Catching up with Palisadians

The Post Goes Through Past Shows and Movies Featuring Locals

By LILY TINOCO | Reporter

There is only one other sci-fi film (to date) that I can watch over and over besides “Blade Runner 2049” and that’s “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens.”

The 2015 film, directed by Palisadian J.J. Abrams, became an unlikely favorite for me. For whatever reason, I was completely against seeing the film when it was released, but a close friend invited me to see it in IMAX so I saw it once … then again … and again, and again.

I couldn’t get enough, I had to introduce my siblings, my other friends and family to it. And maybe it was the experience—I’m a sucker for watching films in IMAX—but take my word for it, it’s phenomenal.

I was wildly impressed by the acting, the production, the storyline—just about everything. I wouldn’t change a single thing about the film.

Daisy Ridley made her feature film debut in “The Force Awakens” as Rey, a scavenger-turned-Jedi, and her performance stole my heart. She was the heroine in a predominantly male cast, redefining the legacy Star Wars leaves behind. She became a symbol of female strength, a force to be reckoned with.

Adam Driver, like Ridley, is another actor that I’ve grown appreciation for since watching the newer Star Wars films. He was cast as the villainous Kylo Ren, the only child of Han Solo and Princess Leia. Rey and Kylo Ren are in constant battle, nodding to the question of which is more powerful (you’ll have to watch the films to find out).

In “The Force Awakens,” Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher reprise their roles as Han Solo and Princess Leia. Actors Oscar Isaac as Poe and John Boyega as Finn also joined the franchise.

Following “The Force Awakens,” “The Last Jedi” was released in 2017 and directed by Rian Johnson. Abrams returned as the director for the final film, “The Rise of Skywalker,” which was released in 2019.

All three films are impressive and significant in unfolding the storyline, but my stance is firm and I can assure you that “The Force Awakens” is the stand-out of the trilogy. It keeps you on the edge of your seat and wanting more.

The film has a runtime of two hours and 18 minutes, and is rated PG-13 primarily for sci-fi, action violence. “The Force Awakens” is currently available for streaming on Disney+.