'STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI' | Disney takes over - but are fans impressed?
'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' tells the story of Rey taking her first steps into the Jedi world, and joining Luke Skywalker on an adventure with Leia, Finn, and Poe. Together they'll unlock mysteries of the Force and secrets of the past.
MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
Overall, while entertaining and enjoyable, there are plot holes galore in 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi'. Unnecessary sequences, major misuse of characters (especially those in supporting roles), and an arguably infuriating last hour make this next instalment a controversial one for fans.
The plot has no destination and features completely irrelevant subplots - the casino mission, anyone? That particular mission achieved nothing and it wouldn't have been so bad if the characters developed in a rewarding way, but this was another disappointing factor of the film.
One of the major grievances fans seem to have comes from the farewell of Luke Skywalker and total misuse of his character. Mark Hamill himself said, "after reading Rian Johnson's script for 'The Last Jedi', I at one point had to say to Rian, "I pretty much fundamentally disagree with every choice you've made for this character... my job now is to take what you've created and do my best to realise your vision." If one of the original actors disagrees with the writing of the film, there must be something seriously wrong. The character of Luke Skywalker seems to have lost everything that made him such a compelling and loveable hero in the original series.
Lacking further original cast members (other than the underused Chewbacca, C-3PO, and R2-D2), the film makes way for the recently added underdeveloped characters, save for Kylo Ren. Poe is nothing more than a trigger happy X-Wing pilot; Finn is obsessed with Rey and cannot seem to stop asking about her; General Hux has become the butt of everyone's jokes; and General Leia is hardly much of a guiding force for the younger generation.
The characters seem like a cloning of the old, only with new and diverse faces. Rey is the new Luke; Luke is the new Yoda or Obi-Wan; Kylo Ren is the new Anakin; and Poe is the new Han Solo. While 'The Force Awakens' may have been playing with our nostalgia as an audience, as the series continues with the likes of 'Rogue One' and 'The Last Jedi', it just feels like the series is nothing but plagiarising itself. Even with characters like Jar Jar Binks who wasn't exactly well received, at least the character was an original iteration to the universe.
If anything, fans may walk out of this film a little stunned - and not in a good way. The entirety of the 'The Last Jedi' centres around a slow chase where the First Order hunt the Rebel Alliance until they run out of fuel. Is that all you have?
It's sad to think that someone was paid to come up with a story that held plot holes bigger than a black hole in a galaxy far, far away. Did anyone proof read it? And because of this oversight, the script is filled with comedy, encouraging it to feel forced and unnatural.
It seems that the 'Star Wars' films these days are either mind-numbingly ridiculous (as seen in the prequels), or too 'safe' as seen in the current iterations. If anything, 'The Last Jedi' is a clear example of what Disney intended to do with the franchise - create one-dimensional characters, forgettable villains, and bland, empty plots. Maybe it's time to stop now, Disney - and this is coming from a HUGE 'Star Wars' fan whose dog is even named Princess Leia! Fans of the franchise may even agree that they'd rather see a Jar Jar Binks origin story than another instalment like this.
That said, this addition to the major franchise is not the worst film in cinemas right now, and it is saved by its ability to draw the audience in momentarily with scenes of high emotion. The humour, though in abundance, will have viewers laughing and nodding with comedic appreciation, but that is the film's only saving point.
'The Last Jedi' holds a very simplistic plot that's hardly interesting with everything staked in the visuals. If only big budget films cared more about story than getting butts on seats, things may be in a better way.
'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' is in cinemas now.
