REVIEW: Star Wars: The Last Jedi

It has been two years since the premiere of The Force Awakens. Since then, Disney never stopped in bringing us new heroes, adventures, and battles through various multimedia. Indeed, it is a good time to join the fight between the Dark Side and the Light.

Prior to the release of The Last Jedi, the film has been run with speculations regarding its story, leading to a point where expectations to the film reached an all-time high. With Empire Strikes Back setting the standard in sequels, did The Last Jedi deliver a satisying experience to the fandom?

Returning To That Galaxy Far, Far Away

Set moments after Episode VII’s conclusion, the First Order has begun assaulting multiple planets following The New Republic’s crushing demise. With the Republic gone, and with the Resistance suffering losses left and right, their only hope lies in the hands of young Rey, as she attempts to dissuade Luke Skywalker to come out of self-imposed exile and join the fight against the First Order.

The film did not hesitate in showing the status quo of the story at the onset. They have succeeded in bringing an uneasy and grim air all throughout the film, as our heroes desperately claw away from the shadows of their enemies. In addition, Rian Johnson followed the tradition of utilizing practical effects and animatronics for Episode VIII instead of relying heavily on CG. It is truly nice to watch a film where its helmer pushes practical effect usage to its limit. While suffering from bouts of predictability, unnecessary moments (it’s for kids, after all) and very questionable plot points (I’ll save this discussion for a latter time to spare everyone of spoilers), the film still managed to triumph in lighting a much-needed spark to the new trilogy.

A Story of Mirrors

Just like Episode V, the 8th entry in the core Star Wars story continued its bid to discuss darker themes such as loss, identity crisis, and grief.

One good example as such can be found in the dynamic between Rey and Luke Skywalker.

Truth be told, this isn’t your ideal master-student combi. Here, we are given two individuals whose skeletons are creeping out of their respective closets. We have Rey, a budding Force sensitive whose continuing desire to discover her parentage keeps her from unraveling her true purpose in the battle against the First Order, leading her to seek a father figure in Luke. The old Skywalker, on the other hand, has issues of his own. Struck with immense grief and regrets from his failures as a Jedi Master, he secludes himself from the Force and the entire galaxy, as he becomes a recluse hoping for a means to his end.

To put it in a nutshell, The Last Jedi is a tale of mirrors, a story of two protagonists aiming to rise from their own dark cloaks as they seek renewed purpose. This is where the film truly surpasses Empire Strikes Back, by highlighting what Star Wars is all about: Redemption.

As the old adage puts it, one cannot hope to achieve light without a shade of darkness.

Passing The Torch

Truth be told, the sequel trilogy is in good hands. With a rich plethora of new heroes in the spotlight, I cannot wait to see where the franchise’s new direction leads. Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac and Kelly Marie Trann definitely owned their characters to top notch. Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill also delivered their final act as Leia Organa Solo and Luke Skywalker with gravitas, warmth, and love, with the latter going full drive in what I can describe as his best performance as the Jedi we all followed and loved.

I’m going to miss these characters once Episode IX kicks in. I won’t be fretting, though, knowing that I can expect great things with the current cast.

A Spiral of Battles

The Last Jedi also serves as a showcase of epic space and ground battles. From the Resistance’s escape from their base at D’Qar, down to that climactic clash at Crait, the film never stopped in bringing a sense of grit and escalation at every second. Truly, with high stakes come brilliant battles, and with Rian Johnson’s usage of practical effects, The Last Jedi is a marvel to watch at.

The Battle Continues

In conclusion, Star Wars: The Last Jedi sets the bar as the best entry there in the sequel trilogy, yet. It honors the franchise’s rich legacy by continuing what made Star Wars iconic for decades, and looks to new horizon by delivering new elements in the saga. It will surely be a struggle for Abrams to top what Episode VIII had in its plate.

This review is powered by Disney and Lucasfilm. Images by Lucasfilm. Star Wars: The Last Jedi is now showing in theaters nationwide.