"Let the Past Die. Kill it, if You have To." The Last Jedi Review

Star Wars The Last Jedi

3.5/5

Written and Directed by Rian Johnson

Rated PG-13

           Hope; something all people cling to in their darkest moments. When causes seem lost, old friends appear gone and new rivalries are born, hope for a brighter future, is what brings people through these times. In a galaxy far far away, a band of Resistance fighters cling to this hope on the brink of annihilation. A young woman tries to rekindle hope in an old master. A young son desperately relinquishes hope to embrace hatred and despair. This is the main narrative piece and purpose of Star Wars the Last Jedi that when hope is absent it is impossible to strive for unity, love and light.
           From the start of The Last Jedi all the way to its long awaited conclusion, the narrative's focus is on its protagonists and their opposing views and goals. Rey, played with poise and conduct by Daisy Ridley, is an orphan girl who wants to rise above her past and control what she believes to be her newfound powers. Kylo Ren, played captivating and exceptionally well by Adam Driver, is a torn individual who desires to gather up the pieces of his broken soul but fears to mend or burn them. Luke Skywalker, played by a cold and endearing Mark Hamill, is an old and war weary Jedi master who has grown to resist his old teachings. The Last Jedi's intriguing story is founded in how these three dynamic protagonists' stories are interwoven and how these characters conflict with each other. It is iconic, impactful and emotionally resonant.
           Along with these incredible lead characters, The Last Jedi's rich cast of supporting characters are a varied collection of memorable heroes, villains and most things in between. From the lowliest Resistance maintenance workers to the highest First Order commanders every actress and actor offers a fine and meaningful performance. A few standout performances from this crowd are John Boyega as the cowardly and kind hearted Finn, Kelly Marie Tran as the soft spoken and head strong Rose Tico, Oscar Isaac as the hotheaded heroic pilot Poe Dameron, Laura Dern as the competent and compassionate Vice Admiral Holdo, Andy Serkis as the dominating and devilish Supreme Leader Snoke and the late Carrie Fisher reprising her role as the one and only fearless, bold, loving and vulnerable Princess and General Leia Organa.
           Apart from The Last Jedi's cast, this film also has strong visual appeal. A primary color scheme of pristine whites, powerful blacks and violent reds make up the majority of The Last Jedi's battlefields. These visually stunning set pieces are the backdrops for some incredible battle sequences, exhilarating space fights and palpable light saber duels.
           Though the few battle scenes within The Last Jedi are worth seeing, they are distanced by a lengthy and extensive screenplay. The Last Jedi is the longest Star Wars film to date, running over two hours and 30 minutes. Each story element and character plot point in The Last Jedi is important and utilized in the film's screenplay. This makes The Last Jedi feel like an epic, but the film's narrative weight and emotional impact barely warrant this length. Perhaps upon a second viewing, audience members will find up to 30 minutes worth of unnecessary footage in this film, or it is possible that The Last Jedi truly requires each second of its story in order to efficiently build up its tactful climax.
           One thing that makes recommending this film for theatrical viewing difficult is that it is part of a 40 year old franchise. The Last Jedi is the sequel of Star Wars the Force Awakens and the eighth episode in the Star Wars series. Since The Last Jedi begins immediately where The Force Awakens concludes, audiences would be wise to watch The Force Awakens before viewing The Last Jedi. Unfortunately though, most of the story elements and character continuity from The Force Awakens is disregarded by The Last Jedi's screenplay. This makes The Last Jedi's first act seem to be mostly about Rian Johnson rewriting the parts of The Force Awakens that he did not like. It is not until this film's second act that the screenwriter has the characters where he wants them, but by this point audience members may have lost interest in this story. Those who stick with this story will find its final act to be satisfying and worth the price of admission.
           It is possible, however, that many Star Wars fans will not appreciate or want to see this film. The Last Jedi stands apart from its host of seven other episodes, because The Last Jedi lacks an adventurous sense of fun, enjoyment and wonder that make up the majority of those other films. In place of these aspects are vivid destitute characters, stark battles for survival, bleak shadows of turmoil and the looming presence of death, fear, courage and a single spark of hope. For Star Wars fans looking for a far darker and detailed entry in the series, The Last Jedi may just be the film they are looking for.

Verdict: Star Wars The Last Jedi is a dark epic with powerful lead performances, a memorable supporting cast and impactful moments of conflict, but its extensive length and heavily detailed screenplay can make this journey a bit of a slog.