NOTE: Some spoilers abound so if you haven't seen the film yet read with risk, you will!
We may not have the chance to wear Chewbacca socks to meetings with international leaders like our Star Wars fanatic Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, but Jacob and I are nevertheless enormous Star Wars fans. I feel like one of the older characters now, still crazy about the franchise, but passing on the love for these perfect cinematic giants to the next generation.
And it is working.
Star Wars, The Last Jedi has it all and will satisfy Star Wars fans of every age. It picks up almost exactly where The Force Awakens leaves off. The First Order is regrouping, Rey and Chewie have found Luke Skywalker, Finn is recuperating and Kylo Ren is licking his wounds, to name just a few of the plots.
But that is just the start. There is a LOT going on in The Last Jedi. New characters are introduced and intermingle with older ones. Admiral Amilyn Holdo, a confusing character at first (played by Laura Dern) is a fascinating character study. There are new villains too, such as the scumbag DJ (played by Benicio del Toro) and there are the little kids living on Canto Bright who you just know are going to play a role in the future. There is the new character Rose, too, who befriends Finn and the two of them embark on helping save the Resistance.
There are new plots which is of course a good thing to whet the appetite for future franchises. However, the only critical thing to say about the movie is that there is so much going on that at times it feels rushed (in spite of it actually being a long movie), and almost at times feels convoluted and disjointed. There are a lot of plot holes, but that is probably intentional, leaving room for development in future movies.
While the Star Wars future is bright, it is still sad to see some of what made episodes 4, 5 and 6 so wonderful fading to the past. I will not scene spoil here, but it is definitely a case where the next generations are taking over.
There are some absolutely fantastic scenes and whenever Luke Skywalker appears, he dominates, rightfully so. (Interestingly enough, the Star Wars website had a poll asking respondents who they were most excited about seeing back in the series and overwhelmingly, it was Luke Skywalker who won the day. He does not disappoint.)
One of the great things about The Last Jedi is the dialogue. It is much better than The Force Awakens (even without the wit of Han Solo) and some conversations are full of brilliant insight. One of the most poignant scenes is when Luke Skywalker offers the best explanation of the Force to date as he teaches Rey about what it is all about. Even Yoda makes an appearance to Luke, as even he needs guidance at times. It is all just fabulous.
Girl power reigns in Star Wars. It is wonderful. There are some very strong female characters in this movie that is not only refreshing but inspirational. Hats off to the costume designers too as not one of them is scantily clad. (I suppose that sounds prudish but women’s brains and intellect rule which is good.)
The special effects we have come to expect are endless.
The acting without exception is phenomenal. Not one character or actor was bad. Look, I could go on about how great the movie is. Just see it for yourself, which I know you will.
I will just say there is a deep respect for the Star Wars characters and battles of the past all the while setting the scene for the future. It is a bittersweet Star Wars for those who grew up on Episodes 4,5 and 6 but a highly satisfying one that keeps the Star Wars love alive for all.
