Disney / Lucasfilm
After suffering through many years without a new Star Wars movie (and suffering through the prequels), December 15th, 2017 marks the release of the eighth mainline film in the Skywalker Saga, Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Written and directed by Rian Johnson, The Last Jedi continues the story of Rey, Luke, Leia and so many characters we’ve come to love.
The Last Jedi does not play out like any normal Star Wars movie, Rian Johnson takes his shot at telling a tight, concise and impactful story on the Star Wars universe at large. Starting during the Resistance’s escape from their main base from the clutches of The First Order, The Last Jedi follows our ragtag group of rebel heroes as they fight to keep the Resistance alive and bring down The First Order.
As usual, Mark Hamill chews through the scenery with passion as the legendary Luke Skywalker while the late and very missed Carrie Fisher shines as Resistance leader, Leia Organa. Seeing these two legendary film stars (and characters) interact on screen one last time will bring a tear to any Star Wars fan.
Chock full of references to past films, The Last Jedi stylistically and beautifully embraces the magic of Star Wars while adding in its own quirks and rules. X Wing dogfights and lightsaber duels may be lacking like previous iterations but Rian Johnson masterfully creates his own memorable and incredible fight scenes (reminiscent of classic Samurai movies) that will forever be ingrained in any Star Wars fan. New characters like Admiral Holdo and Rose shine as they work their way into our hearts with their expressive love for the Resistance, while everyone else continues to make us love them even more.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi finds itself in a new position within the franchise at large; finding itself rewriting old tropes or completely tossing away loose plot threads, The Last Jedi asks us to rethink everything we know about Star Wars. By the end of the film fans will be begging for more as we wait for Episode 9’s release in December 2019!
Rian Johnson’s decisions behind the camera are definitely ones that will polarize fans and split the fan base, but in all honesty (and in my own opinion) Star Wars: The Last Jedi aims to recreate and create its own rules and boundaries in the Star Wars universe by letting the new generation shine in their respective storylines. Taking the focus off of the Skywalker Saga and opening the door to the entire Galaxy, may not sit well with many but it serves to make the series one for anyone looking for the light. Fans may be divided by the end of the film, but Star Wars: The Last Jedi introduces more of the surrounding galaxy and opens more questions about the Force, the Jedi and the Galaxy at large…. and I can’t wait to have them answered when Episode 9 releases.
COED’ Score: 9.5 out of 10
Star Wars: The Last Jedi Review Roundup:
From The Atlantic:
The Last Jedi probably does the best job of any Star Wars film of capturing the allure of the Dark Side and the spiritual turmoil that would lead to-and also result from-its embrace.
From Vulture:
The new Star Wars, Episode VIII: The Last Jedi is shockingly good. You’d expect it to be loud and gargantuan and to hit its marks in the manner of J.J. Abrams’s The Force Awakens, which was the first episode under Disney’s aegis — as well as the first to leave George Lucas behind, presumably counting his money and lamenting the fickleness of fans.
From NPR:
“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” opens this weekend in more theaters than any “Star Wars” movie ever has. It is episode eight in a series that promises to go on pretty much forever. And while you might think that would lead the filmmakers to serve up more of the same, critic Bob Mondello says, without spoilers, that “The Last Jedi” feels surprisingly fresh.
From The New York Times:
Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi is a satisfying, at times transporting entertainment with visual wit and a distinctly human touch.
