While I am still gathering my thoughts about The Force Awakens, one of my favorite things to come out of the JJ Abrams sequel was the presence of actual Stormtrooper armor. This may seem like a relatively small issue, but the unnecessary CGI Clone Troopers from the Prequel Trilogy look completely ridiculous.

Even in close shots, George Lucas insisted on digitally painting armor instead of using physical props. I don’t think we will ever know why Lucas decided to go that route; but I am not sure how dedicating a visual effects artist to create armor was a cost savings over vaccum forming some armor. By the end of Episode II: Attack of the Clones, it got to a point where we were just watching a bunch of pixels voiced by Temura Morrison shooting at something else completely made up of pixels.

The above, in-camera, pre-SFX shot from Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith speaks volumes to one of what I feel is one of the most glaring problems that has aged the prequel films significantly since their theatrical release. In contrast, look at this photo from the production of The Force Awakens where John Boyega is actually in full on First Order Stormtrooper armor. Having an actor in armor, on camera lends such an authenticity to the film. One that eluded the prequels but was undoubtedly one of my favorite things to come from The Force Awakens.