The Last Jedi review – The Force is strong with dazzling sets and captivating lightsaber duels
Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi is an indulgence, as much as the first Star Wars, A New Hope, was four decades ago. The newest episode in the Star Wars franchise, The Last Jedi is a treat for both longtime fans and those who aren’t excited three weeks ahead of the release.
The movie sees the new breed of rebellion continue their epic battle against the dark side. With this movie, Johnson has done an excellent job of studying the saga and nailing down everything Star Wars fans have come to love – intergalactic heroes they could cheer on, fantastical creatures and lightsaber duels that viewers will remember for days to come.
Dedicated to the late Carrie Fisher, who played Leia Organa, the general spearheading the rebellion, The Last Jedi delivers in a way that does justice to the epic build-up masterminded by Disney's marketing and teasers.
The plot
The story of Star Wars: The Last Jedi is a story of a family. A family with hope. A family that will one day see a successor. A family that looks set to finally see the light at the end of a long, very dark tunnel. It follows the franchise's latest protagonist Rey (Daisy Ridley) as she tries to persuade the self-exiled Jedi Master Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to both train her in the ways of the Force, as well as to return to the Resistance.
Playing the yang to Rey's yin, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), Snoke’s (Andy Serkis) apprentice, continues to live out his internal conflict, torn over the choices he has made up to this point. Kylo has but two options – redemption or complete darkness.
Even as Rey, Luke and Kylo continue to grapple with their own conflicts and inner demons, the Resistance and the evil First Order are locked in a chess-match, building up to a final battle of epic proportions.
A stellar success
The Last Jedi is a rewarding experience for those that have stuck around with the franchise. The second in the sequel trilogy that was rebooted in 2015 with The Force Awakens, the movie shuts down certain storylines and ties up loose ends. It’s a sequel through and through, staying faithful to its predecessor while building on it ably. That being the case, you will need to watch The Force Awakens, if you haven’t already, to fully grasp everything at work in The Last Jedi.
The styling, the special effects, sets, battle choreography and just the cinematic craft of the movie is enthralling and all of this and more would make George Lucas immensely proud. However, it’s the tussle between Kylo Ren’s conflict over his choices and Rey trying to figure out her true identity that ultimately wins the day. This battle of minds elevates the characters to a whole new level, with the raw emotion on display a great testament to the Star Wars theme of light versus dark.
The movie is long, at 152-minutes, but it doesn't feel like a minute too many at any point. Some would argue that one particular short-lived romance wasn’t necessary, but it is these little additional story arcs, and the film's quirky brand of humour that adds to the film's charm. There is even a special cameo near the end, that you’ll just have to wait and see.
Should you see it?
The Last Jedi is a mighty good film, despite it being a tad bit predictable near the end. Whether you see it on IMAX or not, doesn’t matter. Watch it on the big screen you must.
Rating: 4/5
