'THE FORCE AWAKENS' AT 10: THE DUEL!

The Force is fully awakened in Rey as she duels Kylo Ren.

Their friend Han Solo has been murdered before their shocked eyes, and now his slayer, Kylo Ren, has come looking for Rey and Finn in revenge for their heroism against both him and the First Order, whilst Starkiller Base begins its dramatic death throes all around them thanks to Resistance attacks. Amidst the eerie snowfall surroundings, Finn regrettably falls to Ren's superior lightsaber swordplay, but Rey is soon on hand to display her further astonishing skills in the Force and boldly challenges the fallen angel, of which she'll ultimately find the strength and courage to memorably defeat him...

A first for the saga, an atmospheric lightsaber duel in the snow, and a standout scene of drama, action and crowd-pleasing emotion from The Force Awakens.

Finn begins his bold if undisciplined attack on Ren.

Rey continues the fight and shows how the Force has equally awakened within her.

'THE FORCE AWAKENS' AT 10: "CHEWIE, WE'RE HOME!"

A great posed publicity image of Ford as Solo (with Joonas Suotamo as Chewie) on the Falcon set during his first memorable day of filming, prior to unfortunate injuries sustained, at Pinewood Studios.

Unhappy with his character of Han Solo's ultimate contribution to the conclusion of the middle Star Wars saga with Return of the Jedi, I, and I'm sure millions of other fans worldwide back in 1983, were surely convinced that Harrison Ford's involvement with the franchise would be over for good, and that he no longer needed the character of the iconic smuggler to further his already successful career. So what an incredible and joyous surprise it was in 2014 that Ford would return one last time to play Han Solo for The Force Awakens, helping to launch a new trio of saga heroes, and brought back in part due to his prior association with the new film's director J. J. Abrams (the energetic talent who had written his popular 90's drama Regarding Henry) and the intriguing but no less upsetting idea of killing Solo off (which Lucas refused to do back in 1982), slain by his own son, and ultimately bringing-in character closure for the actor. And, of course there was the huge paycheck that would keep Ford in enthused aeroplane flying and fuelling for a good few years to come...

Conferring on an ultimately deleted scene with J.J. Abrams.

Who can ever forget seeing the second trailer for The Force Awakens and hearing the resounding, booming fan cheers when the first footage of Solo and Chewbacca together was shown for the first time... "Chewie.... we're home!" 

Han is soon impressed with the skills of the young Rey.

Han and Chewie on Takodana.

Finn helps his new friends load bombs as they ready to journey to Starkiller Base.

With new friends Rey and Finn on a mission at the dreaded Starkiller Base.

'THE FORCE AWAKENS' AT 10: THE RESISTANCE FIGHTS BACK!

As the galaxy, and its benevolent but harried New Republic, faces fresh turmoil with the first incursions of the dreaded First Order, a small but no less brave group of fighter pilots joins the fight back, headed by their inspirational, talented, though often reckless, leader, Poe Dameron (as played with amiable heroism by then rising star, and long-time Star Wars fan, Oscar Isaac). Soon enough the diverse-piloted Black Squadron is thrust into the greatest battles of new history, including a successful opening aerial conflict against the First Order on the mercenary world of Takodana, liberating rebel heroes Han Solo and Finn in the process, as well bringing vital assistance, against overwhelming odds, to the epic destruction of the enemy's planet killing weapon, Starkiller Base...

Oscar Isaac with his original X-wing on the Jakku exterior set at Pinewood Studios, photographed for Vanity Fair by Annie Leibovitz.

The crowd-pleasing Battle of Takodana begins...

'THE FORCE AWAKENS' AT 10: THE UNLIKELY STORMTROOPER!

Stolen away years before from his unknown family on an unknown Outer Rim world, the Stormtrooper known originally only as FN-2187 would soon abandon his armour amidst the shocking brutality and tyranny of the First Order and its spread-out into the New Republic, refusing to kill innocent people on Jakku, and ultimately becoming a key figure of the recently formed Resistance by the conclusion of The Force Awakens, having found a family of sorts in the mysterious Rey of Jakku, courageous and inspiring top fighter pilot Poe Dameron, amiable droid BB-8, and the seasoned smugger and former Rebel general, Han Solo.

