Director: Rian Johnson
Cast Headliners: Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, more
Original Release Date: December 15th, 2017
It’s
crazy to think that Star Wars has not just been back after a long absence, not
just overall great and worthy, but has reached Episode 8 of the sequel trilogy.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi has the “middle chapter” aspect to answer in the
franchise which defined the darker middle chapter in the first place. It’s sprawling,
it’s epic, it’s action-packed, it’s emotional, it’s not perfect but it’s a heck
of a ride. As Luke says the film “does not go the way one thinks”… going
against audience expectations for at times worse yet for the most part better.
It’s old, it’s new, and it’s something beyond.
Taking
the story back to the main continuation of the saga after last year’s Rogue
One, this is next set of complications in the conflict of the evil First Order
and the Resistance. The base of D’Qar is under attack as an evacuation is
underway. It’s a sequence that perhaps crystallizes the essence of both the
film and Disney’s era as it has humor both fun and awkward, beautiful cosmic scenery
in its exhilarating action (iMAX 3d as always adds much) and dramatic stakes. The
situation of bombers and space cruisers could be the climax of some other
movies but here it’s just the start, as is tradition.
Really,
the main arc of the plot picks up literally where 2015’s The Force Awakens
ended. Rey (Daisy Ridley) is delivering Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) his
lightsaber back on the remote island planet of Ach-To to both gain his help in
the war and training / answers for herself. Suffice to say, this does not go
smooth. Luke is stubborn and regretful and the greatness of the film is what it
takes for him to be ready for the world again.
There’s also Rey’s visions, notably her distant communication via magic
Force bond to Kylo Ren (Adam Driver).
Everything
about this “A story” arc is wonderful. Daisy Ridley’s Rey is as charming,
funny, and fierce as she was in the last film. More than ever, the stakes at
play have her character go to some dark and conflicted places as she moves
along the path of the Jedi. Adam Driver
was amazing as Kylo in the last film and he’s even more incredible this time in
his evilness and doubling down on the moral ambiguity. In a sense, he’s just as
much of a protagonist as Rey. It’s as if
the hero’s journey of the OT of films and the angsty confliction of the PT
happens at once. Paired together, hating each other, trying to find the hope of
the dark / light in each other between these two characters is memorable,
emotional, epic…particularly ramping up as the plot goes on. They are each
mirrored in a mentor, although these range in impact.
Almost
the titular character of the movie is the legendary Luke Skywalker. Luckily, he
says more than the nothing he had in the last film. He says a lot, and
important things at that. Hamill is… so great in his return. Now this will
likely be a point of contention amongst past fans …forever, but it’s the way
his story led in that he’s far from the perfect hero anymore. This old man Luke
is broken, regretful, and likely depressed. But finds a new hope. It’s ironic that his existence has ended up
much like his old masters Yoda and Obi-Wan in that he’s a homeless wanderer on
this isle who has eschewed the Force and its trappings along with the world as
a whole. This is due to some shocking
revelations about him and Kylo Ren / Ben Solo that is handled for the most part
profoundly. Hamill’s sorrow is felt but so too eventually is his confidence and
power. He’s wise and or a spark of his old heroic charisma when the time comes.
He’s even funnier than ever, a sign of how Hamill has grown since the OT via
his voice and other work. It’s great to have him as such a key and important
part, especially with Rey, Kylo, and others (including some really nice reunion
moments with R2-D2 and Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo)). It may be filled with a
couple bits of controversy and plot decision to his extent of involvement but
one cannot fault the long wanted return of him to the plot.
If Rey has Luke to look up to, Kylo has Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis). Snoke, even more realistically captured via CGI mocap) is chillingly evil and powerful. His evil would make Palpatine proud while at the same time having a unique sense of arrogance to him. It’s a moderate shame that his presence is only slightly more than the prior film and more into his motivations isn’t deeply explored but Star Wars is often, and moreso with Disney, about the current stakes than the background lore (at times) so its logical. The aesthetics of his headquarters and red Praetorian guards are also imposing and impressive.
