's climactic infiltration sequence borrows heavily from all three of the original films in obvious ways, in broad-stroke details and tiny little nuances alike, but the moment, and the entire movie, really, captures that established essence, that solidified soul, while molding it into something that stands on its own. Abrams has found just the right texture, structure, pace, and styling in every shot, but the movie is much more than mere fan service. The picture deals in very real and very easily identifiable themes of light and dark with some, but not much, gray area in between. The story centers on a literal inner and outer conflict between them that culminates in what is likely to be remembered as the most shocking moment in Star Wars history that, again, shows deep parallels to a key moment from A New Hope. It advances this story while underscoring both established and emerging themes that define the Star Wars universe.

For all of the "old" it gets right, The Force Awakens proves just as spectacular in its "new." The movie is filled with fresh faces that are smartly cast and the beneficiaries of good, clean, efficient writing that, for some, continues in the exploration of old parallels while others open up new realms of possibility for where the franchise has been and where it's going. The new characters aren't simply a collective rehash of the old ones, however. Similarities abound, but there are role reversals, amalgamations, and new origins introduced that all, generally, fall into classic comfort zones while building up a uniqueness all their own. That's really the driving theme here, much like it was with Abrams' Star Trek films: things can and do change, sometimes even radically, but the foundation rarely does. The new heroes allow for some shifts in focus and new roles for certain types of characters, but none of them feel tacked on, forced in, or in any way otherwise inorganic within the world. As with the previous films, the feelings of fate and destiny permeate through each one of them, particularly in Rey who is sort of like a composite of Anakin, Luke, and Leia. The film's most interesting new character is Kylo Ren. Adam Driver is fantastic in the part, arguably the best of the new collective. His ability to so precisely capture Kylo Ren's conflicting nature and develop the character through the totality of youthful vigor, uneven temperament, and even the way he carries himself as both a leader and a fighter is above reproach. Conflicted villains are always the most dangerous, and the way the movie manipulates the character, evolves him, and establishes him near the end all but guarantees in future installments an antagonist capable of anything, as cold and strong as any before him, but with that hint of internal strife still ever-present even as the movie culminates the character's path in a very forceful, deliberate, and thematically paralleled manner.

As a whole, singular experience, the movie never disappoints. Its technical construction is above reproach, not only in capturing that Star Wars spirit but in crafting a movie that's seamlessly assembled and hearkens back to the originals with plenty of practical effects and digital that's so well done it's hardly noticeable in most instances. Battles are fast moving and exciting, lightsaber duels are well choreographed, shootouts are intense, and character moments are touching. If one could mount any serious criticism criticism against the movie, it's that the humor threatens to become too deeply entwined with the story. Some of the jokes better establish characters -- Poe's one-liner near film's start being a good example -- while others threaten to destroy the dramatic importance of a scene, such as when Storm Troopers nearly approach an infuriated Kylo Ren and quickly turn tail in the other direction. The movie's best gag comes when the affable C-3PO pops up in the middle of a key moment, but it's a gag that's in staying with the character's tone and proves very effective. Overall, however, there's little-to-no room to complain. The Force Awakens is a terrific movie and the one Star Wars fans have been waiting for since the galaxy partied like it was 1983.

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Force Awakens' 1080p transfer inspires from the beginning. The yellow lettering leaps off the screen, supported by a perfectly deep surrounding star field. Colors continue to impress for the duration. The sandy, practically monochromatic Jakku terrain contrasts very well with brilliant, popping greens that appear later in the movie on Takodana (colors on which Rey specifically comments). Lightsabers sparkle with brilliant reds and blues. BB-8's orange accents are rich, particularly contrasted with the transfer's ability to capture the finer bits of wear and grime that give the color more character. The movie isn't otherwise particularly vibrant, favoring an honest neutrality within its broader schemes and plenty of colder and steely grays in much of the film. Details are exacting in every shot, save for a couple of softer focus shots that readily stand apart. Facial features are perfectly defined, finding plenty of intimate detailing on every character. Clothing is revealing of many nuances. Frays and imperfections define Kylo Ren's attire. Poe's (later Finn's) jacket showcases all sorts of well-worn imperfections and textures. Rey's desert garb reveals very fine fabric refinement. The Falcon interior showcases every bit of grime and longtime wear, while the shinier, cleaner First Order starship interiors reveal all the glossy spotlessness to perfection. The movie retains a fine grain structure that gives an added textural awareness to the experience. Black levels are positive and deep, hinting very lightly to crush in an early nighttime scene but otherwise holding accurate. Flesh tones are neutral. Compression artifacts, print damage, and other maladies are nowhere in sight. This is a marvelous presentation from Disney and the best any Star Wars movie has ever looked on home video.

