"I only know one truth. It's time for the Jedi... to end." - Luke Skywalker
Chances are by the time this review is posted, you will have already seen the newest entry in the Star Wars saga. If you haven't, consider this your spoiler warning. I don't think I can truly say how I feel about this particular film without discussing major plot points and characters, and that's down to the fact that Star Wars: The Last Jedi is a completely different entry in what's perhaps the biggest and most popular film series ever made. The reception of this film from fans and critics is one of the most divisive I've ever seen, and that's something I really didn't expect. As always, I'll be sticking to my own opinion and ignore being swayed by what other's think of the film. That being said, let's dive into the maze that is Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
After a hard earned victory against the sinister First Order at the end of The Force Awakens (2015), the brave Resistance now find themselves on the back foot. With the armies of the First Order, led by the mysterious Snoke (Andy Serkis) closing in, it's up to Finn (John Boyega), Poe (Oscar Isaac) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher, in her final film role) to hatch a plan to save what's left of their side of the fight. Meanwhile, Rey (Daisy Ridley) has finally come face-to-face with Jedi Master Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), and hopes that she can convince him to re-join the conflict and confront his former student, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). As Rey learns the ways of the Force, she is conflicted with whom she can entirely trust, with neither Luke or Kylo seeming entirely as she first thought...
One of the joys of The Force Awakens was seeing how the new characters interacted with the classic Star Wars heroes, and The Last Jedi continues this effectively with the teacher/student relationship between Luke and Rey. Her training scenes are some of the film's standout moments, and director Rian Johnson adds his own spin on portraying the effects of the Force. During a meditation, we are able to see what Rey sees, which is shown through several edits of different parts of the island, which I found to be a particularly intriguing choice. In terms of Rey's progression as a Jedi, we see her growing into a more confident, independent warrior, even besting Luke in combat in one scene. I really enjoyed Rey's introduction in the last film, and her journey continues to be the most fascinating part of this trilogy for me. Mark Hamill effortlessly brings his charisma as Luke Skywalker back to the series, but this is an altogether different take on the character. Being that he feels he failed the Jedi order in not stopping the rise of Kylo Ren, Luke is now a distant, tragic figure. His trademark optimism is completely absent, something which Mark Hamill was initially concerned about. For me, it was cool to see a new interpretation of the character, as so much time has passed since Return of the Jedi (1983). However, some moments are a little jarring, such as him comedically throwing away his old lightsaber, which isn't entirely how I think Luke would react, regardless of age.
The other heroes are a bit hit-and-miss, but thankfully the returning Finn and Poe are still a delight. Poe's role is greatly expanded in this film, with us finally seeing him becoming a leader and willing to do whatever's necessary to help the Resistance. I felt like we barley got to see him in The Force Awakens, but The Last Jedi has definitely made me feel more of an attachment to the character. John Boyega is still as witty and likeable as ever, with Finn given an important quest to find an ally to help them escape the clutches of the First Order. Finn adds levity and charm to this quest, which is definitely needed considering his companion, Rose (Kelly Marie Tran), isn't much fun. I found her character to be a bit all over the place, with her quickly forming an attachment to Finn despite her first scene with him ending with her electrocuting him for attempting to flee the fight. She never seems to lighten up, even in the company of such charismatic people like Finn and Poe, and so I never really found myself caring for her too much.
If you thought Kylo Ren was conflicted in The Force Awakens, you haven't seen anything yet. Just about the most angst-y character created for Star Wars, Ren aka Ben Solo's journey to the Dark Side is complex and engrossing. Having murdered his father and "given everything" to embrace the darkness, his master, Snoke, sees him as a failure. This makes Ren more determined than ever to thwart the Resistance and become "the new Vader". I really enjoyed the dynamic between Ren and Snoke, especially Snoke referring to Ren at one point as being "just a child in a mask". However, just as I was looking forward to seeing more of them together and possibly finding out more about Snoke, he is killed off and Ren becomes the new Supreme Leader. Whilst his death scene is pretty cool, I feel Snoke is ultimately a missed opportunity. He appears to be strong with the Force, but we never learn of how he corrupted Ben Solo or where he came from. Even though these things can still be explained in the next film, it would have fleshed out his character whilst he was still alive. And speaking of wasting characrers, Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie) is back for a brief encounter with Finn and is then quickly killed off, too. Having done very little in the first film, only having her appear in one sequence and then being killed makes the character look like a bit of a joke.