And Finn's adventures, played by John Boyega (who made a fine impression in productions like 24 and Attack the Block before being cast in the character), are only just beginning..

Wielding Luke Skywalker's lightsaber against enemy forces on Takodana.

CELEBRATING TEN YEARS OF 'THE FORCE AWAKENS'!

Art by Tsuneo Sanda.

It debuted to acclaim on its original release back in December 2015, but such positivity to The Force Awakens ten years on seems to have waned somewhat since the arrival of its subsequent sequels. A shame really, as this launch film for Disney/Lucasfilm's new sequel era of the franchise held so much promise and remains a finely crafted movie, with a strong script, fine direction and excellent casting for a new batch of heroes, despite its obvious remake elements linked to the original Star Wars. Like what happened with Daniel Craig's outstanding debut as James Bond 007, 2006's Casino Royale, perhaps the bar was just too high for subsequent films to match it in terms of quality storytelling and character development... 

But let's go back in time to that hopeful promised future of December 2015, and celebrate the then joyous return to a galaxy far, far away...

Happy Tenth Anniversary!

EPISODE VIII: THEIR LAST BATTLE!

As the destruction wrought by Amilyn Holdo's sacrifice near engulfs them within the Supreme Leader's Star Destroyer hangar bay, its chaos heightened further by a certain BB-8 operating an attacking scout walker, the heroic Finn makes a last combative stand against the revenge-fuelled Captain Phasma, who is determined to eliminate the 'rebel scum' once and for all. A great image from a crowd-pleasing but all too brief action scene of The Last Jedi.

EPISODE VII: TIME FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER...

New characters who'd swiftly capture the hearts and imaginations of old and new Star Wars fans with their debut in 2015, the ever-popular Joe Corroney captures Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron, BB-8 and Kylo Ren's saga 'essences' in this great artwork linked to the excellent first teaser trailer to The Force Awakens.

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE ERAVANA INCIDENT!

The joy of being reunited with his beloved Millennium Falcon has been temporarily put on hold for Han Solo and Chewbacca as they discover that old enemies have docked onto their Eravana freighter seeking debt payments, with further complications potentially added linked to the duo's smuggling of rare and highly dangerous Rathtars, in another memorable scene from The Force Awakens.

Behind the scenes of the filming.

CLASSIC IMAGE: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND FREEDOM!

He has the ultimate weapon to use in a lightsaber, but new resistance fighter in the raw Finn still has to conquer his dread of combating former fighting partners in the First Order, particularly Stormtroopers who have declared his actions traitorous, in this action-packed sequence set during the siege of Takodana, another key event of The Force Awakens.

EPISODE IX: THE ALTERNATE ADVENTURE!

On the streets of the First Order controlled capital city of Coruscant, Finn leads a revolution against the evil oppressors and their legions of Stormtroopers, with the help of loyal friend Rose Tico, defector Stormtroopers and an assortment of droids, towards the spectacular end of what might have been Episode IX: the abandoned Colin Trevorrow vision that was Duel of the Fates, as seen in this intriguing concept work.

Leading the charge!

More on the abandoned film here:

Duel of the Fates Animated Short Film - Star Wars Fans Turned Colin Trevorrow's Leaked Script Into a Film

EPISODE VII: DISCOVERED!

Their under floor hiding location too easy to spot, it isn't long before Rey, Finn and BB-8 are discovered by the mysterious arrivals that have recently captured the Millennium Falcon, in a memorable and now classic scene from The Force Awakens.

I loved the return of the oxygen masks first seen worn by Han Solo, Leia and Chewie in The Empire Strikes Back. Whether these were the original props potentially held in the Lucasfilm Archive, or were newly made (most likely), is unknown...

EPISODE VII: DESERT RETURN!

