Star Wars: The Last Jedi Review
PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence
Lucasfilm Ltd.
2 Hrs and 32 Minutes
Writer & Dir: Rian Johnson
Cast: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Lupita Nyong'o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern, Benicio del Toro, Billie Lourd
INTRO: This is going to be both a review and a rant because I'm going to get this off of my chest. I like Star Wars: The Last Jedi, but it is nowhere near one of the best Star Wars movies. Yeah, it's better than the prequels but hear me out, it is not is not as good as the original trilogy, "Rogue One" or "The Force Awakens."
MY PROBLEM WITH THE LAST JEDI
NOT EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE A COMEDY
I have a friend named Myan. She loves films from DC but not much from Marvel. We've had discussions of why Disney is doing so well with Marvel, but she argues that they're only shaping those movies to be nothing but comedies. I tell her that is beneficial to those movies especially when they have to embrace their silliness and I have no idea what she's talking about and where her distaste for Disney is coming from. After watching "The Last Jedi," I now know what she means about Marvel because I feel how she feels but with Star Wars.
With "A New Hope" and "Empire," you had this grand epic adventure filled with fun and a dark tone that explored this grand universe that wasn't so cookie cutter. 2016's "Rogue One" worked because it maintained the series' style of a vast adventure mixed with a consistently dark tone. It had moments of humor, but it never got in the way of the story it was trying to tell. The "Force Awakens" phenomenally got the job done because it reinvented new life into a dead franchise that was left off on a sour note. Even as a standalone film it worked. You can watch it over and over again because of how much fun the experience is to meet these new characters with personality that engages your curiosity to get to know while reuniting us with old favorites.
"The Last Jedi" doesn't follow the style of the series [which is decent and new] but it doesn't has the rewatchable value the other films have. You can rewatch Episode III, IV, V, hell even VI but I don't ever see myself going back to watch VIII again. "The Last Jedi" is a movie that follows elements of other Star Wars movies that works on its own but feels so similar to a Marvel film because the first half of this movie is a comedy. Characters we were introduced to in the "The Force Awakens" are present to either have their own little arc and to give off comedy. Seriously a lot of the first half of the movie has a silly vibe amongst all the death and destruction that surrounds it. It desperately tries to be a parody of itself by giving serious situations comedic. What happens when Finn wakes up? SOMETHING FUNNY HAPPENS!
What happens when Rey gives Luke the lightsaber? SOMETHING FUNNY HAPPENS!
Honestly, if I wanted to watch a parody of "Star Wars," I'll watch "Spaceballs." Shit, Disney already has a comedy space opera franchise, and that is Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy" which in many cases is a parody of "Star Wars."
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS WILL REMAIN MYSTERY
If there were things you wanted to know in Episode VII that didn't answer the questions, the film raised, well you're in luck cause the Episode VIII raises more questions that leave things unanswered. There is one primary bomb that is dropped that is amazing and makes this universe thankfully not as interconnected as we thought but other than that random/dumb moments happen that makes you confusingly question, Okay what the fuck just happened?
MISCOMMUNICATION CAN COST LIVES
One of the main reasons this movie is so long is because there are around four storylines at play and one of the weakest ones features Poe Dameron who at this point I just hate. He's Drax from the first guardians where he only acts with his brain and isn't a team player, but Drax had a reason for his hot-headed actions and his rage. Poe does not. He's just a meathead who is good looking but lacks the brain or the charm. His storyline is pretty much him having beef with Laura Dern who plays Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo. A friend of mine and I agreed that this storyline could've been solved with the swift of one sentence. Both Dameron and Holdo make dumbass actions that could've been addressed if they just communicated with each other instead of playing a game of mutiny.
NEW CHARACTERS; LESS IMPACTFUL
With each Star Wars film, we are introduced to new characters that are either so enticing and have a great deal of development or personality that beneficially furthers the plot. As said, Laura Dern doesn't do much until the climax. Benicio Del Toro is a second-rate Lando but not as charming. The only new character who is amazing is Kelly Marie Tran as Rose. She is a character who has an arc that is both emotional and earned.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE LAST JEDI
LIGHSTAAAAAAABER
Lightsaber battles.
Will make you cream your pants in your seat.
(Jesus writing a nonspoiler review in this format is kind of hard).
JEDI TRAINING SUBPLOT
You know what? One of the best ways te film could've been condensed, is if two subplots could've been cut but the strongest one is everything with Rey and Luke. Mark Hamil gives a performance as amazing as Sylvester Stallone in "Creed." The entire film could have focused on Luke, Rey, and Ren and you would have a tight story. Every moment focused on the three is where the film prospers the most. It's a gripping storyline that has all the excitement, intensity, and subtly that gives the theme of hope unexpectedly impactful. It's sort of what director Rian Johnson did with "Looper" to where it had a huge theme of the meaning of life and death between this epic Sci-Fi tale.
IM GOING TO WRAP THIS UP CAUSE I'M EXHAUSTED
Whereas the first half is a sort of a convoluted mess just for the sake to pad out the runtime especially with an inconsistent tone, "The Last Jedi" becomes a dark and exciting sequel that becomes the film you've been looking for by the 75-minute mark.
Its a good movie, but just an okay sequel.
Rating: 3.5/5 | 71%
Super Scene: Jedi Mic Drop