The final performance I should mention is of course the late Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia. The main thing I want to talk about is her final scene with Luke, which was a very special moment. This is her standout moment in these new films for me, as she plays the emotional aspect of the reunion with her brother very well. I still feel using her american accent doesn't quite suit the character, but this is only a minor complaint. She does have other notable scenes, one in particular splitting the fans as to whether it was awesome or the most ridiculous thing they've ever seen. After being blasted out into space, Leia uses the force to pull herself back to safety, and soon recovers completely. Whilst it is pretty silly, I personally didn't have a problem seeing Leia use the Force, as she is after all the sister of Luke Skywalker and has most likely learned to use it between Episodes 6 and 7. Maybe it would have been better to not have her use it to do something as far-fetched as surviving the vacuum of space, but then again, this is a series with laser swords and a 900 year old little green muppet being able to do flips and levitate ships, so I guess I can't complain too much.
Much has been said about the film's run-time and whether it was necessary for the film to be two and a half hours long. I wasn't too concerned, considering the prequel films were all close to that run-time, and surely it would make the film feel grander? Well, yes and no. There are moments here that truly deserve a lot of time dedicated to them, such as Rey's Jedi training, and other sequences that over stay their welcome. The subplot of Finn and Rose searching for a "master codebreaker" to help them escape from the First Order drags at times, and a lot of it feels more like something you'd see in a Harry Potter film than in Star Wars. Whilst the chase scene in this subplot is well done, it could easily be cut from the film and you wouldn't feel like anything was missing, and maybe the film would flow better as a result. With so much drama between Rey, Luke and Kylo, the stuff with the Resistance doesn't feel as important as it should, despite the performances of Isaac and Boyega.
Rian Johnson certainly deserves credit for being willing to take risks with The Last Jedi. He's created a Star Wars film that is truly his own. Some of these gambles didn't sit too well with me the first time around, but after a second viewing, I appreciated them more. The heroes of this new trilogy are quickly becoming my favourite part about them,and I also look forward to seeing what the next stage in Kylo Ren's development is. Whilst some moments feel a little bloated or naff, The Last Jedi has enough charm and drama to keep you invested in the characters and story. It may not be as satisfactory an experience as The Force Awakens, but it's still a fun and intriguing adventure, and a worthy addition to the saga.
One of the joys of The Force Awakens was seeing how the new characters interacted with the classic Star Wars heroes, and The Last Jedi continues this effectively with the teacher/student relationship between Luke and Rey. Her training scenes are some of the film's standout moments, and director Rian Johnson adds his own spin on portraying the effects of the Force. During a meditation, we are able to see what Rey sees, which is shown through several edits of different parts of the island, which I found to be a particularly intriguing choice. In terms of Rey's progression as a Jedi, we see her growing into a more confident, independent warrior, even besting Luke in combat in one scene. I really enjoyed Rey's introduction in the last film, and her journey continues to be the most fascinating part of this trilogy for me. Mark Hamill effortlessly brings his charisma as Luke Skywalker back to the series, but this is an altogether different take on the character. Being that he feels he failed the Jedi order in not stopping the rise of Kylo Ren, Luke is now a distant, tragic figure. His trademark optimism is completely absent, something which Mark Hamill was initially concerned about. For me, it was cool to see a new interpretation of the character, as so much time has passed since Return of the Jedi (1983). However, some moments are a little jarring, such as him comedically throwing away his old lightsaber, which isn't entirely how I think Luke would react, regardless of age.
