Star Wars: The Last Jedi
(2017)New generation stars Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega and Oscar Isaac return alongside Star Wars legends Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher in this sequel to The Force Awakens. Rian Johnson (Looper) writes and directs this episode, allowing us see why Disney have given him an entire new trilogy of Star Wars films, unrelated to these, to craft next.... More
Rey (Ridley) took her first steps into a larger world in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and will continue her epic journey with Finn (Boyega), Poe (Isaac), and Luke Skywalker (Hamill) in the next chapter of the continuing Star Wars saga.Hide
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Directed by Rian Johnson ('Looper', 'Brick', 'The Brothers Bloom')
Starring Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Mark Hamill, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Carrie Fisher, Domhnall Gleeson, Gwendoline Christie, Andy Serkis, Laura Dern
Written by Rian Johnson
Out Now (On-Demand,
DVD or Blu-Ray)
Flicks Review
BY Dominic Corry Flicks Writer
Playing out with an alarming degree of familiarity in its tone, setting and storyline, 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens ultimately served franchise course correction over bold storytelling – it existed to reassure the wider audience that Star Wars was in safe hands, and that the (perceived) missteps of the much-maligned prequels would no longer plague fans.... More
With that aim apparently satisfied, The Last Jedi presented an opportunity to push the franchise forward – it’s an opportunity writer/director Rian Johnson (The Brothers Bloom, Looper) has embraced with gusto.
This film may not represent a significant upending of what we’ve come to expect from a Star Wars movie, but it nevertheless presents enough new ideas to constitute the most unpredictable and exciting entry in the series since 1980’s widely revered The Empire Strikes Back.
Like that film, The Last Jedi upends many of the seemingly permanent notions put forward by its predecessor. It also introduces plot dynamics not seen before in the series – most impressively a protracted military stalemate that forces difficult decisions for the main characters.
Only glimpsed in the finalé of the last film, Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker is gifted a narrative that honours the mythic status of the character while allowing for Hamill’s underappreciated dramatic and comedic skills to shine. The late Carrie Fisher’s General Leia Organa has a surfeit of great moments as well, all of which are lent extra poignancy by the actor’s untimely passing.
The characters unique to this new trilogy – most notably Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren and Daisy Ridley’s Rey – progress forward in their arcs with a degree of surprise the film’s predecessor may not have led the audience to expect.
The opening space battle scene is an all-time franchise highlight, and the film subsequently offers up several dynamic set-pieces that combine dexterous contemporary filmmaking with a clear affection for the possibilities that George Lucas’ creation always promised.
The Force is most definitely with Rian Johnson, and The Last Jedi bodes extremely well for the recently-announced trilogy of new Star Wars films that he will write and direct.
Also, the origin of Blue Milk is revealed in a scene that feels like something out of early Peter Jackson. The film is peppered with these kinds of joyful moments. Star Wars fans old and new are guaranteed to have an absolute blast.Hide
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Star Wars: The Last Jedi
BY Richard-Hallam wannabe
The Dark Side - after the credits roll and you’re on your way home you'll suddenly be hit by all the plot holes and quite simply dumb stuff that passed you by in all the action. SPOILER ALERT the ridiculousness of the whole low-speed car chase in space scene near the end (I can only presume the director is a big fan of the movie Speed?) I mean, as if the First Order leaders would order their Tie fighters to fall back "because they are out of range of cover from our canons". Yeah, right!? Since when would they care about a few Tie Fighters? Especially after couple of them just successfully blew up the bridge and took out pretty much the entire Resistance command! But no, pull them back, we don't want to risk losing them BECAUSE WE'VE ONLY GOT AN ENTIRE FLEET'S WORTH TO SPARE! Next up - there is no friction in space! So why do the Resistance ships suddenly stop dead when their fuel runs out? There’s laws of physics you can play with in Sci-Fi but I’m sorry, that ‘aint one of them. Unless space has somehow been filled with metaclorian particles (ugh) obviously they'd just keep going until they hit the first planet/star/black hole that got in their way. That's kinda how space works. Likewise if the Resistance Cruiser is 'faster' that can only mean has better acceleration, in which case it would be increasingly putting distance between itself and the pursuing ships behind. Plus, of course, the old chestnut - they have somehow figured out how to build hyperspace technology, but not an autopilot??
