- I liked all of the interaction between Luke and Rey. I don’t believe what Kylo Ren said about her parents, I think she does have other parentage but I don’t know what such parentage could be. The fact that the Force is so strong with her and it looks like she doesn’t really need as much training as others have, lead me to this thought. And her connection with Kylo Ren. Since the connection is a little similar to the one Leia and Luke have (and it wasn’t available when Luke “turned off his connection to the Force”), I wondered during the movie if Rey and Ben were brother/sister.
- I like how Rey easily believed in herself to move boulders to let the others out and thought that it is an interesting contrast to Luke who could barely move a few stones during his early training with Yoda.
- The connection between Rey and Finn – romantic or more of a brother/sister type relationship or just the best of friends? Rose’s comments toward the end to Finn complicate this question somewhat.
- I thought it was interesting that Billie Lourd (Carrie Fisher’s daughter) wore her hair up in two buns, but they were more toward the back of her head than on the sides, but it was an obvious homage to A New Hope.
- I actually did not like Kylo Ren in the TFA but liked him better in TLJ. What do you all think about his motivation to kill Snoke – did he turn good for a brief time (and to save Rey) or do you think he was always inclined to become the Supreme Leader himself?
- I was shocked at how many characters were killed off and though Leia wasn’t killed off in the actual movie, she obviously won’t be in the third so it is a bit sad to me that the only surviving original characters left are the droids and Chewbacca, who I would have liked to see a little more of in the movie.
- I did think it was a bit too long. I think they could have edited out at least 30 minutes and created a tighter movie without really losing anything.
- I thought the CGI was pretty good.
- I saw it in 3D but didn’t feel you really gained anything from it being in 3D. (As an aside, the only movie I’ve ever seen in 3D that was completely worthwhile and better in 3D was Avatar.)
- I think a few elements were hokey (Leia in space, etc.) but the same could be said for every SW movie.
- While I liked some of the humor, a few comic lines felt forced. I miss Han being the one to deliver the laugh lines.
I like the movie more after thinking about for a while and will likely see it again.I do wonder if the last one will be a good 20+ years set into the future but would rather see what happens with Rey before then.
Been thinking about it, and this just hit me.... Â
At the end, before Luke disappears from Kylo, he says "see you around, kid"....
It hit me that Han Solo had a habit of calling Luke kid a lot in the original trilogy. I looked it up, and there are several quotes from him that reference "kid"...
No match for a good blaster at your side, "kid".
Great "kid", now don't get cocky.
"Kid", I’ve flown from one side of this galaxy to the other....
To name a few. So I guess that was a subtle dig at Kylo from Luke for Han?
Leia being Rey's master, or at least having her mentor her. But with Carrie Fischer's passing, I doubt that it plays out that way.
I have absolutely no problem with Rey's parents being nobody. I hope they are nobodies. They need to open up the universe, introduce tons of new characters so there can be mysteries outside of the Skywalker/Solo clans.
The Snoke thing bothered me as well. But overall I really dug the flick. Was a lot of action and every scene with Luke and Rey together just popped.
but could have lost the entire Finn storyline and it would only improve the film. Also wish we watched Luke actually train Rey rather than milking some space creature. Weird.
It would suck to be the Empire/First Order's insurance company Â
I'll be seeing it again to get a better handle on it.
Negatives:
-I felt the humor was corny and or forced. (leading off the movie with a jerky boys esque phone scam, really?) in contrast, I laughed at most of the jokes in TFA.
-the entire Finn arc was pointless
-Leia Poppins... ugh
-I never really felt any tension or danger for the protagonists
-phasma is another cool looking disposable a la maul/fett/grievous
Positives:
-Luke/Rey scenes
-Reylo
-crait battle and the samurai showdown
Random cool things:
-yoda's "fuck yo tree"
-shadow of the millennium falcon on crait before it starts serving up tie fighters
-lightspeed through the snoke ship
-Leia blasting poe
-the new walkers and kylo tie fighter
I have to admit to schadenfreude regarding Rey parentage and Snoke origin. I was so tired of hearing people's theories for two years I was glad it was for naught.
I'll be seeing it again to get a better handle on it.
Negatives:
-I felt the humor was corny and or forced. (leading off the movie with a jerky boys esque phone scam, really?) in contrast, I laughed at most of the jokes in TFA.
