Review of Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) by Phasic77 — 22 Dec 2017

It's the cinematic equivilent of when Coca Cola changed their recipe/formula to 'New Coke...'   .

This whole sequal trilogy should have started with the events leading up to The Force Awakens. They clearly wanted a new and younger cast to market and a new and younger audience to market to. A mistake. Star Wars hit the sweet spot where everyone can enjoy it. It transcends, it's generational, it's mythic. The Lord of The Rings has the same type of appeal, books and the films. The Hobbit is more of a children's book but still appeal and 'that' trilogy of films is an acknoweldged disaster.             .

The majority of plot points set up in The Force Awakens are not followed. They nare discarded or are subverted for the sake of being unexpected. The map to Luke Skywalker for example. I doubt Luke was in permanent exile, more like taking time out soul searching and looking for deeper answers? Why have map in the first place? Just in case? No. What's wrong with many of these so called critics? No play, no premiere, no back stage pass etc? I doubt Luke would have even attacked Ben Solo first? "Knowledge and defence, never attack." Character decisions deliberately written in the opposite way to be 'different' and 'unexpected' is ultimately out of character. Sure subvert some story points, writing 101, but with so many aspects altered to fit this new narrative and regardless of what came befor makes little to no sense. .

The humour in this film is pure parody, farce, mistimed and mistolaced. "Use the farce." I was expecting, "I can't breathe in this thing." "It's only a flesh wound." It's not Star Wars.  .

The music is superb by John Williams and stands out compared to The Force Awakens. The film is generally an aesthetically authentic, good looking and well shot film. Millions of dollars on screen but overall the feel is cheap due to story and charactisation.    .

I preferred the pacing over TFA. To some extent.TFA was action every couple lines of dialogue. "Yeah I knew Luke." Aaannd aaaction. Rathtar scene, oh my god! The film within the film subplot with Finn and Rose on Canto Bright is dreadful. It slows the whole film down and makes it too long.           .

The Force connection communication Betwen Rey and Kylo Ren is straight out of Twilight. It's not Star Wars. The Leia 'space' moment and she's out for the count for most of the film. .

Admiral Ackbar.

Captain Phasma.

Why did Yoda use the persona (Hmm laugh) he used to test Luke when they first met? That persona was an act.

Luke is Luke at the end but it's too late. Wasted and if what happens to him even needed at all? Now that would be different to keep him around. Gandalf him back.I agree it's not what many Star Wars fans wanted or expected. There are so many things wrong with this film that I cannot give it a pass.   .

I am not a bot or politically affiliated with anyone or anything. I felt the need to say something. It's not just a film, especially when you grew up with all the toys etc. It's part of the fabric of our story telling culture. I am/was an Original Trilogy kid, 'fanboy,' 'purist,' whatever the pithy noun/adjective/pejorative is this week. Time to be counted.

Equality cannot be achieved at the expense of others.