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Force Awakens makes its Blu-ray debut with polished DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 lossless soundtrack. While the absence of an Atmos or DTS:X soundtrack is regrettable, Disney's more traditional sound presentation dazzles on almost all fronts. Surrounds are regularly engaged and spacing throughout the stage comes easy and frequently. John Williams' score explodes from the speakers with triumphant detailing to every note. It's fully immersive with a tangible, and easily identifiable, surround support that isn't merely an extension of the fronts but home to precisely placed musical details that seem exclusive to their rear positioning. Action scenes are filled with plenty of discrete effects, front and back alike, that always have the listener central to the action. Heavier ships rumble through space with unmatched low end power. TIE fighters and X-Wing fighters zip, sweep, and swoop around the listening area. Sounds of battle chaos erupt through every speaker with tangible placement and precision accentuation of on- and off-screen mayhem. Laser blasts fire from all sides, and debris, ricochets, and impacts are heard in every speaker. Small little beeps in a TIE fighter swirl around the stage as the camera pans around its cramped interior. Lesser atmospherics are no less immersive and lifelike. A Star Destroyer hangar deck comes alive with bustling activity. Little beeps and bloops inside the Millennium Falcon transform the listening area into the cockpit. Dialogue reverberates with exceptional spacing in Snoke's chambers. Likewise, the stage expands significantly to carry all the deep, reverberating sounds when Rey climbs through a derelict vessel early in the movie. Dialogue is always clean and precise with natural center placement. The only real disappointment here is that laser blasts often lack volume and heft. That's not always the case, but many blasts experience a tangible sense of flatness and absence of energy that leaves various action scenes sounding a little incomplete. Otherwise, this is a terrific track that, better than most, makes full use of the entire stage, and with a natural precision about it.

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Force Awakens contains all of its supplemental content on a second, dedicated Blu-ray disc. A DVD copy and a Disney digital copy voucher are included with purchase.

• Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey (1080p, 1:09:14 total runtime): A four-part making-of feature (Note that one may be able to read a major spoiler into the description of Chapter Four).
  
  
  • Chapter One: The supplement begins with a discussion of moving the franchise to Disney, bringing J.J. Abrams in to direct, initial project ideas and concepts that helped shape the movie's direction, returning many of the core franchise filmmakers to the project, remaining faithful to the looks and stylings of the original by only supporting practical with digital effects, adding new characters and ensuring they blend well with the established heroes, casting the new leads, and the first cast script read.
  • Chapter Two: This section focuses on filming, beginning with a desert location in Abu Dhabi on day one and moving on to cover shooting on film and the textural benefits thereof; physical preparations for the key parts; a look at the secrets behind BB-8; transitioning the shoot to Pinewood Studios and shooting key scenes on its expansive sets; developing the Poe Dameron, Captain Phasma, and Kylo Ren characters; recreating the Millennium Falcon; introducing Han Solo and Chewbacca into the movie; and Peter Mayhew's work as Chewie.
  • Chapter Three: A look at the new cantina and populating it with new characters, digital work on key characters including Maz Kantana and Snoke, working with R2-D2 and C-3PO, Carrie Fisher's return and acting, and Kylo Ren character details.
  • Chapter Four: Deciding Han Solo's fate, making a key scene pertaining to it, and exploring the themes and consequences thereof; shooting the movie's final scene; and cast and crew final thoughts on the movie and franchise.
• The Story Awakens: The Table Read (1080p, 4:01): Though its title suggests it may be the entire table read, this piece is unfortunately only a brief recap of the event with a few moments of the read interwoven between cast and crew interview snippets.
• Crafting Creatures (1080p, 9:34): A closer look at constructing many of the practical creatures that appear in the film, including Chewbacca, and the human work that brings them to life.
• Building BB-8 (1080p, 6:03): A look at character evolution and design, the droid's place in the movie, crafting the practical models, and the different iterations that are utilized in different situations.
• Blueprint of a Battle: The Snow Fight (1080p, 7:02): An examination of making a climactic lightsaber duel, including set construction and physical preparations for the scene.
• ILM: The Visual Magic of the Force (1080p, 7:55): A quick run-through of how digital effects support all of the movie's practical visuals, with emphasis on some of the iconic spacecraft that appear in the movie.
• John Williams: The Seventh Symphony (1080p, 6:51): A discussion of Williams' iconic work and new material for this movie.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p): Finn and the Villager (0:31), Jakku Message (0:47), X-Wings Prepare for Lightspeed (0:22), Kylo Searches The Falcon (0:50), Snow Speeder Chase (0:48), and Finn Will Be Fine (0:23).
• Force for Change (1080p, 3:22): A look at the charity work born of the film.

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Force Awakens is about reuniting with old friends, catching up with where they've been, and beginning a new journey alongside them. Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher rightly earn top billing -- this is their movie and their franchise -- but in this movie they're proverbially passing the torch to a new generation of heroes in a film that's as much a building block towards the future as were any of the prequels, but this time building towards the unknown rather than the known, going boldly, to borrow from another Abrams-influenced franchise, rather than simply looking back. It's a terrific film, one with many layers comprised of perfectly executed fan service, relatable themes, new directions, old concepts, and precious few reasons to moan and groan. As he did with the Star Trek reboot, Abrams has delivered a knockout of a movie in the most popular franchise cinema has ever seen. Disney's Blu-ray is terrific. Video is outstanding, audio isn't far behind, and the supplements are impressive, though there's certainly room for more in a future special edition. Needless to say, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens is going to be the Blu-ray that defines the entire year, and it earns my highest recommendation.