I was finally able to catch a second screening of THE FORCE AWAKENS today at a matinee showing. It was good to have some time to process a lot of what I had seen on opening day and go into this showing being able to watch for some very specific things. First? The emotional aspect of the film still rang through very well. The new cast is really good. And I think Harrison Ford really delivered.
There's been a bunch of discussion about Carrie Fisher's performance since the movie came out. Having seen the movie again, it seems that her role was very deliberately focused where it needed to be. I still got the sense that Leia and Han retreated personally following Ben Solo turning to the Dark Side, and they both came across as damaged people.
The Force vision that Rey has is clearly one of the high points of the movie. Seeing that hallway from Cloud City still gets me. And Kylo Ren killing what I presume to be a Jedi, and standing amid the bodies with the other Knights of Ren? I was paying keen attention this time! I heard the Obi-Wan voices, but I didn't catch the Yoda voice.
Another thing? It seems very clear that Kylo Ren, possibly Snoke, Han Solo, Leia and Luke all realize who Rey really is. I think that there's a strong likelihood that Rey was one of the students at the fallen Jedi Temple from her Force vision. And it seems that she may have been one of the only survivors.
Last? I took a good long look when Rey got to Ahch-To and presented the Skywalker lightsaber to Luke. I was able to see his robotic hand, and his clothes. And it looks like he's got a white & tan version of the outfit that he wore when he arrived at Jabba's palace in RETURN OF THE JEDI.