(Rian Johnson/2017/USA)
Right
from the get go Last Jedi lays down a marker that things in the Star
Wars universe are changing. Luke Skywalker nonchalantly tosses his
old light sabre over his shoulder and storms off past Rey. We aren’t
going to be taking things as seriously as before and we are going to
have a bit of fun. For the most part it stays true to this throughout
the rest of the movie without over egging it on the comedy side of
things and also maintaining a decent amount of respect for what’s
gone before. But there is a clear message that Star Wars, under
Disney, is going to change and break away from the past and it will
be done with good humour. There are constant references in dialogue
to doing just that, letting go of the past, facing a brave a new
future etc but then the entire closing section of the film is a
rehash of the Empire Strikes Back scenes on Hoth. This jars a little,
especially after two hours of meandering between the light and dark
sides of the force. Don’t get me wrong, the story as a whole holds
up and engages but it is overlong for a kids movie. I’m all for
throwing bones to the kidult nerd fans but Star Wars is a franchise
aimed squarely at kids and my nine and seven year olds both agreed it
was a long haul. My wife thought it was fine however, just for
balance, you know, in the force and all that... It’s not the best
Star Wars movie but neither is it the worst. There were a few
questions running through my head with it but to be honest, at this
point, I’m happy just to watch and enjoy new Star Wars flicks with
my family and not trouble over them too much. For what it’s worth
my ranking of the episodes goes thus: 5, 4, 6, 7, 3, 8, 1, 2.
(2.5/5)
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