I’m back.
I thought the perfect movie to review is the most anticipated film of 2017: Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi, episode VIII of the Star Wars film series. When I say Rian Johnson, I mean the writer and director of films such as Brick (2005) and Looper (2012). Before Johnson directed The Last Jedi, he directed some of the best episodes of Breaking Bad, including its climactic Ozymandias. After a five year hiatus from feature filmmaking, Johnson was asked to write and direct the eighth chapter of Star Wars, and it’s the best film in the series since 1980’s Empire Strikes Back.
Before I write any further, this is a SPOILER FREE review. As much as I wish you would stop reading my review and see the movie, it’s best I give you a reaction that doesn’t have you treading lightly sentence by sentence fearing that I will spoil the movie for you. Let me be honest here, if you have avoided social media and all spoilers, and have not yet seen The Last Jedi, you are a GOD. I will be as nice as possible with my review, and still tell you to just go see the movie.
My biggest worry walking into this film was, “is this film going to be a carbon copy of Empire Strikes Back?”
Why do I ask that?
For one, I loved this movie, but JJ Abrams’ 2015 The Force Awakens is arguably a clone (pun intended) of the film that started the series: 1977’s A New Hope. With that being said, with rumors and buzz filled remarks about the film being “dark and a game changer,” SO WAS EMPIRE! With Rian Johnson involved, the latest entry will definitely be intense for that matter, but will it be another Empire with predictable twists now that everyone to this day still quotes, “Luke I am your father”?
Guess what, The Last Jedi is NOT a clone of Empire. Johnson’s Jedi is dark, game changing and intense, while taking an entirely different route than I expected. In this reviewer’s humble opinion, this film changed how I look at Star Wars in general because it’s also the ballsiest movie of the series. It does exactly what Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad does, IT TELLS ITS STORY THE WAY IT WANTS TO, WHETHER FANS LIKE IT OR NOT.
The Last Jedi continues The Force Awakens from the exact moment it ended two years ago. Rey (amazing Daisy Ridley) has found the long time missing Jedi legend Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill, in the best live action performance of his career). He is terrified of Rey’s growing powers and tries his best to remain in exile.
Meanwhile, Resistance General Leia Organa (wonderful Carrie Fisher, RIP), former stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega in a well deserved role after Attack the Block, again), and committed pilot Poe Dameron (versatile Oscar Isaac in a redemption after Suburbicon and X-Men Apocalypse, not his fault but still) are fighting a losing battle against the tyrannical Empire-like First Order and bet against all odds to fight against them no matter what.
The First Order is led by Supreme Leader Snoke (Motion Capture Kingpin Andy Serkis), who challenges his apprentice Ben Solo AKA Kylo Ren (Adam Driver in his most emotional performance yet) and General Hux (Domnhall Gleeson reminding me of King Joffrey, great performance but dang do you hate him) to finish off the Resistance much faster than the Empire ever tried with the Rebellion.
There you have it, the most spoiler free way of explaining the plot of the latest Star Wars chapter.
There is plenty to love in its 152 minutes (longest Star Wars film to date), but there is a lot to question. Need I remind you, this is Star Wars, which began in 1977 with one of the biggest plot holes in cinematic history: the small hole that leads to the central core of a moon sized base. Skywalker’s lone shot on his tiny jet sized X-Wing happened to get there. Rogue One made up for it, but that plot hole also includes a mysterious telekinesis and magic known as the Force. An isolated old man lived his life in a religious cult of people who educationally carry this gift as a weapon, along with glowing laser pointer that could cut through adamantium . By the way, there’s a futuristic Revolutionary War going on throughout the galaxy, with the British being ordered by a telekenetic Emperor with Electro’s powers and a half man, half terminator with an iron lung. This was the world we were introduced to, and visual wiz George Lucas distracted us with revolutionary visual effects that distracted us from this story. That’s what ALL of the films have done: distracted us from a mediocre story. The Star Wars saga has always been ridiculous, sappy AND flawed.
