Review: Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi
Release Date: December 15, 2017
Running time: 153 minutes
Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy
Rating: 5/5

This review has some spoilers, so read with caution if you haven't seen the movie yet!

Oh man... my mind is still reeling from this movie. For those of you who don't know, Rian Johnson directed this one, the same person who directed some of the best Breaking Bad episodes. So I already had my hopes up. To start, Star Wars: The Last Jedi was everything I hoped for in the next installment in the Star Wars saga, and even more. A lifelong Star Wars fan, I look forward to whatever the franchise brings next to the story. I've been seeing reviews circulate around that this may be the best Star Wars film - I think it's too early to say that (Empire Strikes Back will always be the best!), but it is great.

The Last Jedi is an improvement on the previous film that came out, The Force Awakens. I actually did really like TFA, even though it did repeat plot points from Episode IV: A New Hope, it was nice for the nostalgia and the new characters. The Last Jedi picks up right where TFA ended, and the whole movie takes place only over a short while (probably less than 24 hours). But in that short time, every character has his/her time to shine, whether it's old-time favorites Luke and Leia, newer characters like Rey, Finn, Poe, Kylo Ren, and BB-8, or newcomers like Holdo (played by veteran actress Laura Dern) and Rose (played by Kelly Marie Tran). I especially enjoyed seeing Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher on screen. It's sad that we won't be seeing anymore of Leia after this film. 

One aspect I really appreciate in these newer Star Wars movies is how diverse the cast is. Poe, Finn, and Rose are all strong, main characters of color, as well as DJ (played by Benicio del Toro) and they are viewed as equals in this universe. I especially enjoyed seeing Rose, an Asian-American, given plenty of screen time and being an all out awesome character. On the prospect of characters, I also like how all of the females are not objectified and are all strong women. And they are imperfect, the men too, which makes them all the more real.

Of course, the movie is not perfect. SPOILERS HERE!! It's two and a half hours, the longest Star Wars film to date. At times, it does feel a bit dragged out, but that doesn't stop it from the nonstop action throughout the film. Also, spoilers, but I was a bit annoyed how some characters were introduced in the last movie and had a lot of hype surrounding them, but then were killed off in anticlimactic matters in this movie. Next, I know a lot of people really like Kylo Ren, but I was annoyed how his character development was inconsistent and how he keeps flipping sides. Rey, too, can be a bit headstrong and makes choices that result in serious consequences, but she is still learning. Many of the unanswered questions are still left unanswered, so I hope it'll all be covered in the next movie. Some of the humor is a bit campy and cheesy too. Also that ending... not sure if I'll get over it, but I don't want to say too much.

Like every Star Wars movie, this one has epic battles, whether it's hand-in-hand combat, on the ground, or in space. Followed by John William's always impressive score, it really adds to more depth, emotion, and overall epicness in the movie. I also love how they keep the overall feel of the original trilogy, particularly how the scenes are transitioned and how the movie is filmed without the CGI getting in the way. 

So all in all, another great addition to Star Wars. Episode IX is coming out in two years, and I hope it'll be the epic conclusion we all wish for. In the meantime, I'm gonna enjoy these cute little guys.