Star Wars: Fasten your seat belts
There is something about this whole Star wars franchise and the enigma it oozes around. Well, ask Lucas and director - Johnson, they would agree it's the core story and the heavy characterization that has to do with the success even after 8 releases and with a film planned in 2019 which should wrap this reboot. The Last Jedi takes off from where it was left off and continues to astonish with a grand spectacle of light sabre, journeys and self-revelation.
To rewind back on what happened in the reboot - The Resistance, led by General Leia (Fisher), are on the run. As the First Order close in, their only hope is if Rey (Ridley) can tempt Jedi Master Luke Skywalker (Hamill) back to the fight. While The Last Jedi may not receive top marks for originality, the eighth official entry in the Star Wars saga is still one of the most entertaining blockbusters of the year, justifying the faith of producers in writer-director Rian Johnson. After a high octane opening the film quickly branches into three storylines, sending our heroes off on their various life-or-death adventures. The weakest of these is Finn's.
With the New Order aiming its wrath at the Rebels, ace Rebel pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac, once again getting his teeth into Han Solo territory) speeds to the massive ship of General Hux, a tacky villain who seem to have a weird makeup and serves to please Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis). Hux’s silly bad-guy confidence almost seem like camp, but the movie’s smarter than that. It’s an early indication of Johnson’s confidence, injecting the material with humorous self-awareness to check the humor through the 2.5 hour ordeal. Though there’s plenty of discussion about the spiritual prospects of the force, and the philosophical justifications for fighting through dreadful times, Johnson doesn’t shy from calling out the entertainment value in play, even as he keeps a tab on the light hearted humor at a juncture no one would have thought of. From the astonishing light-and-color show in the opening minutes, the movie never lets up, communing with a cinematic tradition that has its roots in Lucas’ original ambitions.
Director Rian Johnson has made it loud and clear that he doesn't particularly care what J.J. Abrams wrote before or will write after. His segment of the chain story is going to tell the Star Wars tale he wants to tell, at the full-throttle speed he wants to tell it. While there are plot ramifications to his mission the main point of his quest seems to be to keep adrenaline levels high between cuts to Rey and Luke's "Will he Jedi? / Won't he Jedi?" conversations and Leia's 'stay out of range' space chase. Rian Johnson has crafted a film that should be impossible. This is a film that has to accomplish so much, and the results on the screen not only exceed the huge expectations placed on it, but also create a new standard that the saga must live up to going forward. One can easily presume that the next part would be the most expected movie of its release year, for the bar for one of the best scifi has certainly gone up.
Star Wars Last Jedi wraps up with a constant question that the franchise has asked over the years, are you worthy of being a Jedi, a true honor for only the good hearted. This time with twists, turns and a lot of conversations, Johnson has earned himself as one of the best in the reboot.
Verdict : If you are a Star Wars addict, you are sure to relish this movie over and over. If not go for it and you might actually enjoy the galactic experience on a larger scale.
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