Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi

On paper, all the pieces were here: iconic returning characters, galactic stakes, and a build on a solid foundation in Episode VII. Like most of the other Star Wars content of the last 15 years, though, they found a way to snatch defeat from the hands of victory. The end result of all those ingredients was somehow inconsequential and simply forgettable. It's hard to believe Star Wars could take the direction it has.

I’ll start with the positives! As with its previous entry, the movie looks very good. The effects are great, the aliens are very Star Wars, and some of the visuals are very interesting. The actors are, as always, not the problem. Even if I find some parts of the performances a bit hammy, it’s Star Wars. I kind of expect a bit of that, and it’s always entertaining.

When I saw it in theaters, I thought Episode 8 was awesome. The experience of seeing Star Wars in a theater is always incredible to me! I never got to see the Prequels in theaters, and I’m too young to have seen the Original Trilogy there. But after I left the theater, I started thinking more about what I just saw. By the time I got home, I think I hated it.

I appreciate that Rian Johnson took a huge risk with this movie. And I agree that if he’d just done everything that the fans were expecting or theorizing, it would’ve been boring. I actually would’ve been ok with the decision to make Rey completely unrelated to any known Jedi or Sith, had they stuck with it. But they didn’t, so the only twist I actually kinda liked didn’t even matter in the end.

My biggest issue with the film has always been the mischaracterization of Luke. I know I’m not the only one who’s said that, either. One of the most consistent traits about Luke Skywalker is that he believes in people. He still saw the good in his father, a man who murdered countless innocents (children included) and was partially responsible for destroying an entire planet. So why, after seeing a bit of darkness entering his nephew’s heart, was he ready to kill him? The justification was that it was a moment of “pure instinct,” but I don’t think that’d be Luke’s instinct. His instinct would be to reach out and help, especially his own nephew. I’ll stop now, as if I go on further, I’ll essentially just be rewriting the movie.

Finn, Rose, and Poe’s plotlines essentially amount to nothing, which was unfortunate, as I would’ve loved to see more of an impact from them. And Leia’s “Superman” moment was…unfortunate, but I can’t exactly blame the filmmakers for not knowing Carrie Fisher would pass away so soon. Rest in peace, princess.

I know Rian Johnson can make excellent cinema. The Knives Out movies are amazing! But amazing, this is not. Unless you’re a hardcore Reylo shipper, I can’t recommend this one.