If Rey has Luke to look up to, Kylo has Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis). Snoke, even more realistically captured via CGI mocap) is chillingly evil and powerful. His evil would make Palpatine proud while at the same time having a unique sense of arrogance to him. It’s a moderate shame that his presence is only slightly more than the prior film and more into his motivations isn’t deeply explored but Star Wars is often, and moreso with Disney, about the current stakes than the background lore (at times) so its logical. The aesthetics of his headquarters and red Praetorian guards are also imposing and impressive.
While all
of the epic Jedi / Sith story is going on and before it joins them, the likes
of the Resistance have their own stories to undergo that are not quite up to
the heights but have their gems. General Leia (Carrie Fisher) commands a fleet
of ships engaged in a constant struggle with those of General Hux (Domnhall
Gleeson). There’s familiar characters like BB-8, C3PO, Admiral Ackbar, Finn
(John Boyega), and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) who attempt to solve the stakes at
hand. These are joined by new faces including Vice Admiral Holdo (Laura Dern)
and Rose (Kelly Marie Tran).
There’s
some excitement and twists to be had (as across the film) but the least of
these happens amidst the space. So to as happened with past SW films, the less
powerful characters get involved in their own struggles that tend to have a bit
of mixed importance. Leia, Poe, and Holdo struggle how to lead the Resistance
while Finn and Poe take the advice of Maz Kanata (Lupita Nyongo) to find the
support on the planet Canto Bight.
Through
these at times over-CGI-and-joke packed locations the characters shine through.
Of course it’s unfortunate that we lost Fisher in our world, but in Star Wars
she is her best Leia since the old days..much more than TFA. She is just as
sassy and wise as the old days while getting a bit more into the literal action
this time. Isaac’s Poe too has an
increased role, having some roadblocks to his responsibility amidst his
wisecracks and shots fired. Dern, ever
effective, has some cool mean-ness as Holdo although some questionable plot
happens but she and her dialogue is effective. Gleeson’s villainous Hux is just
as evil and even slightly more humorous this time.
Boyega
as Finn continues to charm, and has some funny and good interactions with Tran’s
Rose. She is a more civilian-level take than anyone else and has her own
moments of humor and emotion. But their plot to a casino is, while packed with
alien galactic wonder, a bit pointless and meandering. There’s a crossover with
the shady, stammering criminal DJ (Benicio Del Toro) and the return of Captain
Phasma (Gwendoline Christie) to add some excitement (particularly when plot
threads converge) but it feels filler with some silly concepts compared to the
epic war and Jedi stories.
At times the humor and seriousness clash with each other ..jokes to serious and back, although this is more of a sign of a post - MCU era than the films fault ..but there's effective of each that add to the wild fun or drama depending. And the Porgs , adorable flying puppy bird creatures, are always a charm. This movie feels like true Star Wars in it's tapestry of attributes. One in particular takes one back to the past ..
At times the humor and seriousness clash with each other ..jokes to serious and back, although this is more of a sign of a post - MCU era than the films fault ..but there's effective of each that add to the wild fun or drama depending. And the Porgs , adorable flying puppy bird creatures, are always a charm. This movie feels like true Star Wars in it's tapestry of attributes. One in particular takes one back to the past ..
There’s
plot holes, there’s some surprising revelations but the good is good. As a
audio-visual standpoint, the Star Wars experience has never been as immersive.
Director Rian Johnson, in turn with his wild ideas of what the force can do,
brings fantastic cinematography, backgrounds (paticuliary the red and white salt of Crait...unique enough from Hoth ) , and visuals. The action is so
great, when it shows up (bearing in mind this is more of a nuanced “Empire” of
the era so far) whether in space or on the ground. The music by John Williams is once again, and
more than ever, subdued but some re-used pieces adds to the scenes amidst a couple
choice highlights. For Johnson’s sake,
if this didn’t have the frame of reference of being Star Wars his effort would
be commendable in itself, and added to Star Wars its wild but mostly works.
This movie has
been met with controversy, from the highest of highs to some vehement fan hate
or disappointment, with of course all levels of in between. That’s likely
because it’s the most fresh, different Star Wars to date in the post-Lucas era…
filled with as much mysteries and questions than answers and excitement. The
great is so great though, and even in its confusion its vastly entertaining. In
time hopefully people can see its risks as strides. For they are in its epic,
emotional ride. 9.78 out of 10
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