-the entire Finn arc was pointless
-Leia Poppins... ugh
-I never really felt any tension or danger for the protagonists
-phasma is another cool looking disposable a la maul/fett/grievous
Positives:
-Luke/Rey scenes
-Reylo
-crait battle and the samurai showdown
Random cool things:
-yoda's "fuck yo tree"
-shadow of the millennium falcon on crait before it starts serving up tie fighters
-lightspeed through the snoke ship
-Leia blasting poe
-the new walkers and kylo tie fighter
I have to admit to schadenfreude regarding Rey parentage and Snoke origin. I was so tired of hearing people's theories for two years I was glad it was for naught.
Agree with most of this. For some reason I feel like I have no interest in anything having to do with Finn or Poe. They are trying to push them as main characters but I find them both to be very uninteresting and just a distraction from the main storyline surrounding Rey and Kylo.
Here were my thoughts of the movie... After a night to digest. Â
- Amazing action sequences. Really enjoyed this aspect of the movie. Absolutely breathtaking scenes.
- I thought they made Poe look awesome. Pretty much a "Maverick" from Top Gun type character. His interactions with (the best newer character) BB8. BB8 was awesome.
- I haven't cared for Finn or his stories. The most interesting part of Finn was him sacrificing himself and they took that away. Wrong move. Should have let him die a hero. A good death.
- Luke milking that big fucker and drinking the milk? Did we need to see that?
- Leia Poppins. In the moment I was like "bruh she's floating through space with no mask. Should be dead.... Yada Yada Yada.". Today? Fuck it. It's Star Wars, She's Princess Leia... I'm gonna let it slide. She died in real life... I'm giving them a pass.
- Snoke... I feel two different ways about this. I feel on one hand... That Snoke was a huge missed opportunity to create a larger than life DS figure. One the other hand... They sacrificed Snoke to continue the build for Kylo in the top "heel" spot. Plus... It seems like every DS baddie goes out in a movie or two. Maul, General G, Dooku, Boba Fett ect. So I was fine with the direction they took. If they continue the upwards trajection of Kylo... It'll be worth it.
I thought the Luke scenes kicked ass. Especially the swerve at the end with him using his protection. I loved it.
-Yoda. "fuck yo couch". Loved that scene.
- the hyperdrive into Snokes ship? That was fantastic. What a visual.
- Reys parents? Either a huge missed opportunity to do something incredibly fun with... Or Ren was talking out his ass. I'm not sure.
I really want to watch it again... But I genuinely care about what happens with Rey, Poe, Leia and Ren. And I feel that episode 8 did it's job in that respect. Do I care how episode 9 ends and what becomes of these new characters. My answer? A resounding yes.
I definitely agree that Luke's last line was an homage to Han.
In fact, I found it interesting that almost all the snarky, cynical, funny things that would have been things Han would say were said by Luke. I saw an interview with Mark Hamill where he talked about loving the arc of his character - the most innocent/naive character in the first film to this one where he has become so cynical and withdrawn from everything he once believed in so strongly. After seeing the movie, I do think part of that was Han rubbing off on him/being proved right about the universe over the years.
Anyway, I enjoyed the movie. I agree that some of the dialogue was awkward. However, most people (who aren't Star Wars worshipers) thought the original trilogy had some pretty clunky/bad dialogue - so that doesn't bug me much.
The more I think about it, the more accepting of it.... Â
have been trimmed, seemed to drag in the middle a bit. The journey was almost all self discovery as the action is such a short time, basically a chase scene from space to the planet.
I thought the Snoke scene where Rey and KR fight together was thrilling and breathtaking. Movie theater erupted in cheers (how often does that happen)
I loved seeing Yoda, thought he acted like he did in the original trilogy.funny, wise and pestering.
The opening was great, riveting action and bittersweet with all the loss.
I wanted to see Luke fight once more so I was a bit disappointed by his great fake out, but it was a original turn. Wanted to see the green sabre (which was a clue he wasnt there since it was blue and Rey has that) in action again.
All in all had a good time and cant wait to see 9.
I felt it was unnecessary to kill Luke off at the end. Would have rather seen him survive although he’s likely to show up as a force ghost in Ep 9. But it would have been satisfying to see him fight side by side Rey in next movie.
my reaction is more muted. It didn't "feel" like a Star Wars movie, but then again, I'm now 43 years old and I lived and died with Star Wars as an 8 year old child in the 1980s, so nothing will live up to the hype. JJ Abrams gave the fan service in TFA.
It was too long, they could have tightened the story line up and cut out some scenes that went on too long.
The casino world was way too much crap. I get that we see some of that in Mos Eisely, and some more on Jabba's Sail Barge. But this just went on and on.
