Here are my thoughts on the latest Star Wars movie, one which seems to be more divisive that The Force Awakens. You could almost call The Last Jedi the Brexit Star Wars. Or the Trump Star Wars. Or the, erm Phantom Menace Star Wars.
Okay, maybe not.
WARNING: SPOILERS!
Okay, so overall I liked it. It’s quite long and it seems to lose its way in the middle (probably because of its runtime), but it felt like a Star Wars movie and that’s what counts.
Yes, some fans didn’t like it. Yes, there are issues with it - but I think the main take away is that it was a bold direction to take the series. Rain Johnson could have played it safe, but he didn’t and I think that’s a good thing even if it does feel a little uncomfortable.
My gripes were:
- Luke expressing green milk from an alien cow’s breast. Silly and unncessesary in my opinion.
- A complete dismissal of basic space physics (I can live with sound effects, but when gravity gets ignored that is frustrating as hell).
- Leia’s space angel scene.
- The Resistance’s daft military strategy choices.
- A bit too many samey bits as The Empire Strikes Back. See: imperial walkers fighting speeders, master teaching a jedi, a dodgy wheeler/dealer character (DJ), Yoda for goodness sake!
My likes were:
- The lightsaber battle in Snoke’s throne room. Epic and clever.
- Planet Crait and its unusual geology. It does look a bit like Hoth, though.
- Rey’s discovery of the force.
- Rey and Kylo’s relationship.
- Kylo and Hux’s rivalry. A refreshing theme to have in the series, and funny too.
What I like about Rian’s choices for the story is his exploration of what it means to be a Jedi, and that you don't have to be from noble royal blood in order to achieve greatness (or indeed to be a Jedi). Also, there's the subject of failure: Poe's, Finn's, the Resistance's and Luke's. Luke's wrestling with his own mistakes and doubt – and the ultimate release from his angst at the end of the movie – are mature and defiant decisions.
What this film does is take Star Wars in a new, unpredictable direction and challenges our preconceptions about the franchise, and I really do think that's a good thing.
Some may disagree and feel that their 'childhood' is being ruined but I think they're missing the point. If you've grown up with Star Wars as a kid, don't forget that you'll always have the old Star Wars. The original trilogy are still there to be enjoyed (although admittedly not in their untampered state, but that's a different issue). That stuff can't go on forever. Just enjoy it for what it is!
The new films should be about starting over again and breaking new ground. The Force Awakens was a way to gently break us into that, and The Last Jedi is another step closer to moving on (that's why it has similarities to Empire, I guess). We've lost Han Solo, now Luke (and sadly Leia because of Carrie Fisher's untimely death). The baton has been passed to the next genertion. Hopefully, episode IX will be even more different. Rian is working on the next three episodes after, and presumably he'll be taking Rey and co. in a new and fresh direction. Which can't be bad, right?
Of course, if episode IX features a giant Starkiller Base 2, copying Return of the Jedi, I'll eat my words and drink some of that lovely green milk.
Okay, maybe not.
WARNING: SPOILERS!
Okay, so overall I liked it. It’s quite long and it seems to lose its way in the middle (probably because of its runtime), but it felt like a Star Wars movie and that’s what counts.
Yes, some fans didn’t like it. Yes, there are issues with it - but I think the main take away is that it was a bold direction to take the series. Rain Johnson could have played it safe, but he didn’t and I think that’s a good thing even if it does feel a little uncomfortable.
My gripes were:
- Luke expressing green milk from an alien cow’s breast. Silly and unncessesary in my opinion.
- A complete dismissal of basic space physics (I can live with sound effects, but when gravity gets ignored that is frustrating as hell).
- Leia’s space angel scene.
- The Resistance’s daft military strategy choices.
- A bit too many samey bits as The Empire Strikes Back. See: imperial walkers fighting speeders, master teaching a jedi, a dodgy wheeler/dealer character (DJ), Yoda for goodness sake!
My likes were:
- The lightsaber battle in Snoke’s throne room. Epic and clever.
- Planet Crait and its unusual geology. It does look a bit like Hoth, though.
- Rey’s discovery of the force.
- Rey and Kylo’s relationship.
- Kylo and Hux’s rivalry. A refreshing theme to have in the series, and funny too.
What I like about Rian’s choices for the story is his exploration of what it means to be a Jedi, and that you don't have to be from noble royal blood in order to achieve greatness (or indeed to be a Jedi). Also, there's the subject of failure: Poe's, Finn's, the Resistance's and Luke's. Luke's wrestling with his own mistakes and doubt – and the ultimate release from his angst at the end of the movie – are mature and defiant decisions.
What this film does is take Star Wars in a new, unpredictable direction and challenges our preconceptions about the franchise, and I really do think that's a good thing.
Some may disagree and feel that their 'childhood' is being ruined but I think they're missing the point. If you've grown up with Star Wars as a kid, don't forget that you'll always have the old Star Wars. The original trilogy are still there to be enjoyed (although admittedly not in their untampered state, but that's a different issue). That stuff can't go on forever. Just enjoy it for what it is!
The new films should be about starting over again and breaking new ground. The Force Awakens was a way to gently break us into that, and The Last Jedi is another step closer to moving on (that's why it has similarities to Empire, I guess). We've lost Han Solo, now Luke (and sadly Leia because of Carrie Fisher's untimely death). The baton has been passed to the next genertion. Hopefully, episode IX will be even more different. Rian is working on the next three episodes after, and presumably he'll be taking Rey and co. in a new and fresh direction. Which can't be bad, right?
Of course, if episode IX features a giant Starkiller Base 2, copying Return of the Jedi, I'll eat my words and drink some of that lovely green milk.
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