This week saw the release of the long awaited eighth installment in the main Star Wars canon, The Last Jedi. Picking up where The Force Awakens left off, the film sees Rey (Daisy Ridley) begin her training on the island of Ach-To under the guidance of a reluctant Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). Meanwhile, The Resistance find themselves cornered by the First Order, forcing Finn (John Boyega) and newcomer Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) to set off on a mission of their own. The film sees our heroes scattered, much like in The Empire Strikes Back, and while there was some speculation that this installment would follow its formula in the manner that its predecessor did with A New Hope, thankfully this is not the case. Instead, director Rian Johnson brings us a unique Star Wars feature that's as thrilling as it is compelling, and is sure to steer the franchise in an entirely new direction.
At 152 minutes, The Last Jedi is the longest film in the franchise, yet it never comes across as sluggish and moves at a swift pace right from the opening space battle up until the final confrontation on the planet Crait. The different story lines intertwine with ease before converging in one of the most epic finales yet. While Finn and Roses mission to casino planet Canto Bight (a more bourgier version of the Cantina) is the weakest of them, it's still packed with enough action and laughs to prevent things from slowing down significantly. Needless to say, Johnson's story is full of twists and turns, but as this is a spoiler-free review I'll have to stop myself from saying anymore on that. What I will say however, is that it is highly unpredictable, and the dichotomy between the light side and the dark has never been so unclear up until now. Johnson packs so much raw ambition into The Last Jedi, marking it with a unique flare that sets it apart from those that came before. Known for his indie neo-noir hit Brick and his time-travel sci-fi Looper, Johnson's influence shines through both visually, and in the story itself. There's one scene in which this is best embodied where a character finds themselves in a hall-of-mirrors-type situation that feels like it could have equally belonged in an art house film, but Johnson makes it work, and cements himself as one of the most innovative filmmakers of the franchise yet. One can only dream of what he will bring to his new trilogy in a few years from now.
Like every film in the franchise, The Last Jedi continues to expand the Star Wars universe with its new locations and fascinating new creatures. The aforementioned Canto Bight serves a similar purpose to the Mos Eisley Cantina, filling itself with a menagerie of kooky-looking aliens who wouldn't look out of place in a Terry Gilliam film. Then there's the rebel base on Crait that plays host to some of the most visually stunning sequences of the film, including that beautiful red-on-white segment seen in the trailer. Steve Yedlin's cinematography is second to none, providing the film with some of the most gorgeous frames of the franchise that literally had my eyes popping. As expected, the creature designs are all wholly unique as well, from the crystal ice-foxes to the adorable porgs (who are more than just rehashed Ewoks), these newly introduced creatures add an extra layer of life to the environment, making it feel all the more real.
This film continues the trend of The Force Awakens with the old cast members passing on the torch to the new ones. Ridley and Boyega continue to develop their own characters, with the former sharing the majority of her scenes with franchise veteran Mark Hamill, who owns the film in his most powerful performance yet. It was great to see Oscar Isaac having more to do this time around as Poe Dameron, delivering a charming performance as always while clashing fiercely with Laura Dern's Vice Admiral Holdo. On the dark side, Adam Driver continues to prove that Kylo Ren is one of the most complex villains of the franchise yet, delivering a performance that is as gripping as it is menacing, I am curious too see where the next installment takes him. Andy Serkis is equally imposing as Supreme Leader Snoke, who has a much larger role now in all his motion-capture glory. Kelly Marie Tran gives an impactful performance in her first foray into the franchise, acting as a sort of symbol of hope for Finn throughout. Other memorable performances include Domhnall Gleesons slimy General Hux and Benicio Del Toro in yet another bizarre performance as stuttering criminal DJ. As well as that, the film is packed full of memorable cameos and so many familiar faces of British tele, you'll feel at times like it is an episode of Doctor Who. Most notably however, is the late Carrie Fisher, who gives an emotionally-driven performance, acting as a fitting farewell to the beloved Princess Leia. The film is dedicated in her memory.
It's not completely flawless however, some of the dialogue felt a bit questionable, especially some of the more humorous moments that fell a little bit flat. As well as that, the second act feels a tiny bit out-of-place during the Canto Bight scenes, it's an enjoyable subplot but pales in comparison to the action elsewhere. However these are minor flaws that have no significant impact on the overall film itself.
An incredibly strong and distinctive entry into the Star Wars canon, that packs as much action as it does emotion, The Last Jedi marks the most ambitious film of the franchise yet. Instead of following the formula of Empire, it simply borrows elements while opting to be something entirely new, that proves not everything is as black and white as it seems in the war between the Resistance and the First Order. Filled to the brim with stunning visuals, excellent direction, and powerful performances, from Hamill in particular, The Last Jedi takes everything great about the franchise and steers it towards new territory. It's not the dark middle chapter the way Empire was, but instead it is a complex entry into the franchise that ends on a bittersweet note, setting things up for what is sure to be a spectacular finale.
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