And I couldn’t care less.
Guess what, I AM A NERD AND I LOVE THESE MOVIES. I know what these movies are for not only the sheer entertainment, but the growing commitment and risk heavy decisions by everyone in front and back of the camera. Instead of caring what the fans think, the filmmakers continue to progress this story for over three decades. The energy level of these movies skyrocket each time we are presented a new entry.
The Last Jedi has its flaws. It will push people to either the light or the dark side, no in between. It has one of the most ridiculous and unnecessary moments in any movie I’ve seen in 2017. The film takes its risks, sure, but the movie could have taken some unexpectedly darker routes and did not. The second act is slowly paced; but by the time the third act begins, the slow burn and unnecessary subplots are WORTH IT.
Why is that? The flaws will be with these movies. ALWAYS.
Think back to A New Hope. This small crew had ALL ODDS AGAINST THEM, and they decided to risk their lives to save a princess they did not know. They bet against all odds and luckily came out alive, mostly. Did people walk out of the movie and swear to never see it again? After Empire, NO. Do you think EVERYONE agreed with Luke being the son of the most ruthless man in the galaxy? People returned for Return of the Jedi with those little teddy bears known as Ewoks because that’s what Star Wars ALWAYS did; it sucks us into the universe no matter how flawed or ridiculous it is. Return of the Jedi had EWOKS and force ghosts, and yet fans returned to see the special editions and prequels nearly two decades later. Despite how moviegoers and longtime fans felt about the prequels, we always had curiosity, and glued our butts to theater seats. What if it sucks? By the time the iconic opening crawl commenced; George Lucas had our attention and Star Wars was either saved or ruined. Not sure if Lucas cared what people thought of his prequels, because people kept coming back for state of the art images distracting us from a flawed story.
In the Last Jedi, new and old characters make very questionable decisions, while one is on his/her way to make the ultimate sacrifice, but is thwarted by another character decision that nearly had me standing up in protest. Predictability plays a role as tensions rise to the point of a volcanic eruption, including trusting a total nobody. Suspense for disbelief; isn’t that what the art of movies is about? Maybe we as people won’t make a risky decision, but these characters do and we have to experience it as moviegoers. Honestly, where’s the fun in not having some of your wishes being answered? Sometimes, when something goes your way, it can be rewarding, but not always.
Johnson’s Last Jedi delivers in not giving fans everything they want. A lot of fans will most likely be disappointed by this, despite the amount of complaints shot at The Force Awakens with its unoriginal story structure (see above). This time, Star Wars did something completely different. Not all fan theories that introduced by Force Awakens are answered. Johnson showed us a Star Wars movie with an actual perspective.
His own point of view.
To be fair, that was a big risk. JJ Abrams had to jumpstart the franchise with a mix of the old and new, while Johnson was given an even tougher task at creating a story that would redefine the franchise moving forward. Johnson, who also wrote the script, puts several theories to rest by the end of the film and that is what makes this film so shocking and unpredictable. I was actually fooled. A lot of “oh snap.” moments.
Anyone complain about the lack of space battles in The Force Awakens? Don’t worry. Johnson and his visual effects team reward us with some of the craziest space battles in the history of the canon. Sometimes, character decisions go a long way and they develop for the better. In battle, those risky decisions need to play a role because where’s the fun, again? As an audience, we’re not at battle; the fictional characters are. Whether the result of any decisions made during any battle is controversial, we are given a harsher and realistic look at the hardships of battle in the Star Wars universe. Films and television are taking more realistic approaches toward intense sequences as if they’re really happening. Star Wars: The Last Jedi‘s battles are no exception. The Oscar worthy visuals look more real than ever, including the incredible addition of the wide takes capturing light speed from afar (which was introduced to us in Rogue One). Johnson takes full advantage of his visual effects arsenal and delivers some glorious space battles that kept my eyes WIDE OPEN.