The other heroes are a bit hit-and-miss, but thankfully the returning Finn and Poe are still a delight. Poe's role is greatly expanded in this film, with us finally seeing him becoming a leader and willing to do whatever's necessary to help the Resistance. I felt like we barley got to see him in The Force Awakens, but The Last Jedi has definitely made me feel more of an attachment to the character. John Boyega is still as witty and likeable as ever, with Finn given an important quest to find an ally to help them escape the clutches of the First Order. Finn adds levity and charm to this quest, which is definitely needed considering his companion, Rose (Kelly Marie Tran), isn't much fun. I found her character to be a bit all over the place, with her quickly forming an attachment to Finn despite her first scene with him ending with her electrocuting him for attempting to flee the fight. She never seems to lighten up, even in the company of such charismatic people like Finn and Poe, and so I never really found myself caring for her too much.
If you thought Kylo Ren was conflicted in The Force Awakens, you haven't seen anything yet. Just about the most angst-y character created for Star Wars, Ren aka Ben Solo's journey to the Dark Side is complex and engrossing. Having murdered his father and "given everything" to embrace the darkness, his master, Snoke, sees him as a failure. This makes Ren more determined than ever to thwart the Resistance and become "the new Vader". I really enjoyed the dynamic between Ren and Snoke, especially Snoke referring to Ren at one point as being "just a child in a mask". However, just as I was looking forward to seeing more of them together and possibly finding out more about Snoke, he is killed off and Ren becomes the new Supreme Leader. Whilst his death scene is pretty cool, I feel Snoke is ultimately a missed opportunity. He appears to be strong with the Force, but we never learn of how he corrupted Ben Solo or where he came from. Even though these things can still be explained in the next film, it would have fleshed out his character whilst he was still alive. And speaking of wasting characrers, Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie) is back for a brief encounter with Finn and is then quickly killed off, too. Having done very little in the first film, only having her appear in one sequence and then being killed makes the character look like a bit of a joke.
The final performance I should mention is of course the late Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia. The main thing I want to talk about is her final scene with Luke, which was a very special moment. This is her standout moment in these new films for me, as she plays the emotional aspect of the reunion with her brother very well. I still feel using her american accent doesn't quite suit the character, but this is only a minor complaint. She does have other notable scenes, one in particular splitting the fans as to whether it was awesome or the most ridiculous thing they've ever seen. After being blasted out into space, Leia uses the force to pull herself back to safety, and soon recovers completely. Whilst it is pretty silly, I personally didn't have a problem seeing Leia use the Force, as she is after all the sister of Luke Skywalker and has most likely learned to use it between Episodes 6 and 7. Maybe it would have been better to not have her use it to do something as far-fetched as surviving the vacuum of space, but then again, this is a series with laser swords and a 900 year old little green muppet being able to do flips and levitate ships, so I guess I can't complain too much.
Much has been said about the film's run-time and whether it was necessary for the film to be two and a half hours long. I wasn't too concerned, considering the prequel films were all close to that run-time, and surely it would make the film feel grander? Well, yes and no. There are moments here that truly deserve a lot of time dedicated to them, such as Rey's Jedi training, and other sequences that over stay their welcome. The subplot of Finn and Rose searching for a "master codebreaker" to help them escape from the First Order drags at times, and a lot of it feels more like something you'd see in a Harry Potter film than in Star Wars. Whilst the chase scene in this subplot is well done, it could easily be cut from the film and you wouldn't feel like anything was missing, and maybe the film would flow better as a result. With so much drama between Rey, Luke and Kylo, the stuff with the Resistance doesn't feel as important as it should, despite the performances of Isaac and Boyega.
Rian Johnson certainly deserves credit for being willing to take risks with The Last Jedi. He's created a Star Wars film that is truly his own. Some of these gambles didn't sit too well with me the first time around, but after a second viewing, I appreciated them more. The heroes of this new trilogy are quickly becoming my favourite part about them,and I also look forward to seeing what the next stage in Kylo Ren's development is. Whilst some moments feel a little bloated or naff, The Last Jedi has enough charm and drama to keep you invested in the characters and story. It may not be as satisfactory an experience as The Force Awakens, but it's still a fun and intriguing adventure, and a worthy addition to the saga.
