It’s been two years since we’ve last seen Luke Skywalker and company grace our screens in The Force Awakens. Ever since Rey held out Anakin’s lightsaber to Luke, fans have been eager to see where we find our favorite characters in The Last Jedi. Fans especially hope that The Last Jedi will answer some of the burning questions from Force Awakens. But does Star Wars; The Last Jedi live up to our expectations?
In a way, it most certainly does. While fans may not like the answers to the questions they seek, The Last Jedi is the most complete Star Wars film that we’ve seen in a very long time. It will have everything you want in a Star Wars film.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi follows the events of The Force Awakens where we see Rey find Luke on an island. The First Order is on the offensive after Starkiller base wiped out planets loyal to the Republic. It is up to Rey, Leia, and the Resistance to stop the First Order and restore peace to the galaxy.
Although fans will certainly try to correlate The Last Jedi with Empire, there aren’t many similarities to find. There is one big similarity, though. The Last Jedi takes our characters into some very dark places. Rian Johnson built a world where none of our fan favorite characters feel safe. Thus, there’s a good amount of suspense as to what characters will make it out alive or not. But the film isn’t entirely doom and gloom. That is to say that the film is surprisingly really funny. In fact, every character delivers a hilarious line or two throughout the film. All of the laughs provide a nice balance to the heaviness of the film.
Just don’t expect a lot of action in The Last Jedi. Even though the action sequences are thrilling, they are few and far between. But in-between the action sequences, what you get is an absolutely gorgeous piece of production design by Rick Heinrichs. In addition, audiences will also take some of the best cinematography the franchise has ever seen.
As good as the film is, there isn’t a lot of character development between some of the returning characters. Finn, Kylo, Leia, and Rey doesn’t really grow much throughout The Last Jedi. Which is a shame because of the major hype surrounding Kylo and Rey. In contrast, Poe Dameron does go through the biggest development in the film. Even the newest character, Rose, goes through some sort of character development.
Not to mention, there is a weird and convenient plot line connecting two major characters together. These scenes take away from the film and become a bit forced after a while.
Now, as for the cast it’s kind of a mixed bag. Mark Hamill is easily the best part about The Last Jedi. Believe it or not, he combines a mix of funny, angry, sad, and heroic. He delivers some of the best lines and most memorable moments. Unfortunately, the late great Carrie Fisher doesn’t have that big of a role as you might think. Be that it may, she gives some fire and sass to Leia that we’ll all sorely miss.
Oscar Isaac transitions well in his character’s evolution. Like Hamill, Isaac is heroic and hilarious in the role. John Boyega brings the fire and intensity back to Finn. Although his character doesn’t really change much, he’s still a blast to watch.
Newcomer, Kelly Marie Tran does well in her role as Rose. Tran provides a feisty yet relatable performance that will capture the hearts of audiences everywhere. Unfortunately, Benicio del Toro and Laura Dern doesn’t have as smooth an introduction. To be fair, Laura Dern doesn’t have a big role in the film. Thus, making her performance a bit forgettable. Del Toro hams it up as his mysterious character. He’s a bit reminiscent of his role as The Collector in Guardians of the Galaxy.
Sadly, Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver underwhelm here. Most of it is because of the material that’s been given to them. Ridley still portrays her character as a naive and hopeful character. Driver is still as annoying and bratty as ever. As good of an actor as they both are, they still play their characters the same way. It would okay if their characters were fun and likable but they’re not.
Despite the criticism, Star Wars: The Last Jedi is still a breathtaking ride. As a fan, it’s everything that I wanted and more. This is easily the most beautiful and grounded iteration of Star Wars yet. Is it the best Star Wars film? No, that honor still resides with The Empire Strikes Back. Be that as it may, it’s still an incredibly fun journey where we get to continue with the adventures of the Skywalkers.
Oh, and if you’re wondering, they do answer a lot of the most pressing questions from The Force Awakens.
Rating: 4/5 atoms
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