'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' Review: A Bold, Hopeful Step for The Skywalker Saga

It’s not since “Empire Strikes Back” that I experienced one of the biggest surprises in my life at the reveal that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father. “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is a little bit akin to Episode V, but bests it in more ways than one. Apart from the shocking reveals and crazy twists, Rian Johnson’s latest take on the Skywalker saga successfully redefines the entire “Star Wars” universe. Johnson adds a few more elements to it that I’m sure every fan out there accepted with arms wide open. After a year or two of waiting, we’re finally taken back to a galaxy far, far away.
Of course, as a longtime “Star Wars” fan dedicated to maintaining the anti-spoiler ethic, this is a spoiler-free review, so if you haven’t seen the movie yet but want to get a grasp of how the narrative will take place, you’re in the right place.

Expanding the ‘Star Wars’ Universe

When J.J. Abrams kicked off the new sequel trilogy with “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” we were all treated to a bunch of new characters with powerful stories to tell. However, due to it being the first one in the saga, not much was explored, and we were all left hanging towards the end of the movie. “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” however, continues the story of Rey (Daisy Ridley), Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Kylo Ren/Ben Solo (Adam Driver) profoundly and tastefully.

Over the past year, the internet grew wild with fan theories about who Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) is and who Rey’s parents are. As much as I dabbled on them before, it’s safe to say that none of them proved right in “The Last Jedi.” It’s a good thing because Johnson made a brilliant mark to the universe by making the story a focal point in the new trilogy. And much like “Empire Strikes Back,”—arguably the best “Star Wars” movie to date—the film moves the new trilogy to new heights and bringing a higher stake into the saga—even something beyond the Force itself.
Johnson saw to it that “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” become a raw definition of George Lucas’ masterpiece, successfully breaking down the barriers of the traditional Skywalker mythos and laying down the groundwork for a new hope for the galaxy. “The Last Jedi” managed to stand on its own, albeit heavy emotions and to perpetuate a sense of real balance to the Force. It’s a powerfully-driven narrative with Luke, Rey and Kylo/Ben at the centerfold. They are the pillar characters of the story; and frankly, ones that would probably become the new face of the “Star Wars” franchise.

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” has the painful partnership of loss and regret, but the overbearing power of rebirth and redemption caps off the film in a glorious crescendo.

A saga born of compelling character narratives

“The Last Jedi” is mostly the story of Rey and Kylo Ren, with Luke at the heart of it. There’s a battle between good and evil, but there’s also a grey area in the middle where balance sits. In “The Force Awakens,” Kylo Ren was a weak character, but in Johnson’s story, he becomes more conflicted and goes beyond being a mere echo of his grandfather, Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker. Rey’s story, on the other hand, takes a broader turn—even going as far as unlocking new feats of the Force. But in the midst of this spat between the two, Luke humbly takes center stage as the moral compass of the struggle. He is a torn Jedi Master who’s only waiting for his time to come. However likely, Luke sets up a more critical course for both Kylo and Rey’s journey to the different sides of the Force. Hamill is aware of his iconic character, and he capitalizes on this by bringing in a new trait to the Luke Skywalker that’s different from the one we all grew up watching in the first trilogy.

There’s also an interesting connection between the two, and not even Luke saw it coming. Johnson expertly managed to drive the audience to confusion—often having a hard time in choosing sides. In this new reality for “Star Wars,” there’s more to the Force than the light and dark sides.
Then there is General Leia Organa Solo (Carrie Fisher), who is also one of the most shocking and remarkable characters for “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” Throughout the first trilogy, Leia is known to be a fearless asset to the Republic. Now that the Republic is no more, she rose to the ranks of a General, and boy does she deliver her tasks well! I can’t say much about the scope of her character here, but to put it plainly, she realizes the need for the Force, and how it can be used to propel the Resistance to victory. It’s a beautiful exit performance for Fisher, and as much as we’ve come to terms with her passing, it’s still hard to fathom a Star Wars universe without Leia.

The newcomers of the “Star Wars” saga are a genius addition to the greater narrative of “The Last Jedi.” Laura Dern’s Admiral Holdo is a key character that’s underwhelmingly used with less screentime. But then again, Johson was able to establish that Admiral Holdo is a leader worthy of working side by side with General Leia, and nothing could ever compare to how efficiently she helps the Resistance gain the upper hand. Kelly Marie Tran’s Rose is another new face that never felt like a haphazard addition just for ethnic representation in “The Last Jedi.” She is a character with an honorable motive and noble heart, and she works well with Finn (John Boyega) under any circumstance. DJ (Benicio Del Toro), on the other hand, felt a bit off and forgettable. Del Toro is a fantastic actor, and it’s a shame that his acting chops weren’t used to the story’s advantage. If Kylo Ren was a dud character in “The Force Awakens,” DJ is Kylo’s “The Last Jedi” equivalent.

Brilliant filmmaking partnered with good humor

As far as every “Star Wars” fan knows, the franchise isn’t just a space opera intended for the seriousness and glory of it all. Humor is also a huge trait of the saga, and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is full of these. It doesn’t get too funny, and frankly, it made the overall brooding theme of the film more bearable to an anxious fan. The script is well-written, with dialogue that mixes the ones used in the first trilogies and one that’s updated to show how much time has passed since Luke, Han and Leia dismantled the Empire.

The film also gives us new visuals and new frontiers of the ever-growing “Star Wars” universe. The space dogfights make it the science fiction tentpole film established in the late 70’s, via “A New Hope.” I love how most of the scenes focused on the galactic dispute between the First Order and the Resistance. One of the things that made me fall in love with “Star Wars” as a kid—aside from those cool glowing sticks we call the lightsaber—were the space fights. Johnson has a superb eye for directing a space war sequence, and it all fleshes out beautifully, in a sequence that echoes that of a waltz. Of course, no space battle is complete without John Williams’ amazing score.

‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ Overall Verdict

“The Last Jedi” sets up a higher quality of filmmaking to the “Star Wars” franchise. It’s also a film that ends in a beautiful postlude that teases a brighter future for the heroes of the Resistance. The movie started with a foreboding sense of doom, especially for the main characters, but ended in a way that makes you proud to be a part of this vast galaxy. Emotion is a highlight of the movie, and it never fails to deliver edge-of-your-seat action and bringing you to the brink of an emotional breakdown. As for the ending, well, it’s something that would leave you shocked and in contemplation. As I’m writing this, I don’t even know the exact word to describe how I feel, but I am broken—albeit a sense of peace and completeness.

That said, “The Last Jedi” is a movie that redefines an entire franchise, more than how “The Force Awakens” meant to do. It’s a film that collects every feeling imaginable and throws it at you in one sitting. It shifts your focus from the traditional themes of “Star Wars” and brings you to a new world where there is a new spark—something that brings out awe and wonder. It’s where darkness meets light, and where a powerful Force sits in the middle—waiting to be ignited.
In the midst of these massive changes, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is a bold, hopeful step for the Skywalker saga.