Wonder woman Leia was awful and we never really saw a Jedi have an out of body telepathy thing either from Luke. But they had to give him a heroic death. I was glad it wasn't from getting the shit blown out of him by the "even bigger AT-ATs"
That said, I give the storyline credit for the plot twists. I didn't see Snoke getting chopped in half like that. He's no Emperor that's for sure.
As for Rey, my own theory remains...she's like Anakin Skywalker. She's a vergence in the force. She has no "parents", just the force made her. That's why she only saw herself when she went into the island cave. So where the story begins with Anakin to bring balance to the force and destroy the Sith, it will end with Rey doing it.
My other thought was hoping she was made as a clone of sorts from Luke's hand. If they found his lightsaber, they found his hand. I think Kylo Ren was talking shit saying her parents were nobodies. He didn't want her to know that she's more powerful than him, which we already know.
Also, Captain Phasma is the new Darth Maul. Looked cool for 2 seconds in the previews, but actually was a no talent chump who didn't do much of anything.
I did appreciate Luke's end coming where he helped with the rebellion continue on and seeing the 2 suns setting, where we saw him staring off at it on Tatooine back in 1977 was a good way to send him off. But I'm sure he'll come back as a force ghost. Speaking of force ghosts, how is it possible after 30 years and all the tech advances, puppet Yoda still looks better than the CGI shit they do with him. Let Frank Oz run him like a muppet again.
Also, at the end of all this, they'd better let Chewbacca have a huge role to win everything and give him a fucking medal like he should have gotten on Yavin.
Wasnt Ezra. I wondef wtf will happen in the last 4 eps of Rebels....will Kanan and Ezra live and be hiding giving Rey a chance to be daughter of 1 of them? Will Thrawn live and possibly be the real driving force behind Kylo? Or am I just dreaming they will connect Rebels anymore than they have?
--Luke steals every scene he is in; unquestioned star of the movie
--Yoda meeting Luke as a force ghost changing the trajectory of the story
--Rey trying to turn Kylo Ren back to the light, but failing/Rey-Kylo mind interactions
--The very last scene with the slave boy Force-grabbing the broom. Could lead to Rey creating a new Jedi order in the future
--The humor (Chewbacca baking a Porg and all the Porgs getting mad at him; Luke milking the creature for green milk)
Negatives:
--Snoke getting killed off. He's supposed to be the big baddie who created the First Order out of the ashes of the Empire, and emo Kylo Ren kills him with a stab in the back? Therefore, we will have...
--No Luke/Snoke confrontation. Snoke corrupted Kylo and Luke's students and Luke doesn't get his chance to take Snoke out?
--Where were the Knights of Ren? Weren't they supposed to be Luke's younglings before Kylo destroyed his Jedi Order? Wasn't Kylo and the Knights of Ren the reason why Luke put himself in exile?
--No lightsaber duel. You have to see at least one in a Star Wars film
--The Canto Bight sequence was solely written in for that final shot of the boy Force-grabbing his broom
Overall it was good but they devalued a lot of the big villains and none of the original cast is left aside from Chewbacca and the droids
Overall very good IMO, I’d grade it a solid B+. Strong step up from TFA. Most of the positives and negatives already discussed here are on point for me. For me the good mostly outweighed the bad, I was engrossed the whole movie. My take:
Positives:
- I LOVED Luke in this one. IMO, excellent work by Mark Hamill. Managed to make Luke a legendary Jedi Master, a still naive at times Jedi apprentice, and a human being with quirks. I’m also really glad he was actually dead at the end, would have ruined the effort otherwise.
- Poe - excellent again
- Rey - Daisy Ridleys done a very good job IMO carrying a big role
- Some good nods to the nostalgia without overdoing it - C3P0, R2, Chewy, Yoda, some Han references
- The humorous bits mostly worked for me...laughed out loud with the crowd a few times. Like the funny little creatures on the island - meaningless to the story, but gave Chewy the chance to show some personality.
- Loved Snokes demise - Didn’t see that coming
- Action sequences very well directed, with good musical components. Rian Johnson delivered.
Negatives:
- way over the top with the obvious references to current day politics. We get it, that’s an underlying theme of the story, but I was so forced it didn’t seem authentic.
- Hope we hear more of Snokes backstory
- I agree that Finn was a dud in this one. I was actually bummed he didn’t succeed in sacrificing himself. Weakest of the new main characters by far.
- Benicio Del Toro - bleh. Silly character with predictable story turn. His mumbling was hilarious in Usual Suspects, it was terrible here.
