Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Movie Review

If you thought you knew your Star Wars characters then "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" will surprise. The film is a refreshing take on the old and even the new paving the way to put the franchise to newer heights. Funny, dramatic, and epic, the film plays around with your emotions as it reveals legends and heroes in the most unlikely of places, origins, and scenarios. It was the perfect and significant ode to what has been and what is to come in the future. Put simply, "The Last Jedi" easily propels itself into the top of the franchise's totem pole.

As Rey (Daisy Ridley) finds herself at the hands of the legendary Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), she finds the Jedi Master in tatters. Reluctant to return, she must find a way to convince Luke to train her in the ways of the Jedi before its too late. Along the way, she discovers that she can telepathically talk to Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) using the Force. As the two converse, Rey is convinced that she can turn Kylo Ren back from the Dark Side. While on D'Qar, the rebel forces are trying to evacuate in time as the First Order begins the attack to obliterate their base and stop the resistance for good.

Running at a heavy 152 minutes, you would think that "The Last Jedi" would suffer pacing issues but it didn't. The film was well-paced with a mix of several side plots and action sequences that feature all of the main crew in a balanced manner. Except for Captain Phasma and Maz Kanata, everyone else pretty much gets equal footing in terms of on-screen time. As expected, these sub-plots converge in one epic, final act - one that is definitely worth the wait not only in terms of eye-candy but in how it resolves the conclusion of certain characters. The story itself is meatier this time around. Presenting a deeper look into the history of Kylo Ren and Luke Skywalker and the rift that has grown between them. It also features a lot of huge surprises. But more than that, the film heavily focuses on how heroes are made. From the significant (like the Skywalker and Solo bloodlines) or the insignificant (like Finn or Rey), heroes or even force users are not defined by who their parents are but who they aspire to be and what they do in the moment that is given to them. Overall, kills are swift, team-ups unexpected, rivalries shocking, and eventual conclusions satisfying. If you expected this to be a middle ground film then you will be in awe. "The Last Jedi" does not hold back at all and there's no hint that the key elements are missing just because there's another film in the works.

Visually and aurally, the film is impressive. The space battles were epic in scale as expected but even the battles in between had great choreography and that punch. The audio effects really boomed and made the battles alive. The new characters also bring in an interesting vibe into the film. How brief or how significant they are and will be we actually cannot spoil, but Rose Tico, Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo, and Benicio del Toro's character held their own. The most surprising aspect for the film though is its comedic aspect. It's something new and refreshing and totally unexpected. It feels that it tries to go with the recent trend of needing a character that provides that comedic punch but it works here. It happens often enough to make the film light-hearted but not too much to be annoying. In the end, "The Last Jedi" is one of the best films from the franchise. It adds a lot to the lore of the franchise while respecting its older roots while making a stamp towards the new.

Rating: 5 reels




Why you should watch it:
- the story adds a lot into the lore while never holding back
- the visuals and sound effects are top-notch
- well-acted with every character getting equal footing

Why you shouldn't watch it:
- there's really no reason not to miss it unless your a Sith