As I sat back in the comfy leather seats and watched the star-dusted opening credits roll out in front of me, I reminisced about what it felt like watching the Star Wars series for the first time. It had been a long time since then, and my only hope was that Star Wars: The Last Jedi would be just as mind-boggling as the others. Shame on me for ever doubting the legendary billion-dollar franchise, because, spoiler alert: it was.
If you haven’t seen the previous installment, The Force Awakens, then I highly recommend you to grab some friends and get yourself back on track. Otherwise, you’d be in for a big surprise. For those who have seen it, then you know that Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) makes an iconic return to the big screen, and this time, with a vengeance. Luke went into hiding, undetected, to the Porg-infested island of Ahch-To to die. Rey (Daisy Ridley) has a mission to bring Luke back to fight the Resistance as war is once again brewing against the First Order. Millions of porg-encounters later, Rey finally persuades Luke to lend her his knowledge in combat–leaving Luke unsettled by the strength of her powers.
This time around, Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo (Laura Dern) leads the Resistance due to unforeseen circumstances. Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and Holdo go head to head as he refuses to follow Holdo’s rules. This creates major conflict in the storyline, as some things don’t necessarily go as planned during combat. We are also introduced to a new lead character, Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran), who is a maintenance worker that guards the escape pods. She bonds with Finn (John Boyega) as she takes him to her wealthy home of Canto Bight. Though, there’s so much more to this planet than meets the eye.
Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) remains high and mighty just for show. It’s evident that he hides something deep within, something he cannot control; a slight hint of compassion. After a head-to-head conflict with Rey and Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis), the film finally reveals who he truly is.
Now that you have an idea of what the film is about, let’s talk about the magic that goes on behind-the-scenes. To be quite honest, the writing had its lows. There were moments where the audience would let out an uncomfortable laugh due to the awkward, juvenile jokes that we know certain characters would never say or do. It felt out-of-touch with the Star Wars franchise, especially since they would be thrown in during the most serious, suspenseful scenes in the film. Despite that, the rest of the screenplay was groundbreaking. It gave the audience what they wanted and what they didn’t know they needed. Also, the cinematography was phenomenal. Shooting in locations like Ireland and Croatia, the visual effects team make it seem as though they are off in a galaxy far, far away, without strutting away from its natural beauty. Special effects, as always, are mind-blowing; it’s nearly impossible not to fathom lightsabers being real. Top it all off with detailed costume design and award-winning acting, and you’ve got yourself a masterpiece.
Ultimately, Star Wars: The Last Jedi exceeded far beyond my expectations, and I urge you to go out with your Jedi Knight robes and lightsabers and experience it behind the big screen. I give it 5/5 stars. Star Wars: The Last Jedi premieres December 15 in the U.S. and is rated PG-13.
Rating: 5/5
P.S. Watch my interview with Kelly Marie Tran (Rose Tico) HERE: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNAVzHdzeVM
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