Dir. Rian Johnson
Cast: Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, Carrie Fisher, Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Daniels, Laura Dern, Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Andy Serkis
Reviewed by Matt Adcock (@Cleric20)
“We are the spark, that will light the fire that’ll burn the First Order down …”
The cinematic galaxy far, far away is calling you once again. Young wannabe Jedi Rey (Daisy Ridley) is trying to convince the legendary Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to come out of self-imposed retirement. It’s a desperate time for what’s left of the Resistance led by General Leia (Carrie Fisher) who are being ruthlessly exterminated by the evil First Order under the command of Supreme Leader Snoke aided by the twisted Kylo Ren (Adam Driver).
Can one old Jedi make the difference? Does Luke even care anymore? Can Rey resist the compulsive lure of the Dark Side of the Force? And will there be any redemption for Kylo after committing awful crimes? So many questions …
The Last Jedi picks up the story shortly after where The Force Awakens finished and sees Rey and Kylo take centre stage – they are somehow psychically linked and they tussle to try and get the other to join their side, plus we get to see them both kicking ass with lightsabers, although it’s certainly not a rerun of the last film’s duel.
Also instrumental in the plot is the long serving fan favourite Millennium Falcon along with Chewbacca who makes some new cute Porg friends, hotshot – and hot-headed – X-wing pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) still isn’t good at taking orders and one time Stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega) still burns with vengeance against his former employers. Rolling droid BB8 is also back and manages to steal many scenes proving to be a real crowd pleaser and both Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill bring excellent gravitas to their roles.
Speaking of the baddies, the First Order, has bumbling ‘how does he even have a job?’ General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) and the shiny suited enforcer Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie) plus some new additions.
The good news is that The Last Jedi is jammed packed both with incredible cinematic spectacle and personal drama. This is a new sort of Star Wars that mixes some very funny comic lines with many powerful dark desperate situations.
Director Rian Johnson who made the excellent alternative gangster thriller Brick and the time jumping Looper feels right at home building the mythos around the Force and the Jedi, crafting a take on the Star Wars universe which is unlike any that has gone before.
This a bold and brilliant addition to the intergalactic franchise which should be witnessed on the biggest screen you can find. There is life in the Force yet …
Thinking Material
The Last Jedi deals heavily in the themes of why people are motivated to either heroic acts of sacrifice and bravery, or negative impulses such as betrayal, greed and personal power. There is also a fascinating exchange about an arms dealer who the heroes condemn until a scroll through the virtual catalogue shows that this person was providing X-wings to the resistance as well as Tie Fighters to the First Order.
There are some great ‘what would you do’ situations what will make you ponder how you’re living your life. One character explains their actions by saying: “We’re going to win not by fighting what we hate, but by saving what we love.”
The fascinating mythos around The Force is interesting too for those who have beliefs. Luke who has become disillusioned with the Jedi is on the brink of destroying their hallowed tomes and letting all trace of their ‘religion’ fade away whilst Kylo Ren tells Rey to “Let the past die. Kill it, if you have to. That’s the only way to become what you are meant to be” in an attempt to show her that her destiny is being held back by her attachment to the past and those she cares for.
We live in a world where virtually every decision we make will have repercussions for positive or negative – walking a karma neutral line isn’t often an option. Alas we don’t have the chance to ‘use the Force’ either – but maybe given the lure of the Dark Side that might not actually be a bad thing …
CVM Rating:
****1/2
4.5 out of 5 stars
Related Films: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
