I'm going to be honest: I went into the new Star Wars movie — officially titled "Star Wars: Echoes of the Force" — with low expectations. The sequel trilogy left a bad taste in my mouth. The streaming shows have been hit or miss (Andor was amazing, but Obi-Wan was a mess). And the last theatrical release, 2023's "Rise of the Rebellion," was fine but forgettable.
So when I walked into the theater on Thursday night — opening night, with a crowd of people in cosplay and a guy behind me who was clearly seeing this for the fourth time already — I was ready to be disappointed.
I wasn't. Well, mostly not. Let's talk about it without spoiling anything important.
The Story: Familiar But Fresh Enough
"Echoes of the Force" takes place about 50 years after the events of "The Rise of Skywalker." The galaxy is rebuilding. The New Republic is old news. There's a new threat called the "Veridian Council" — a coalition of systems that's using technology to suppress Force-sensitive individuals. Sound familiar? Yeah, it's basically the Empire 2.0.
But here's the thing: the execution matters more than the premise. And the execution here is genuinely good.
The story centers on two new characters: Kael, a former Jedi student who left the order after a tragedy, and Mira, a smuggler with a hidden past. Their dynamic works. It's not quite Han and Leia, but it's closer than any pairing we've had since the original trilogy. The chemistry feels earned, not written by committee.
The pacing is the biggest surprise. At 2 hours and 28 minutes, it's not short. But it doesn't drag. Each scene serves a purpose. The first act sets up the world and characters efficiently. The second act has actual tension. The third act is a roller coaster that left the audience applauding three separate times.
I won't lie — there are moments that feel like fan service. A certain character from the animated shows shows up and gets a hero moment that feels a little too convenient. But it's earned enough that I didn't mind.
The Visuals: This Is What IMAX Was Made For
I saw it in IMAX, and I'm glad I did. This is the best-looking Star Wars movie since "The Last Jedi." Maybe better.
The space battles are incredible. There's a sequence where a Star Destroyer emerges from a gas giant's atmosphere that genuinely made my jaw drop. The cinematography by Greig Fraser (who did "Dune") is stunning. Every frame looks like a painting.
The practical effects are back in a big way. The aliens feel real — they're not all CGI messes. The sets feel lived-in. The droids are charming. There's a bar scene that reminded me of the original Mos Eisley cantina, full of weird creatures and strange languages. It's the kind of worldbuilding that made me fall in love with Star Wars as a kid.
The lightsaber fights are... fine. They're not as good as the prequel trilogy's choreography, but they're better than the sequel trilogy's shaky-cam nonsense. There's a duel in a collapsing mine that's genuinely tense and creative.
The Performances: A Mixed Bag
The new lead, played by relative unknown Amara Singh, is fantastic. She brings a vulnerability to Kael that makes you care about her journey. The smuggler, played by Ryan Gosling (yes, that Ryan Gosling), is doing his usual thing — charming, slightly detached, perfect for the role. He's not stretching himself, but he doesn't need to.
The villain, played by Cate Blanchett, is the weak link. She's a great actress, but the character is underwritten. She's evil because... she wants power? That's it? We never really understand her motivation. It's the same problem the sequel trilogy had with Snoke and Palpatine. A good villain needs a reason to be evil, not just a desire for control.
There are cameos from legacy characters that I won't spoil. Some work, some feel forced. One in particular — involving a certain green Jedi — made the entire theater cheer. Another — involving a character from "Solo" — got an awkward silence.
I'll say this: the new droid companion, designated BX-7, is the best Star Wars droid since BB-8. It communicates through a series of beeps and projections that are both funny and surprisingly emotional. There's a moment near the end where BX-7 makes a sacrifice that... okay, I'm getting emotional just thinking about it. Fine, I'll say it: I cried a little.
The Verdict: Go See It on the Big Screen
"Echoes of the Force" is not a masterpiece. It's not "The Empire Strikes Back." It's not even "Andor" levels of storytelling. But it's a genuinely good Star Wars movie that understands what makes this universe special. It has heart, adventure, and a sense of fun that's been missing from recent entries.
Is it perfect? No. The villain is weak. The middle act has one too many chase sequences. An emotional beat involving a character's death doesn't land because we haven't spent enough time with them.
But here's what matters: I left the theater smiling. I wanted to talk about it with my friends. I'm already planning to see it again next week. In a franchise that's been struggling to find its footing, that's more than enough.
Go see it. Sit in the middle of the theater. Turn your phone off. Let yourself be a kid again for two and a half hours. You'll be glad you did.