For me, I’m reminded that when George Lucas made A New Hope, he had no idea if he’d get to write even one more sequel, so that story stood alone with a good conclusion while leaving the sequel door open. TFA was written knowing a lot more was coming in the rest of the trilogy.
What they would have done different had they known Carrie Fisher(sp) would not have been around for the sequel. It seems clear that her role in the next one would have been large
Thanks for that eye-opening analysis. Your contributions, as always, are indispensable.
I'm always perplexed at how much we analyze and nitpick these movies, saying this or that was stupid or didn't make sense.
It's a movie about fucking space wizards, of course crazy nonsensical shit happened.
People don't seem to understand that SW is whimsical space fantasy. It's not science fiction. Sometimes silly things happen. Sometimes teddy bears demolish Imperial troops. It's fantasy. It's what SW has always been.
...film was disjointed and directed poorly. Enjoyable overall but could have been so much more. Back to the drawing board and hopefully Abrams can seal the deal with a winner.
The part about Leia broadcasting a call to the Outer Rim Â
opens up a gigantic path for Lando to come back in Episode 9 (here's hoping Billy Dee Williams is up for it).
--Bespin, where Cloud City is, is in an isolated corner of the galaxy
--Lando has all kinds of cash to build a fleet from his smuggling
--The current resistance is reduced to the Millennium Falcon (Lando's ship). You could even make it part of the plot where Lando wants the Falcon back for spare parts
--Lando's character really doesn't get his feet wet until his own neck is at stake (and you could write it that way, with the First Order still ascendant)
Additionally, there are no main characters left from the original Â
I thought they might have been Snoke’s guards. They had some cool weapons.
I thought Del Toro’s character was important to show how the wealthy benefit from conflict and because of that help both sides.
And Yoda showing Luke how to take out the tree was awesome.
I hope we see the Knights of Ren in Episode 9, dont think those were Snoke's guards. Luke did mention that the night at the Temple, Ben took off with a handful of his students so it was nice to get a little minor detail about them.
I thought they might have been Snoke’s guards. They had some cool weapons.
I thought Del Toro’s character was important to show how the wealthy benefit from conflict and because of that help both sides.
And Yoda showing Luke how to take out the tree was awesome.
Why was it important to show how the wealthy benefit from war? It’s a Star Wars movie, not a fucking political commentary.
Well, I guess everything has to be political for some.
Plenty of politics in star wars going back to the prequel trilogy, which was set against the backdrop of a failing democracy embracing the rise of a military dictatorship.
I thought they might have been Snoke’s guards. They had some cool weapons.
I thought Del Toro’s character was important to show how the wealthy benefit from conflict and because of that help both sides.
And Yoda showing Luke how to take out the tree was awesome.
Why was it important to show how the wealthy benefit from war? It’s a Star Wars movie, not a fucking political commentary.
Well, I guess everything has to be political for some.
Plenty of politics in star wars going back to the prequel trilogy, which was set against the backdrop of a failing democracy embracing the rise of a military dictatorship.
Of course it is, and the politics of the time being an underlying theme of Lucas’s writing is well documented. I just found the a lot themes to be over the top and gratuitious in The Last Jedi.
Part of the story? Sure. Benicio Del Toro’s otherwise flimsy character being “important” to tell that side of the story? Silly. IMO
Yeah, I'd agree that it was somewhat heavy-handed Â
But in a sense, that has also followed Star Wars before it got disneyfied. The Empire was originally a racist, sexist, fascist regime that discriminated against non-humans and women.
RE: Yeah, I'd agree that it was somewhat heavy-handed Â
But in a sense, that has also followed Star Wars before it got disneyfied. The Empire was originally a racist, sexist, fascist regime that discriminated against non-humans and women.
Yup fair points. It was even more obviously Nazi-esque in the original trilogy after all
both as written and played by a god awful actor. The character screws up veering he touches and keeps trying to run away in both movies. He just distracts from every scene he's in....so bad that I kept rooting for him to die.
Does anyone else feel this way? Better yet.....is there anyone who enjoys his character or how he's portrayed by the actor playing him? Honestly curious to see how others feels about him.
both as written and played by a god awful actor. The character screws up veering he touches and keeps trying to run away in both movies. He just distracts from every scene he's in....so bad that I kept rooting for him to die.
Does anyone else feel this way? Better yet.....is there anyone who enjoys his character or how he's portrayed by the actor playing him? Honestly curious to see how others feels about him.
The Rose and Finn subplot added nothing. If you take out all of their scenes, nothing changes.
both as written and played by a god awful actor. The character screws up veering he touches and keeps trying to run away in both movies. He just distracts from every scene he's in....so bad that I kept rooting for him to die.
