Warning: Moderate Spoilers. If you have not yet seen The Last Jedi, I suggest reading only the final two paragraphs.
Rian Johnson steps up to take the torch from JJ Abrams in the newest Star Wars film. He starts his film moments after the conclusion of The Force Awakens. The First Order reigns supreme, the rebels are on the run and Rey is holding a lightsaber out to Luke Skywalker. If none of that means anything to you, don’t worry. The film’s story is fairly intuitive and accessible to newcomers.
The best Star Wars films have always emphasised their characters and The Last Jedi has many to work with. Returning from The Force Awakens is, of course, Daisy Ridley’s Rey who continues to be a wonderfully charismatic presence. Any complaints that she was overpowered in The Force Awakens or lacking in conflict are surely remedied here as we follow her attempts to navigate the murky ambiguity that exists between the light side and dark side.
Oscar Isaacs continues to be charming as Poe Dameron but has much more to do in this film. The headstrong pilot makes the same foolhardy decisions you expect from an action movie lead but with delightfully subverted consequences. John Boyega also returns as Finn, the reformed Storm Trooper. Finn’s story continues as he learns of the true consequences of the war on regular people. His story affords us the chance to see beyond the big heroes of the saga to the people caught between.
One of those people is Rose played by Kelly Marie Tran, a new face in the series. She is a worker for the resistance who becomes embroiled in Finn’s quest to recruit a master hacker to take down a First Order destroyer ship. Laura Dern plays Vice Admiral Holdo, General Leia’s second in command. These are the two main additions to the cast and both deliver superb performances.
On the dark side of the force we have the return of Adam Driver as Kylo Ren who continues to offer an unhinged alternative to Darth Vader’s coldness. The film urges further sympathy for the enraged former Jedi apprentice as we learn more about his betrayal of Luke Skywalker and the depth of his sadness. Domnhal Gleeson also returns as General Hux, who is more comedic in this film. This suits the character well and Gleeson is shown to have excellent timing and comedic instincts.
The familiar faces from the original trilogy are utilised to great effect to bolster the drama of the newcomers. Mark Hamill seems dissatisfied with the Luke of this film, which is surprising as it may be the most interesting portrayal of the character yet. Luke is heartbroken over his failures and has turned his back on the rebellion, his family and even The Force. His character is fascinating and the revelations about his relationship with Ben Solo feel profound. As Rey tries to convince him to return to the fight, his reasons for wanting to stay out of it are increasingly reasonable.
Carrie Fisher returns one last time to play General Leia Organa. I must confess that the real world implications of her character interactions really added to the poignancy of her character. This is a wonderful send off for a character who has been with the series since the beginning.
Some characters are not afforded a great deal of screen time, notably Chewbacca and R2D2. They are used sparingly so the drama can focus on the new. They are, however, granted just enough opportunities to make an impact. Luke’s scene with R2 is particularly powerful.
One of the most significant returns for The Last Jedi is the mystery and magic around The Force. No longer a matter of counting organisms in your blood stream, The Force is portrayed as something elusive and potentially frightening. There are some truly bizarre sequences in the film that give back the ominous power to The Force that we have not glimpsed since Luke entered the cave on Dagobah and did battle with himself.
Many complained that The Force Awakens adhered too closely to the plot of Star Wars ’77 and feared that The Last Jedi would just be a remake of The Empire Strikes Back. There are definite echoes within the films story. Rebels fleeing an enemy ship, a young Force user seeking training in the ways of The Force, etc. But just like The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi uses these plot points as a jumping off point for a brand new narrative. The relentless pursuit of the rebel fleet presents a far more hopeless story than the Millennium Falcon evading Vader.
The Last Jedi is a remarkable balancing act. As a Star Wars fan I was thrilled by the direction the story and characters are taken towards. As a fan of big blockbuster movies, I loved the stunning action sequences, fraught drama and light-hearted comedy. As a cinephile I couldn’t help but admire the technical feats of cinematography and editing that ensure the film moves at a brisk pace and looks great doing it. As a film-goer who enjoys complexity in narrative, I loved the moral ambiguity the movie dared to dabble in.
Star Wars 1977 is often regarded as the original blockbuster movie. It is fitting, therefore, that The Last Jedi is not only a perfect blockbuster, carefully manipulating the audience through a thrilling and emotional journey, but it also demonstrates some of the versatility practiced only by the masters of this craft. The Last Jedi is funny, exciting and just a little weird. It’s an unpredictable, grand melodrama. It’s Star Wars, and I can’t recommend it enough.
5 / 5