Review of Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) by Darren%20 T — 10 Jan 2018

Unfortunately, this movie fails: as a middle chapter in a trilogy, a standalone movie, and, finally, as a Star Wars movie. First: admittedly a huge Star Wars fan, I will remove this bias (just as the expert critics say they can do and that's what makes them experts and not us, apparently) to judge the film as both a standalone film and part of a trilogy.

As a standalone film, TLJ drastically lacks character development, cohesion, and pacing and is littered with plot holes, awkward humor, and a logic that 'lightspeeds' beyond the unexpected (which could be considered refreshing if achieved) and into a realm of contrived head scratch-inducing confusion.

I struggled to "feel" for any of the characters as old faces and new faces were thrown our way, nor care when one was disposed (and this happens quite frequently in this film). In fact, when one particularly annoying character performs an act (which could easy have been avoided) that could have had an enormous dramatic and emotional impact (at least it was quite the visual spectacle), I found myself muttering, "thank goodness that person is gone!".

The humor and pacing in TLJ are problematic. The director doesn't allow the film to ponder when it should (often such moments are when some of the awkward humor is tossed in to ruin the emotional impact) and slows down to a halt when it shouldn't (to show us the daily rituals of a particularly important 'character of old'). The final third of the movie could have had a handful of endings (I was grabbing my coat several times) several of which may have been better closing points than the one the director chose.

What is astonishing about these issues is how they impact the fact that this film is part of a trilogy. More head-scratching. I felt a lack of cohesion between this installment with the previous film, TFA, where many character arcs and plot devices were jarringly altered or left by the roadside as the plot plods along like the famed OJ Simpson chase. To add, the TLJ did not leave me with an excitement or urgency to find out what happens in the trilogy's conclusion in 2 years. This is a very, very bad mistake in filmmaking indeed.

In the end, the bad guys aren't menacing - more so they are whiny and pathetic. Perhaps that's how they took over the galaxy - when they showed up, nobody took them seriously??? And there is absolutely no emotional connection to the good guys.

As a Star Wars movie (and now the fan in me is turned on, because, apparently to REALLY critique a movie one is supposed to throw away any links between the reviewed film and the trilogy, series, or canon to which it is attached) TLJ was painful to watch. With the "Star Wars" tag in place there is a world that exists that we have all grown to love and we fans (at least I) certainly do want that world to grow, to evolve, to remain *ahem* vital (as director RJ tweeted in a statement that induced equal amounts of head-scratching as the script of the movie) but it should do so from the scaffolding that has been developed over the last 40 years. Meaning, yea - I don't need another bloody Death Star, but please mind the characters, plots, and well-established laws of the galaxy. If there are no rules or logic to follow: a) it destroys any creativity and b) what's the point of making the movie part of a trilogy or canon? Make a new movie instead!

Aside from all the specific issues many have already hammered home (Luke's arc, Leia's space flight through some really poor 90's special effects, piss poor decisions by various characters, destruction of the lore...), as a father, I am disappointed in the message from this movie with the character Rey: I want to teach my children that hard work is what gets things done and develops our skills. I was so excited at the prospect of Rey and am so disappointed at the horrible treatment of her character (admittedly, this issue ignited right when that lightsaber flew passed Kylo Ren and into her hand in TFA). The fact that a "hero" such as Rey is blessed with force ability not seen before (potential is fine, but that potential should have to be trained and developed!) AND without effort is disturbing. I don't want my kids to aspire to be anything like the character of Rey displayed thus far (in both TFA and TLJ).

The pluses for me are: the score (I loved it when the Tie Fighter Attack theme came in again) and Kylo Ren did develop ever so slightly from a whiny teenager to a whiny- twenty something who is starting to realize he must get a job and make something happen for himself if he wants to succeed in life. Also Mark Hammill and Adam Driver's acting were quite good considering the drivel they were forced to work with.

There is a reason Star Wars is huge and has remained so vital over the years - it is us fans- the ones who see these movies 3, 4, 5 or more times in theaters (at least not this time for me!), buy all the home releases and merchandise etc. Without us, Star Wars would not remain vital and this is where the director, RJ, is perhaps the most confused of all.