Does anyone else feel this way? Better yet.....is there anyone who enjoys his character or how he's portrayed by the actor playing him? Honestly curious to see how others feels about him.
The Rose and Finn subplot added nothing. If you take out all of their scenes, nothing changes.
Boyega as Finn stands out as weak to me in no small way bc I think Daisy Ridley has done a fine job through 2 movies as Rey (especially spending so much of this movie acting alone or one on one across from Mark Hamill killing it as a Luke), and Oscar Isaac has reinvented the Han Solo type character as Poe.
Am I taking crazy pills or is no one else noticing that they are simply copying the old films?
Awakens was similar to ANH but this was not that similar to RotJ. The plot twists with Leia, Snoke, and Luke were all pretty unique (even though I didn't care for the Leia twist).
I think its as simple as some people just won't be satisfied. Did you like any aspect of it?
Snoke wasn't supposed to die in the eyes of pretty much everyone. My packed theater was collectively shocked when it happened. He was supposed to be a focal point heading into ep 9. And Dern's scene may have been the coolest of the entire series which was also unexpected.
When you have movies continuing the same universe with some of the same characters you are going to have plot parallels. When the franchise reboots in the next trilogy you'll get a new story.
- I like how Rey easily believed in herself to move boulders to let the others out and thought that it is an interesting contrast to Luke who could barely move a few stones during his early training with Yoda.
- The connection between Rey and Finn – romantic or more of a brother/sister type relationship or just the best of friends? Rose’s comments toward the end to Finn complicate this question somewhat.
- I thought it was interesting that Billie Lourd (Carrie Fisher’s daughter) wore her hair up in two buns, but they were more toward the back of her head than on the sides, but it was an obvious homage to A New Hope.
- I actually did not like Kylo Ren in the TFA but liked him better in TLJ. What do you all think about his motivation to kill Snoke – did he turn good for a brief time (and to save Rey) or do you think he was always inclined to become the Supreme Leader himself?
- I was shocked at how many characters were killed off and though Leia wasn’t killed off in the actual movie, she obviously won’t be in the third so it is a bit sad to me that the only surviving original characters left are the droids and Chewbacca, who I would have liked to see a little more of in the movie.
- I did think it was a bit too long. I think they could have edited out at least 30 minutes and created a tighter movie without really losing anything.
- I thought the CGI was pretty good.
- I saw it in 3D but didn’t feel you really gained anything from it being in 3D. (As an aside, the only movie I’ve ever seen in 3D that was completely worthwhile and better in 3D was Avatar.)
- I think a few elements were hokey (Leia in space, etc.) but the same could be said for every SW movie.
- While I liked some of the humor, a few comic lines felt forced. I miss Han being the one to deliver the laugh lines.
I like the movie more after thinking about for a while and will likely see it again.I do wonder if the last one will be a good 20+ years set into the future but would rather see what happens with Rey before then.
It hit me that Han Solo had a habit of calling Luke kid a lot in the original trilogy. I looked it up, and there are several quotes from him that reference "kid"...
No match for a good blaster at your side, "kid".
Great "kid", now don't get cocky.
"Kid", I’ve flown from one side of this galaxy to the other....
To name a few. So I guess that was a subtle dig at Kylo from Luke for Han?
I have absolutely no problem with Rey's parents being nobody. I hope they are nobodies. They need to open up the universe, introduce tons of new characters so there can be mysteries outside of the Skywalker/Solo clans.
The Snoke thing bothered me as well. But overall I really dug the flick. Was a lot of action and every scene with Luke and Rey together just popped.
Negatives:
-I felt the humor was corny and or forced. (leading off the movie with a jerky boys esque phone scam, really?) in contrast, I laughed at most of the jokes in TFA.
-the entire Finn arc was pointless
-Leia Poppins... ugh
-I never really felt any tension or danger for the protagonists
-phasma is another cool looking disposable a la maul/fett/grievous
Positives:
-Luke/Rey scenes
-Reylo
-crait battle and the samurai showdown
Random cool things:
-yoda's "fuck yo tree"
-shadow of the millennium falcon on crait before it starts serving up tie fighters
-lightspeed through the snoke ship
-Leia blasting poe
-the new walkers and kylo tie fighter
I have to admit to schadenfreude regarding Rey parentage and Snoke origin. I was so tired of hearing people's theories for two years I was glad it was for naught.