The visual prowess of this movie is flat out stunning. The real focus that I actually expected from Johnson are his personal closeups of the actors. Abrams was used to creating ensemble pieces, and wasn’t afraid to get up close to his actors, but not as much as Johnson. Similar to Christopher Nolan’s style, we are given even more character development to our new characters and legends like Luke Skywalker.
Before seeing this movie, keep an open mind with his character because I bet you’ll want to protest by his decision-making. It’s been thirty years since we’ve seen him, and an unknown incident with his own nephew caused him to go into exile. The opening crawl of The Force Awakens opens with “Luke Skywalker has vanished.” Did you agree with that when you first read that? How about seeing Luke at the end of Episode VII looking like an even more depressed and psychologically damaged Obi-Wan Kenobi when we first met him in A New Hope?
Plus he didn’t say a word, and we had to wait two years to find out what happened.
Episode VIII dives deep into the psychosis and growth of these characters, legendary AND new. Johnson proves that he truly cares for the legendary characters such as Leia, Luke, Chewbacca, C-3P0, and R2-D2. He accepted the risk of showing us another side of these characters after JJ Abrams brought them back into our lives two years ago. The most promising new character is and always has been Daisy Ridley’s Rey. We learn the significance of her character and what role she plays in all of this. With Ridley’s bravura performance, Rey is an open book and could have gone anywhere. Ridley proved in this film that she is a star and Abrams could not have cast this role any better. She belongs in this franchise. Johnson gives us a better reason to follow her character after Abrams’ introduction, and you’ll have to see the movie to find out.
Speaking of actors, Mark Hamill gives the best live action performance of his entire career. Better than his live action baddies in CW’s The Flash, and of course Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (how could you NOT love Hamill in that movie when he’s given an actual intro?) Also, after The Return of the Jedi, lots of people probably wondered, what happened to him? He’s one of the best voice actors in the business, including his now iconic voice of Batman’s arch nemesis, The Joker. As for his return to Luke, the actor reportedly did not agree with Johnson’s vision of the character, but it did not stop Hamill from actually portraying Skywalker to the tens. We’re used to whiny weenies in this family, but Hamill’s intensity and psychological turmoil made him more of a mysterious being as we try to understand what happened to him. He lives alone on an uncharted island. Before Superman debuted in 1978, Luke Skywalker was similar to superhero and lots of people looked up to him after his lethal shot to finish off the Death Star. In Return of the Jedi, he refused to join the Dark Side, and was willing to die than be on the same side of a tyrannical Emperor Palpatine. He got very lucky when Vader turned. What could have steered the embodiment of the light side into such an exile to die? Go buy your tickets.
The film doesn’t stay on the island as I did mention the crazy space battles. Leia and her best pilot Poe Dameron are facing bigger odds of surviving than the original trilogy’s Rebellion. Poe is unlike any character in the series because we really never dove deep into a pilot that didn’t have Skywalker as his or her surname. We actually dive into a talented nobody’s struggle to do what’s right, and Isaac portrays him perfectly. He’s funny when he needs to be, and strongly charismatic when no one else will step up to the plate. Isaac gives Dameron enough flair to be a character this series needs. This series needs so many characters, but unfortunately we will be short one for Episode IX, and that’s our lovely princess Leia. Carrie Fisher is wonderful once again, and makes the most of her limited screen time. It was tough to see her in the film after her tragic demise last year. Yes we will miss her presence in the next film, but we have the power to go back to all of her outings as Leia and relive her days as the character we all loved. The film does a nice tribute to the late actress, and she will be missed.
John Boyega is an amazing actor. As I mentioned in my Force Awakens review, Boyega deserves to be a heroic presence after his star-making performance in the under-seen Attack the Block. Despite his comedic flair, it’s unfortunate he is not given the best story-line in this movie. While he is always likable and fun, it’s a shame he didn’t play as much of an important role as he did in the predecessor. I expected more from him and his newcomer co-star Kelly Marie Tran. Tran gives a worthy and heartfelt performance, but the way her subplot with Boyega’s Finn is written doesn’t give her character any justice. Their plot slowly moves through the second act, and their reckless decisions really doesn’t add too much to the overall plot, yet Tran does not go unnoticed and steps up as an actress that can benefit from the Star Wars franchise with her growing talent.
