'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' Movie Review

This review is spoiler free.

Hello, fellow moviegoers!

The “Star Wars” franchise is undoubtedly the most popular and iconic film franchise of all time. “Star Wars” films are events in and of themselves. Since Disney’s acquisition of the series, they’ve found firm ground for releasing these films in December, aside from the upcoming “Solo: A Star Wars Story” (which I think will probably get delayed to the holiday release anyway).
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The latest of this new phase of “Star Wars” films comes in the form of the saga’s eighth episode, “The Last Jedi.”

The new installment, directed by Rian Johnson (Looper), has proven to be one of the most divisive “Star Wars” films in a while. Personally, I enjoyed the film. There’s a lot to like, but it does have flaws.

​Before I get into what I loved about “The Last Jedi,” I want to touch on what didn’t work for me.

The biggest problem I have with this film is the subplot concerning the character of Finn and new addition to the franchise, Rose. This whole storyline doesn’t add a whole lot to the movie, and it feels like it’s there just to give the characters something to do. While it had a couple good moments, the overall pacing of the film was really hurt by this subplot. It slowed the whole movie down and just makes the audience wish we could get back to the other characters.

Another thing that bothers me a little is difficult to talk about without spoilers, but I’ll try the best I can. Despite there being a lot of cool moments and game-changing stuff for the series, it doesn’t feel like a lot happens in this movie. It doesn’t really feel like the second chapter of this new “Star Wars” trilogy. It feels more like the aftermath of “The Force Awakens.” For the most part, “The Last Jedi” feels like the type of film that just bides the time until we get to the next part in the saga. While that’s not inherently a bad thing, I can’t help but wish that it stood on its own a little more.

The positive things in this film definitely outweigh the negatives by far.

The performances in this film were some of the best seen in the series so far. Daisy Ridley brings a much needed sense of depth and emotion to the character of Rey. Mark Hamill gives what might be the best performance he’s ever given in the role of Luke Skywalker. However, in my opinion, the best performance in the movie was undoubtedly Adam Driver as Kylo Ren. He builds upon his already fantastic performance in “The Force Awakens” and handles the direction they take the character very well. He’s torn, he’s damaged, he’s angry and Driver is able to deliver all of that in spectacular fashion.

Visually, this is one of the most beautiful “Star Wars” films to date. The cinematography is wonderful, but it never gets in the way of the film. It’s never style-over-substance, it’s a good mix of both. There are so many individual shots in this film that evoke strong emotions from the audience. Emotions such as awe, fear, nostalgia, surprise and many more.

The most admirable thing in “The Last Jedi” is the direction they take the characters and the franchise. They took both the characters from the original trilogy and the new characters introduced in “The Force Awakens” and brought them places that I did not expect. As for the franchise, things happen in this film that will undoubtedly have major repercussions in the series. That’s about all I can say without spoiling anything.

My favorite arc in the film involves Kylo Ren and Rey. These characters were introduced well in “The Force Awakens,” but they are truly explored in “The Last Jedi.” We get a really good look at who these characters are, what they fear and what motivates them.

The character of Luke Skywalker has changed quite a bit since we last saw him in action at the end of “Return of the Jedi.” He’s older, and he’s had a lot of bad stuff happen to him and as a result of his actions.
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“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is a very different kind of “Star Wars” film. We’ve never quite seen anything like this, and it takes a little bit to get used to. After my first screening of the film, I didn’t really know what to think. I knew that I liked it, but I didn’t know how much. Now that I’ve seen it twice, my opinion has solidified a lot more. I liked “The Last Jedi.” It certainly has flaws, and its far from my favorite film in the series, but I found it quite enjoyable.

​Just as a fun little add-on I want to rank all of the “Star Wars” films, so you have a slightly better idea of where this one lands (#1 being the best and #9 the worst).

1. The Empire Strikes Back (Episode V)
2. Star Wars (Episode IV)
3. Return of the Jedi (Episode VI)
4. The Force Awakens (Episode VII)
5. The Last Jedi (Episode VIII)
6. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
7. Revenge of the Sith (Episode III)
8. The Phantom Menace (Episode I)
9. Attack of the Clones (Episode II)

So what did you think of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”? How would you rank all of the films in the series so far? Let me know by commenting on this post! Also, if you enjoyed this review, share it on Facebook and Twitter! It really helps! I’ll be posting on here from time-to-time over the next few weeks, so be sure to check back for more movie reviews and miscellaneous movie thoughts!

Thanks for stopping by!