Negatives:
-I felt the humor was corny and or forced. (leading off the movie with a jerky boys esque phone scam, really?) in contrast, I laughed at most of the jokes in TFA.
-the entire Finn arc was pointless
-Leia Poppins... ugh
-I never really felt any tension or danger for the protagonists
-phasma is another cool looking disposable a la maul/fett/grievous
Positives:
-Luke/Rey scenes
-Reylo
-crait battle and the samurai showdown
Random cool things:
-yoda's "fuck yo tree"
-shadow of the millennium falcon on crait before it starts serving up tie fighters
-lightspeed through the snoke ship
-Leia blasting poe
-the new walkers and kylo tie fighter
I have to admit to schadenfreude regarding Rey parentage and Snoke origin. I was so tired of hearing people's theories for two years I was glad it was for naught.
Agree with most of this. For some reason I feel like I have no interest in anything having to do with Finn or Poe. They are trying to push them as main characters but I find them both to be very uninteresting and just a distraction from the main storyline surrounding Rey and Kylo.
- Amazing action sequences. Really enjoyed this aspect of the movie. Absolutely breathtaking scenes.
- I thought they made Poe look awesome. Pretty much a "Maverick" from Top Gun type character. His interactions with (the best newer character) BB8. BB8 was awesome.
- I haven't cared for Finn or his stories. The most interesting part of Finn was him sacrificing himself and they took that away. Wrong move. Should have let him die a hero. A good death.
- Luke milking that big fucker and drinking the milk? Did we need to see that?
- Leia Poppins. In the moment I was like "bruh she's floating through space with no mask. Should be dead.... Yada Yada Yada.". Today? Fuck it. It's Star Wars, She's Princess Leia... I'm gonna let it slide. She died in real life... I'm giving them a pass.
- Snoke... I feel two different ways about this. I feel on one hand... That Snoke was a huge missed opportunity to create a larger than life DS figure. One the other hand... They sacrificed Snoke to continue the build for Kylo in the top "heel" spot. Plus... It seems like every DS baddie goes out in a movie or two. Maul, General G, Dooku, Boba Fett ect. So I was fine with the direction they took. If they continue the upwards trajection of Kylo... It'll be worth it.
I thought the Luke scenes kicked ass. Especially the swerve at the end with him using his protection. I loved it.
-Yoda. "fuck yo couch". Loved that scene.
- the hyperdrive into Snokes ship? That was fantastic. What a visual.
- Reys parents? Either a huge missed opportunity to do something incredibly fun with... Or Ren was talking out his ass. I'm not sure.
I really want to watch it again... But I genuinely care about what happens with Rey, Poe, Leia and Ren. And I feel that episode 8 did it's job in that respect. Do I care how episode 9 ends and what becomes of these new characters. My answer? A resounding yes.
In fact, I found it interesting that almost all the snarky, cynical, funny things that would have been things Han would say were said by Luke. I saw an interview with Mark Hamill where he talked about loving the arc of his character - the most innocent/naive character in the first film to this one where he has become so cynical and withdrawn from everything he once believed in so strongly. After seeing the movie, I do think part of that was Han rubbing off on him/being proved right about the universe over the years.
Anyway, I enjoyed the movie. I agree that some of the dialogue was awkward. However, most people (who aren't Star Wars worshipers) thought the original trilogy had some pretty clunky/bad dialogue - so that doesn't bug me much.
Looking forward to a second viewing with my 6 year old, next week.
I thought the Snoke scene where Rey and KR fight together was thrilling and breathtaking. Movie theater erupted in cheers (how often does that happen)
I loved seeing Yoda, thought he acted like he did in the original trilogy.funny, wise and pestering.
The opening was great, riveting action and bittersweet with all the loss.
I wanted to see Luke fight once more so I was a bit disappointed by his great fake out, but it was a original turn. Wanted to see the green sabre (which was a clue he wasnt there since it was blue and Rey has that) in action again.
All in all had a good time and cant wait to see 9.
I will need to see it again though.
Had great parts and then some cringeworthy scenes that took me back to the prequels
thank you tommy...glad i wasn't the only one.
It was too long, they could have tightened the story line up and cut out some scenes that went on too long.
The casino world was way too much crap. I get that we see some of that in Mos Eisely, and some more on Jabba's Sail Barge. But this just went on and on.
Wonder woman Leia was awful and we never really saw a Jedi have an out of body telepathy thing either from Luke. But they had to give him a heroic death. I was glad it wasn't from getting the shit blown out of him by the "even bigger AT-ATs"
That said, I give the storyline credit for the plot twists. I didn't see Snoke getting chopped in half like that. He's no Emperor that's for sure.