Before I get to the villains, there is one new character I must mention: Laura Dern’s Haldo. First off, what a year Dern has had: Big Little Lies, Twin Peaks, and now Star Wars! Wow! Ms. Dern is not here for a cameo whatsoever. She makes the most of her screen time, and after the credits roll, all I will say is that you will remember her name.
So much good in this film, but it doesn’t mean that VIII doesn’t focus on the villains. Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren is the second best villain in this franchise behind the character’s grandfather, Vader. However, if there’s anything he beats Vader at; Ren’s complexity. The fact that he takes the ridiculous mask off a lot expresses his vulnerability as a human. Vader’s fatherly bombshell wasn’t really a sign that he was a good guy, but Ren’s talent in seducing us with his complexity makes him even more threatening. Can he be turned? Driver proves to us that he may have a little of the Skywalker whining disorder, but Driver shows the audience that he is one of the best actors in the entire franchise next to Ewan McGregor. Abrams offered us great acting performances in 2015’s The Force Awakens, while Johnson capitalized that with his vision and direction of his actors. Driver is proof that even with flawed writing, we can sit back and enjoy three dimensional performances in a Star Wars movie. As for Andy Serkis and Domhnall Gleeson, we are given amazing performances of two vile beings like Snoke and Hux, respectively (I guess so). You will love to hate these two characters because we are still very unsure about Kylo Ren’s motives. Snoke and Hux are evil, plain and simple.
This film has some great characters, and whether people like it or not, these are the most dimension you will ever get in any Star Wars characters. Some actors with rising star capabilities are definitely wasted, and some legendary side characters are not given much to work with, but don’t worry about Chewbacca. Our favorite Wookie gets his moments to shine, including busting down a door.
It’s Star Wars, how can you NOT love that?
My goal for a review is to critique a film, but also it is to prepare you for you are going to see. Since Star Wars spoilers are so sacred, I spent more of this review explaining the true genius behind Star Wars, because similar to what this movie achieved with a point of view, this is my point of view toward this iconic franchise. No one is every really prepared to see a Star Wars movie because by the time we sit in our theater seats excited for another entry, we are completely different when we leave the theater to talk with our friends about what we saw. To everyone that saw the preview and began having theories on what will happen were NOT PREPARED. When we don’t get what we want as longtime fans and moviegoers, we will protest and say Star Wars is ruined forever. Well, what if we did get EVERYTHING we want? No one was expecting the Darth Vader bombshell in Empire, nor his decision in Return of the Jedi that saved his son. We can’t predict the future, and we unfortunately live in a society where a lot of people keep guessing their future whether good or bad. The Last Jedi gives us some things we may have wanted, but not everything. This film is about moving forward and passing the torch.
Each film does what the writers want the final cut to do. If we could guess what happened on Game of Thrones every week, despite it being written in a book, the shock value would be GONE. Surprises can be very rewarding, while some may feel different. A few flaws doesn’t mean a film sucks, and that is why Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the best film since Empire Strikes Back. Johnson’s film is ballsy and takes risks unlike any of the prequels and the The Force Awakens. This movie is fearless, and is a Star Wars film through and through. Each film has always been split in its critiques, while fans and moviegoers continue to come back for more.
It’s also fair for this film critic to say, I DO NOT CARE IF I AM TORN APART FOR HAVING AN OPINION. Bring it on! I love this movie despite its flaws and I cannot wait to see JJ Abrams’ Episode IX. There I said it.
MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU…AS WE WAIT TWO YEARS FOR THE NEXT ENTRY.
Broad Street Boys 