Star Wars Episode VII: The Last Jedi Review

(The following is a mostly spoiler-free review, though a spoiler review will be posted separately at a later time).

The Star Wars movie machine has been well underway for two years now since Disney’s release of The Force Awakens, which kickstarted a new trilogy set thirty years after the events of Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. While fans like myself were ultimately pleased with The Force Awakens, it failed to deliver anything particularly new. I personally found myself hoping Rian Johnson’s second installment would take bigger risks than J.J. Abrams less-than-original first. Mr. Abrams’ charm in remaking classic film stories has worn thin, in my opinion, and Star Wars has been in need of new direction for some time. After two viewings of The Last Jedi, I believe we can safely say that Disney’s confidence in Mr. Johnson has been well-placed. This is without a doubt one of the best Star Wars films to date, widely surpassing The Force Awakens and eclipsing even the last chapter of the widely beloved original trilogy, Return of the Jedi.

Director Rian Johnson is a newcomer to the Star Wars franchise, and while this is his first time taking the helm of such a large production, his incredible talent is ever-more apparent with the release of The Last Jedi. I’m only familiar with one of Mr. Johnson’s previous films, Looper, which was a refreshing sci-fi film of recent years. My expectations for The Last Jedi were quite high based on Lucasfilm’s confidence in him and his obvious talent for great storytelling and strong cinematography. While some may find Johnson’s vision of Star Wars more divisive than they’d prefer, it is abundantly clear that his efforts have produced one of the most exciting and refreshing entries in the Star Wars saga.

One of the characters says towards the beginning of the film, “This is not going to go the way you think!” A more appropriate statement about what to expect from this film could not have been written. The Last Jedi does not play out in a formulaic Star Wars tradition, and while many fans may find this a bit jarring at first, this is what makes it so great. Without spoiling too much, Mr. Johnson does not follow much of what J.J. Abrams set up in The Force Awakens. Instead, the narrative completely at times upheaves what we’d expect from a film that takes place immediately after the events of the previous one.

Daisy Ridley returns as Rey, our primary protagonist, who we last saw handing Luke’s old lightsaber to him at the end of The Force Awakens. Rey is one of the strongest characters in this new trilogy and it’s exciting to see her develop into a relatable, yet deeply motivated heroine in this new chapter. And while I mention Rey, it is important for me to also include Adam Driver as Kylo Ren in this conversation. Without spoiling too much, let me just say these two characters share the single most compelling story arcs in The Last Jedi. Their paths are intertwined, and how they come to grips with this in light of the events of The Force Awakens is all too intriguing to watch. In fact, I will outright say that Kylo Ren and Rey are the best things about this film, aside from Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker.

Seeing the legendary Luke Skywalker onscreen once again is a real treat, and his part in this story is far different than what most fans would expect of the character. Some may take issue with his depiction this time around, but let me just say that Mark Hamill is all-around excellent as Luke once again, regardless of how audiences may take to how his character has changed since Return of the Jedi. His time spent with Rey in throughout the film offers some particularly challenging moments for audiences to reconcile. Luke is a broken man when we find him, not the awe-inspiring hero we remember. His arc is one filled with countless surprises and definitely changes the way we view Luke.

Oscar Isaac also returns as Poe Dameron, Resistance Pilot extraordinaire. While Poe is always entertaining and has thus far provided some of the saga’s best cheer-worthy moments, his role in this film is still more limited than I ultimately expected. We still don’t know much about him and his arc is given little priority, which is disappointing. But he does serve as an inspiring figure for the Resistance, as well as a charismatic fighter on his own merit.

The comparisons between Empire Strikes Back and The Last Jedi was always expected, and while some may notice a few similar themes or moments, this is ultimately as unique an entry as could be in the saga. Rian Johnson clearly wanted to deliver something quite special compared to our normal preconceptions of what a Star Wars film should be. Not everything works, of course, but Johnson’s entry into this saga stands on its own without needlessly relying on plots from previous films. From a visual and storytelling perspective, The Last Jedi is the single most ambitious Star Wars film of this generation to date. Neither The Force Awakens, nor Rogue One, or even the Prequels have taken bigger risks than The Last Jedi. But ultimately, those risks paid off, with a few minor exceptions.

Perhaps the biggest issue audiences will likely take with The Last Jedi is simply its length. Clocking in at 152 minutes, it’s the longest Star Wars film to date. And this would probably not be an issue if it weren’t for the fact that what makes this movie drag on more than it should is the unnecessary subplots featuring Finn and Rose, played by John Boyega and Kelly Marie Tran, respectively. To their credit, it has nothing to do with their performances. The subplot they embark on simply feels tacked on and lacks a compelling reason for us to care, which does hurt the plot somewhat. When it finally concludes and we return to the main story arc, audiences will be in for a treat. Nearly every part of this film I loved, but the side plot of these two characters just makes the film drag on and doesn’t pay off like we might hope. I was a bit relieved when the narrative would switch back to the main conflict.

The Last Jedi also features some of the most beautiful cinematography ever seen in a Star Wars film or any film to date. Some of the shots are simply breathtaking, and generally speaking, the CGI mixes so well with the real locations and practical effects it’s usually difficult to tell the difference. There are so many shots that simply do not fit the normal look of Star Wars, but the movie is better off for it.

John Williams also returns to once again compose the score, and this time it is a real treat. The Force Awakens was a weaker composition because it lacked energy, but this time the difference is clear from the outset. We’re also treated to a few classic themes reimagined, which definitely help reel us in as an audience to remember this is at its core, a Star Wars movie. Music is an integral part of the saga, and it’s a true delight to hear the energy and imagination needed to make the score truly shine. Here’s hoping Mr. Williams brings this same level of mastery and energy to Episode IX in 2019.

One of the complaints I’ve noticed from some fans is that The Last Jedi does not feel like a Star Wars movie, and since it acts so independently from The Force Awakens, does not do service to fans who had certain expectations. Not everyone believes Star Wars is doing enough to keep us compelled for years to come. Sometimes in a movie franchise, it is necessary to shake things up to keep them from going stale. The Force Awakens was a great start to the new trilogy, but the production team played it so safe that it fell short of the heights it could have easily reached.

The fact of the matter is, The Last Jedi is the shot in the arm Star Wars has needed. If Disney intends to continue one of its most profitable franchises for years to come, they need to be willing to adapt. So far between Rogue One and The Force Awakens, we’ve seen a lot of familiarities. I would argue Rogue One was the only film to actually take any significant risks, and many of them did not pay off. Even with this in mind, much of the film was centered around story arcs we’re already comfortable with. Disney and Lucasfilm have been so consumed with not creating more messy Prequels, they’ve forgotten to be bold and take some risks. The Last Jedi solves this problem and has left audiences with one of the most daring and ultimately satisfying Star Wars films to date.

Final Verdict: 9.4/10

The Last Jedi is in so many ways the Star Wars film we’ve been waiting for. It delivers all the great elements needed to rise to excellence, and despite its lengthy runtime and subplots that don’t add up too well, the primary arc pays off so well it’s easy to overlook these minor complaints. Rian Johnson took some serious risks, but his dedication to making a truly great and original Star Wars film has paid off tremendously. While some fans may find the shocking narrative choices a bit hard to swallow, the end result is one of the most beautifully acted and depicted stories in the Star Wars saga to date.