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Star Wars: The Last Jedi

12/20/2017

4 Comments

 

A-

Directed by Rian Johnson

Starring Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, and Adam Driver
​
Review by Drew Landry
Picture

​​In the ongoing saga of George Lucas’ Star Wars, the eighth episode sets itself apart from the rest.  In The Last Jedi, homage is subtly paid to older saga moments and characters as well as directors Rian Johnson’s and Lucas’ previous works and mentors, which is not new from the previous film, but this one is more complex and thought provoking than any other in the series.
​
The Last Jedi immediately continues from episode seven, The Force Awakens.  Viewers get an answer from Luke Skywalker as Rey presents him with his old lightsaber, which may or may not be predictable but it is fitting.
The film largely revolves around two stories, First Order’s cat and mouse game with the Resistance and Kylo Ren’s internal struggle.  The Last Jedi’s director, Johnson, does a great job of telling the story as to why Ben Solo became Kylo Ren and why Luke Skywalker ran away. 

As learned from its absence in the prequels, Star Wars must have the “fun” element.  And it is brought by Resistance fighter pilot Poe Dameron and his droid BB8.  The two find ways to cut the tension and make the heavy scenes light without losing their powerful meaning. Viewers are also treated to a new set of animals that are cute and fun but not Ewok annoying.

Finn, the defected Storm Trooper, and a new character go on a mission that brings about a long-awaited confrontation. 

As with every Star Wars film, a lightsaber fight takes place and The Last Jedi is no exception.  The fight scene is stellar.  It grabs your attention and does not let go until the end. It could easily rival Obi – Wan and Qui – Gon’s fight with Darth Maul from Episode I.

The visual effects and production design are stellar.  The varied life forms, space scenes, and Luke’s island are Oscar winning worthy.

There are a few obvious “eye rolling” moments but they do not fully take away from the film.  What hurts the film in terms of quality, however, is its length.   The Last Jedi is about twenty to twenty – five minutes too long.  There are unnecessary parts and they drag down the film. 

Regardless of that, the film does not leave viewers with definite answers about what is to come.  That quality belongs to Empire Strikes Back, which is the best of the original three Star Wars  films.  Does The Last Jedi’s ending make it comparable to Empire? Only in that regard, but as a film?  No.  The Last Jedi combines elements of Return of the Jedi with Empire and makes for an entertaining, thrilling, compelling, complex, and good film but Empire still has its Sith choke hold on the Star Wars franchise.

Worth watching and re-watching.
​
Grade: A-
4 Comments
Sean
12/20/2017 01:28:17 pm

This movie was great, the internet can eat a dick not liking it because it didn't conform to your preconceived theories. A moment or 2 were a stretch but we're debating the limits of magical powers here. Last Jedi belongs in consideration with Empire for best of the series, obviously I'll need to watch it 15 or so more times to definitively rank it on top. Full disclosure, the moment Braden's mind was completely blown will for sure elevate this film in my memory but still...

A

Reply
Jon
12/20/2017 05:49:41 pm

Spoiler guesses for Braden's mind being blown:



Snoke bisection?

Reply
Bobby
12/20/2017 11:04:21 pm

I write this as I sit in the theater waiting for the Carrie Fisher dedication after the credits... (Which never came... I was lied to!)

Any extreme in this movie is probably wrong. It's not objectively great, but it's even further away from horrible. It was fun, and the best parts were fantastic. Snoke's death was a standout scene within the entire series... Even pretty much knowing Kylo would turn on him. Even better that they didn't just bring him to the light side.

I feel like they tried a bit too much for comic relief at times, but more often than not... They nailed it.

More than anything, I think Luke's role and action we're exactly what the film and story needed, even amongst a meh overall plot.

I'm at a B to B+ here... But it's something I want to watch again and like more.

Reply
Jon
12/21/2017 02:38:47 am

I'll write a Kissel-sized review eventually, but in the meantime, this was a better script than a film. I have a lot of admiration for Rian Johnson sticking his thumb in the eye of angry nerds and Redditors who forget how clumsy and hollow and mercenary this franchise is. Oh, you want to know who Snoke is? Fuck you, that's who he is. You want to know who Rey's parents are? Nameless space hillbillies, go fuck yourself. Popping the bubble of self-importance that surrounds Star Wars is admirable, but if the primary emotion a film is dragging out of me is schaudenfraude, something's not quite right. I might enjoy it more on a rewatch that's probably not going to happen, but honestly, the reason I saw this movie on opening weekend is because I wanted to be able to scroll through Twitter. B- for ambition.

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