As for Rey, my own theory remains...she's like Anakin Skywalker. She's a vergence in the force. She has no "parents", just the force made her. That's why she only saw herself when she went into the island cave. So where the story begins with Anakin to bring balance to the force and destroy the Sith, it will end with Rey doing it.
My other thought was hoping she was made as a clone of sorts from Luke's hand. If they found his lightsaber, they found his hand. I think Kylo Ren was talking shit saying her parents were nobodies. He didn't want her to know that she's more powerful than him, which we already know.
Also, Captain Phasma is the new Darth Maul. Looked cool for 2 seconds in the previews, but actually was a no talent chump who didn't do much of anything.
I did appreciate Luke's end coming where he helped with the rebellion continue on and seeing the 2 suns setting, where we saw him staring off at it on Tatooine back in 1977 was a good way to send him off. But I'm sure he'll come back as a force ghost. Speaking of force ghosts, how is it possible after 30 years and all the tech advances, puppet Yoda still looks better than the CGI shit they do with him. Let Frank Oz run him like a muppet again.
Also, at the end of all this, they'd better let Chewbacca have a huge role to win everything and give him a fucking medal like he should have gotten on Yavin.
--Luke steals every scene he is in; unquestioned star of the movie
--Yoda meeting Luke as a force ghost changing the trajectory of the story
--Rey trying to turn Kylo Ren back to the light, but failing/Rey-Kylo mind interactions
--The very last scene with the slave boy Force-grabbing the broom. Could lead to Rey creating a new Jedi order in the future
--The humor (Chewbacca baking a Porg and all the Porgs getting mad at him; Luke milking the creature for green milk)
Negatives:
--Snoke getting killed off. He's supposed to be the big baddie who created the First Order out of the ashes of the Empire, and emo Kylo Ren kills him with a stab in the back? Therefore, we will have...
--No Luke/Snoke confrontation. Snoke corrupted Kylo and Luke's students and Luke doesn't get his chance to take Snoke out?
--Where were the Knights of Ren? Weren't they supposed to be Luke's younglings before Kylo destroyed his Jedi Order? Wasn't Kylo and the Knights of Ren the reason why Luke put himself in exile?
--No lightsaber duel. You have to see at least one in a Star Wars film
--The Canto Bight sequence was solely written in for that final shot of the boy Force-grabbing his broom
Overall it was good but they devalued a lot of the big villains and none of the original cast is left aside from Chewbacca and the droids
Positives:
- I LOVED Luke in this one. IMO, excellent work by Mark Hamill. Managed to make Luke a legendary Jedi Master, a still naive at times Jedi apprentice, and a human being with quirks. I’m also really glad he was actually dead at the end, would have ruined the effort otherwise.
- Poe - excellent again
- Rey - Daisy Ridleys done a very good job IMO carrying a big role
- Some good nods to the nostalgia without overdoing it - C3P0, R2, Chewy, Yoda, some Han references
- The humorous bits mostly worked for me...laughed out loud with the crowd a few times. Like the funny little creatures on the island - meaningless to the story, but gave Chewy the chance to show some personality.
- Loved Snokes demise - Didn’t see that coming
- Action sequences very well directed, with good musical components. Rian Johnson delivered.
Negatives:
- way over the top with the obvious references to current day politics. We get it, that’s an underlying theme of the story, but I was so forced it didn’t seem authentic.
- Hope we hear more of Snokes backstory
- I agree that Finn was a dud in this one. I was actually bummed he didn’t succeed in sacrificing himself. Weakest of the new main characters by far.
- Benicio Del Toro - bleh. Silly character with predictable story turn. His mumbling was hilarious in Usual Suspects, it was terrible here.
For me, I’m reminded that when George Lucas made A New Hope, he had no idea if he’d get to write even one more sequel, so that story stood alone with a good conclusion while leaving the sequel door open. TFA was written knowing a lot more was coming in the rest of the trilogy.
RIP Leah
Thanks for that eye-opening analysis. Your contributions, as always, are indispensable.
I'm always perplexed at how much we analyze and nitpick these movies, saying this or that was stupid or didn't make sense.
It's a movie about fucking space wizards, of course crazy nonsensical shit happened.
People don't seem to understand that SW is whimsical space fantasy. It's not science fiction. Sometimes silly things happen. Sometimes teddy bears demolish Imperial troops. It's fantasy. It's what SW has always been.
