After Thursday, I’ll be opening the floodgates on “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” There will be no holding back and spoilers will be unleashed on the readers. If you don’t want them, then don’t read it. Here we go with the abridged pre-review for anyone who is possibly on the fence as to whether they should go see “The Last Jedi.”
In “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” Rey seeks to develop her newly discovered abilities with the guidance of Luke Skywalker, who is unsettled by the strength of her powers. Meanwhile, the Resistance prepares to do battle with the First Order.
“The Last Jedi” is unlike any “Star Wars” movie we’ve ever seen. However, that’s not to say it doesn’t still hit all the beats we’ve come to expect from these movies. Expect to see more of what you love from “Star Wars,” but to be surprised as well. Director Rian Johnson is known for throwing curveballs at his audience and he’s added “The Last Jedi” to his roster of unpredictable films.
Some of the CGI for “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is a bit jarring in places. It’s still better than anything we see in other special effects-filled movies. For the most part, it looks gorgeous and the cinematography is absolutely epic and quite a bit different from what we’ve seen in past entries in the franchise.
Every actor in “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is fully invested in their character and gives 100% to their role. Adam Driver adds so much more depth to his portrayal of Kylo Ren and Daisy Ridley takes Rey to the next level both emotionally and physically. Don’t even get me started on the emotional impact of seeing Carrie Fisher in the role of Leia onscreen in what is most definitely her finest moments as the leader of the Resistance. I was very impressed by one actor’s dedication to their role through the addition of a small tick that they no doubt added off the cuff to give the character a more unique and identifiable trait.
Not to sound like a typical cheerleader for a movie, but “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is everything fans of these films want and more. It’s filled with action, adventure, drama, fantasy, and humor. At the same time, it takes the Skywalker saga in a different direction that will leave most viewers in awe and wishing the movie were at least another couple hours longer. And most importantly, the Porgs are actually not annoying and appear just enough to keep from being so.
“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is written and directed by Rian Johnson (“Looper”). It stars Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill. Its running time is 152 minutes.
It’s rated PG-13 for for sequences of sci-fi action and violence. I should also add that “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” also contains mild language.
Rating: ✭✭✭✭