Crash-landed on Jakku and out of his element now that he has defected from the First Order, Finn searches for his new friend Poe Dameron. But did the top Resistance pilot survive the desert impact? A memorable sequence from The Force Awakens.

EPISODE IX: PREPARING FOR EXECUTION!

Their mission to rescue Chewbacca has succeeded but also failed, as Finn, Poe and our Wookiee legend are captured and await execution from a seemingly eager General Hux, in another fun moment from The Rise of Skywalker. The revelation that Hux was leaking info to the Resistance was inevitable, though, after the finale events of The Last Jedi involving the rise of Supreme Leader Kylo Ren.

EPISODE VII: THE PLAYERS OF A NEW SAGA...

A superb launch film whose cultural impact and critical glory was never quite recaptured with subsequent films VIII and IX, the new sequel era Star Wars saga heroes and villains of The Force Awakens are immortalized in this lovely fan art. If anyone knows the artist's name, please get in touch.

EPISODE IX: TRAINED TO RESIST!

Two heroes who abandoned the tyranny and fear of being within the First Order, Finn and his new friend and fellow warrior, Jannah, prepare to attack the heart of the original Empire's hidden forces, using unorthodox and truly unexpected, audience-pleasing battle tactics in the action-packed finale to The Rise of Skywalker.

https://www.starwarsnewsnet.com/2021/08/rumor-john-boyega-could-be-starring-in-a-disney-plus-finn-series.html

EPISODE VII: NURSING CHEWIE!

 

Having only just escaped the grip of a deadly Rathtar, Finn is now back in the relative safety of the Millennium Falcon hold, though soon finds himself under the paws of an angry and wounded wookiee he's trying to tend to, in a fun scene from The Force Awakens. 

EPISODE VII: AWAKE AND FORCE-FUL!

A new destiny for a young and spirited scavenger girl on a world far away from anything, and the beginning of an epic adventure bringing new and old universes of the Star Wars saga together for a triumphant and acclaimed resurrection of the epic franchise in 2015. The Force truly awakens in this terrific fan composition celebrating the film's key characters and revised icon hardware for fans old and new to savour.

EPISODE VII: DRINKING BUDDIES!

The company might not be so hot, but an exhausted Finn's desperate need to quench his thirst far outweighs such worries, in this quirky scene set at the Niima Outpost of Jakku, from The Force Awakens.

EPISODE IX: MAKING PLANS, BUILDING HOPE...

General Leia Organa has sadly gone from the lives of her comrades in war, but the struggle to once more bring peace to the galaxy continues- do or die! Poe Dameron may at first doubt his abilities as a Resistance leader, especially after all the problems prior emanated from their prior Battle of Crait defeat, but now his spirited, rallying dedication to the cause shines anew, in retaliation to the state of the fully awakened Galactic Empire, in this ultimately stirring sequence from The Rise of Skywalker.

Bestselling author Rebecca Roanhorse's highly readable adventure set between the epic storylines of The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, chronicling the important team re-building events for Poe Dameron and the Resistance (whilst featuring the fan-favourite return of Wedge Antilles!): Resistance Reborn, has now debuted in UK Arrow paperback.

AFICIONADO's original review:

https://starwarsaficionado.blogspot.com/2019/12/aficionado-review-resistance-reborn.html

Get Resistance Reborn here: 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Resistance-Reborn-Star-Rebecca-Roanhorse/dp/0593130138/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=resistance+reborn&qid=1600452338&sr=8-1

EPISODE VII: THE FINN FACTOR!

The Stormtrooper who became a hero, and a hero who got to wield the legendary lightsaber of none other than the mythical Luke Skywalker! Finn, no longer FN-2187, was the ultimate story distraction, in the best way, during The Force Awakens key publicity/marketing, cleverly deflecting us away from the crucial reveal by film's end that it would instead be Rey who'd become the custodian of the Jedi weapon with the next films of the sequel trilogy. Interestingly, by the time of The Rise of Skywalker, Finn has a welcome touch of Force ability about him, emotionally registering the near death of Rey whilst she defeats the Emperor.