--Bespin, where Cloud City is, is in an isolated corner of the galaxy
--Lando has all kinds of cash to build a fleet from his smuggling
--The current resistance is reduced to the Millennium Falcon (Lando's ship). You could even make it part of the plot where Lando wants the Falcon back for spare parts
--Lando's character really doesn't get his feet wet until his own neck is at stake (and you could write it that way, with the First Order still ascendant)
I thought Del Toro’s character was important to show how the wealthy benefit from conflict and because of that help both sides.
And Yoda showing Luke how to take out the tree was awesome.
I thought Del Toro’s character was important to show how the wealthy benefit from conflict and because of that help both sides.
And Yoda showing Luke how to take out the tree was awesome.
I hope we see the Knights of Ren in Episode 9, dont think those were Snoke's guards. Luke did mention that the night at the Temple, Ben took off with a handful of his students so it was nice to get a little minor detail about them.
I thought Del Toro’s character was important to show how the wealthy benefit from conflict and because of that help both sides.
And Yoda showing Luke how to take out the tree was awesome.
Why was it important to show how the wealthy benefit from war? It’s a Star Wars movie, not a fucking political commentary.
Well, I guess everything has to be political for some.
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I thought they might have been Snoke’s guards. They had some cool weapons.
I thought Del Toro’s character was important to show how the wealthy benefit from conflict and because of that help both sides.
And Yoda showing Luke how to take out the tree was awesome.
Why was it important to show how the wealthy benefit from war? It’s a Star Wars movie, not a fucking political commentary.
Well, I guess everything has to be political for some.
Plenty of politics in star wars going back to the prequel trilogy, which was set against the backdrop of a failing democracy embracing the rise of a military dictatorship.
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In comment 13743190 RobCarpenter said:
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I thought they might have been Snoke’s guards. They had some cool weapons.
I thought Del Toro’s character was important to show how the wealthy benefit from conflict and because of that help both sides.
And Yoda showing Luke how to take out the tree was awesome.
Why was it important to show how the wealthy benefit from war? It’s a Star Wars movie, not a fucking political commentary.
Well, I guess everything has to be political for some.
Plenty of politics in star wars going back to the prequel trilogy, which was set against the backdrop of a failing democracy embracing the rise of a military dictatorship.
Of course it is, and the politics of the time being an underlying theme of Lucas’s writing is well documented. I just found the a lot themes to be over the top and gratuitious in The Last Jedi.
Part of the story? Sure. Benicio Del Toro’s otherwise flimsy character being “important” to tell that side of the story? Silly. IMO
Yup fair points. It was even more obviously Nazi-esque in the original trilogy after all
Yup...that was a cool little ending.
Really sucks Carrie Fisher won’t get to film her own ending...she was great in this one
Does anyone else feel this way? Better yet.....is there anyone who enjoys his character or how he's portrayed by the actor playing him? Honestly curious to see how others feels about him.
Does anyone else feel this way? Better yet.....is there anyone who enjoys his character or how he's portrayed by the actor playing him? Honestly curious to see how others feels about him.
The Rose and Finn subplot added nothing. If you take out all of their scenes, nothing changes.
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both as written and played by a god awful actor. The character screws up veering he touches and keeps trying to run away in both movies. He just distracts from every scene he's in....so bad that I kept rooting for him to die.
Does anyone else feel this way? Better yet.....is there anyone who enjoys his character or how he's portrayed by the actor playing him? Honestly curious to see how others feels about him.
The Rose and Finn subplot added nothing. If you take out all of their scenes, nothing changes.
Boyega as Finn stands out as weak to me in no small way bc I think Daisy Ridley has done a fine job through 2 movies as Rey (especially spending so much of this movie acting alone or one on one across from Mark Hamill killing it as a Luke), and Oscar Isaac has reinvented the Han Solo type character as Poe.
Am I taking crazy pills or is no one else noticing that they are simply copying the old films?
Am I taking crazy pills or is no one else noticing that they are simply copying the old films?
It wasn't a copy of Return of the Jedi.
Am I taking crazy pills or is no one else noticing that they are simply copying the old films?
Awakens was similar to ANH but this was not that similar to RotJ. The plot twists with Leia, Snoke, and Luke were all pretty unique (even though I didn't care for the Leia twist).
I think its as simple as some people just won't be satisfied. Did you like any aspect of it?
I like the cast... except Laura Dern's character was awful.
whomever is writing these scripts is downright lazy. Well at least there wasn't another Death Star in this one.
When you have movies continuing the same universe with some of the same characters you are going to have plot parallels. When the franchise reboots in the next trilogy you'll get a new story.