Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Starring: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Lupita Nyong'o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern, Benicio Del Toro, Frank Oz, Warwick Davis, Justin Theroux, Joseph Gordon-Levitt (voice)
Directed by: Rian Johnson
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Science Fiction, Action, Adventure
2017

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: While Rey (Daisy Ridley) attempts to convince Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to return, the Resistance prepares for a decisive battle against The First Order.

Review:

Tim: Expectations were high going into Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The Force Awakens was my favorite movie of 2015 and Rian Johnson is a director I love- I believe his first three movies were all great. Bringing this all together, plus a film that was darker in tone seemed the perfect set up for greatness. Which breaks my heart, because I was so disappointed in this movie. Now, I'm not being overly reactionary to this polarizing film. I'd go so far as to admit this is still a good movie. But this is Stars Wars- a good movie is a bitter disappointment. While this is a good movie, I'd go so far as to say that this is the 2nd worst movie in the franchise. Only the abysmal Phantom Menace is worse. I am still struggling with reconciling this in my mind. How could a franchise which delivered one of the best entries turn around and deliver one of the worst? There's many reasons for the failure of this movie (although remember, context is critical because this is still a good film).

I will eventually discuss what I liked about this movie, but let me first discuss some of the many problems. Most who hate this movie central their ire around the depiction of Luke Skywalker. There's been so much said blaming fans for wanting the old character and simply unable to accept how he's changed over decades. This is shifting blame onto the wrong people. The way Luke was depicted in this film is awful. It's not just that I don't like how he was depicted- of all the ways to tell this story, this is one of the least effective. Rian Johnson clearly doesn't understand this character. He wastes Mark Hamill in a role that doesn't line with the Luke Skywalker we know. Worst of all is the ending. It's one of the stupidest tricks played on an audience, sending this character off with a whimper. I'll never be able to forgive Johnson for how Luke's story wraps. It's so bad. It could have so clearly been improved. (SPOILER ALERT)- I'd have been much happier with the story if he's actually been there. That's it. Small thing, but it would have made the movie more meaningful. The way his story unfolds cheapens everything we know about the character. It's so bad.

Unfortunately, there are many other issues. Keeping Rey, Finn, and Poe apart for the entire movie didn't work. We care about these characters and want to see them together. That was just a boneheaded move. The film also has the slowest and lamest chase scene I've ever seen. We see two spaceships in a chase, where one stays just above the other for the bulk of the film. Why would anyone think this was compelling? We have two characters who leave the fleeing ship, travel to a planet, take their time trying to find someone, get captured and thrown in jail, escape, and return to the ship- all during the same chase. It's moronic and as much as I loved Johnson before this, I'm so angry that he thought this was a good idea. The whole subplot about Canto Bight was so ineffective. It was pointless and simply a waste of our time. What other issues do I have? The film wasn't very funny at all. The humor was completely forced from beginning to end. From the first scene with Poe's unfunny banter to the end, Johnson just didn't do anything all that humorous. We spend a ton of time with Rose's character, who was not nearly as interesting as Johnson believed she was. She's also part of one of the most illogical sequences- as Finn races his speeder towards the end, Rose turns off with the other speeders (while Finn keeps going) and then somehow turns around and catches up with Finn. It just makes no sense. Rey's whole story with Luke was unsatisfying and anticlimactic. I mean, I could go on, but my blood is already boiling. I can't even go into detail about Leia flying through space. She flew through space. She flew through space. Ugh.

Now, I'm not suggesting this is a terrible movie. The lightspeed ramming scene was a standout- it was beautiful and simply incredible. The Rey-Kylo battle with Snoke was amazing. I loved seeing Luke Skywalker again, even if they butchered his character. The climactic scene on Crait is visually stunning. Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, and Adam Driver are all very good in their roles. I enjoyed seeing them. Domhnall Gleeson was fun in his unlikable role and Andy Serkis does good work as Snoke. Laura Dern was slyly strong in her unconventional role. I do have to say that although I liked Benicio Del Toro's performance, his character felt like a waste of time.

I could go on, but this is just making me mad and sad. I love this franchise I went into 2017 believing this film would have a chance to repeat the feat of The Force Awakens and emerge as my favorite film of the year. I'm pretty disappointed that it likely wouldn't be in my top 40. The only thing that gives me hope is that J.J. Abrams is coming back for the next film. I just pray he can fix this mess that Rian Johnson made.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story