Terminal Lance “The Force Awakens”

There’s actually some pretty common vernacular in the Marine Corps that relates directly to Star Wars. I’m sure literally every female Marine in the Corps has been compounded with wookiee jokes this week, as it is a common term used to describe them amongst the males.

I went to a late showing of The Force Awakens last night, and I’m going to do my best to write a spoiler-free thing here.

The long and short of it is that it’s a great Star Wars movie.

It does everything it’s supposed to. There’s awesome dog fighting scenes amongst X-Wings and TIE Fighters, there’s lightsabers, there’s the force, there’s funny and charming moments. It’s really a great movie to see by any standard, and if you’re a Star Wars fan it hits all the notes you’ll want it to (who isn’t one these days?).

I think one of my favorite things about the film is that it adds some character to the Storm Troopers. Fin, the Bowe Berghdal motherfucker that abandons his duties to join the filthy terrorists, one of the central characters, is a Storm Trooper given an actual identity, instead of the faceless cannon-fodder these sorts of characters usually are. It’s weird to think that Marines probably more likely identify with the Storm Trooper than anyone else in the Star Wars universe. They’re the grunts, they patrol around the base, they get treated like shit, their gear sucks, etc. This film, more than any other in the Star Wars universe, gives the Storm Troopers some character, which you’ll likely enjoy if you’re anything like me.

The First Order, the new replacement for the Empire, actually seems relatively competent throughout the movie, which is actually really cool to see. I’ve written before about how the  Post 9/11 generation has informed the movie scene, and this one actually isn’t an exception. The Storm Troopers call in air strikes, are organized, and actually dangerous.

If I had any one singular complaint about the movie, it’s just that it sticks too closely to the format of A New Hope. Granted, it’s a pretty perfect movie to copy, but about halfway through the film you know exactly where it’s going to go, and it doesn’t even attempt to steer course really. Still, if you liked A New Hope, you’ll most likely like The Force Awakens.

Also, props to Adam Driver, the Marine playing Kylo Ren. He’s a phenomenal actor and I really loved him in this role.

Bottom line: I give it 9 out of 10 fucks. Go see it!