Yes, there'll be Star Wars nerds out there who can probably come up with excuses for the latter points, but I simply don't care that much and on the face of it that's three really dumb mistakes in a single scene alone. Ho hum.
My final gripe being the direction they went with Luke, which Mark Hamill publically berated, and rightly so. As he also rightly later commented, yes, it works within the context of the film, but I thought Luke's character broke the pre-becoming a Jedi teenage sulky "I can't do this/it's not fair/I can't change anything" mould some time ago, but it seems like he forgot all those lessons he learnt from Yoda (which, funnily enough, he learns all over again here) and has become the archetypal grumpy old man. Even I expected more of him than that, and I’m no fan of the guy.
Having said all that, it was thoroughly entertaining while it lasted (which was a good while, so decent bang for your buck). Shame though, could have been a five star movie if they'd thought things through a bit better.Hide
BY SpikeDog wannabe
Must admit I am not a dedicated Star Wars fan so each movie has to give me something to enjoy. I have always found the plots a bit juvenile and the attraction has always been the universe it creates. This film was big on plot but low on what attracts me. I found myself rooting for the bad guys. Finish the resistance off so we can go home! Too long, too self indulgent. Would like to have loved it more, just didn't.
BY Newt superstar
Despite the lengthy runtime, Episode VIII is an entertaining instalment in the Star Wars saga and is worthy of the acclaim it has been receiving of late. There are no rejigs or recycling of material to progress the story and that allows character arcs to flourish. Above all, it is undeniably stylish and fun.
BY nloumachi grader
Nothing makes me happier than a movie in a successful franchise that tries something new, and The Last Jedi is a pure example of this. Even if some of it's effort is at the expense of a few weak characters and lackluster scenes, it's still worth the re-watch purely because of the impact that it had on me as the viewer. Not quite as good as episode 7, but far from a disappointment.
Showing 5 of 6 reviews. See all reviews
The Press Reviews
An explosive thrill-ride of galactic proportions. Full Review
A feast of a follow-up that actually pushes the saga forward. Full Review
Although [it] meets a relatively high standard for franchise filmmaking, Johnson’s effort is ultimately a disappointment... the longest and least essential chapter in the series. Full Review
Rian Johnson turns this middle part of the current trilogy into an 'Empire Strikes Back' for the next generation. Full Review
An excellent middle chapter bursting with wit, wisdom, emotion, shocks, old-fashioned derring-do, state-of-the-art tech, and stonking set-pieces. Full Review
If The Force Awakens raised a lot of questions, The Last Jedi tackles them head-on, delivering answers that will shock and awe in equal measure. Fun, funny but with emotional heft, this is a mouth-watering set-up for Episode IX and a fitting tribute to Carrie Fisher. Full Review
It is a satisfying, at times transporting entertainment. Remarkably, it has visual wit and a human touch, no small achievement for a seemingly indestructible machine that revved up 40 years ago and shows no signs of sputtering out (ever). Full Review
Loaded with action and satisfying in the ways its loyal audience wants it to be ... generally pleasing even as it sometimes strains to find useful and/or interesting things for some of its characters to do. Full Review
A stunning black, white, and red color pallette, thrilling adventure, appealing new characters, worthy developments for old friends and a cause to root for. Full Review
It's infinitely better than its predecessor, and it sparkles with the Star Wars depth, magic and dust, despite some of its occasionally baffling flaws. Full Review
Simply, unconditionally, wonderful. Full Review
The Last Jedi might just be the best Star Wars film yet. Full Review
Feel the force of this highly entertaining, fun and touching instalment of a cinema franchise that looks to be a strong as ever. Full Review
Makes its own way confidently and invigoratingly through the galaxy, delivering all the drama, the suspense, the wonder, the spectacle, the novelty and the heart I need from my Star Wars fix. Full Review
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