Star Wars fans flocked to Emirates Palace on Wednesday to watch the regional premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Such was the clamour to be among the first to see the film, that fans descended on Abu Dhabi from far, far away.
The critical view has, until now, been almost entirely benevolent. Writing in this newspaper yesterday, James Mottram called the film “visceral and vivid” and awarded it five stars. Given the hype that surrounds the movie and the residual affection for the franchise, it is almost certain to break box office records. Whether it is regarded as a “classic” remains to be seen.
For now though, we have the distinct pleasure of enjoying the film as the hottest of commodities and for its partial setting in this country. Star Wars follows a well-trodden path of big box-office films using the UAE as a location. Long may this trend continue. Every time Abu Dhabi features in a movie blockbuster, it only serves to raise this country’s profile even further.
