"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" Review - The Spark That Lit The Fire (no spoilers)

I could end my review in one sentence right now. But because I’m a movie critic, I’ve gotta keep going. But I truly have one sentence to say about “The Last Jedi”.

2nd best Star Wars film in history.

I don’t regret saying that, and I’m proud to say that. Anyone who says otherwise is almost like saying you don't like "La La Land". This film almost tops Empire Strikes Back in my view as the greatest Star Wars film ever. It is that enormous of a phenomenal work.

First, the cast; both old and new. John Boyega, Adam Driver, Oscar Issac, and Daisy Ridley, all give more raw and powerful performances than the ones that preceded them and it’s a joyous thing to see on screen. Newcomers like Laura Dern, Benicio Del Toro, and especially Kelly Marie Tran (who plays Rose), all bring something brand new and incredible to the screen that is both funny, and truly spectacular. Oh, and I also count Mark Hamill as a newcomer since he wasn’t even in Episode 7, and boy did he bring the a-game.

Everything else about Star Wars is there. The effects are perfect, the new settings are beautiful and delicious eye candy, and John Williams’ epic score is still epic, and much better than TFA. Probably because he was involved in the whole film this time.

In the end, it all came down to the screenplay. The story is f***king insane and sensational. You get the battles, you get the drama, you get the humor, and you get two acts that are very different from each other. One feels like a play, that takes a little while to sink into your brain, but this play-like dialogue helps develop the characters so beautifully. The 2nd act I honestly can say you are not ready for. This movie hits so many nerves and punches your heart and pulls your strings to a point where you have no idea what’s about to come. It feels like it’s going to be Empire all over again as you see it more and more. But I’m going to say it again. You are not ready for what you are about to witness. There are so many scenes in the 2nd act that I keep repeating throughout my head that are so stunning, so colorfully shot, and so surprising I was screaming in my brain. There was even one moment that I always wanted to happen in all the years I watched Star Wars. This film did it, and your jaw hits the floor when it happens.

That is to say it didn’t have it’s weird moments. There were a couple of scenes that were just really out of the ordinary as in you just say, “yeah some bullshit right there.” But like, every action movie has those types of scenes. I also wish they could’ve done more with with certain characters, and some of the jokes felt too Marvel Studios to me. But that’s really scratching the bottom of the barrel. What else can I say? You can see Laura Dern saw “pew” when she fires her gun? LOL!

A lot of people hated the new stories and worlds this episode had. But I loved it. I don’t take Star Wars seriously, and I haven’t really been the biggest fan of the franchise either way, but new things in this universe are needed to keep it exciting at least for me.

I could say more, but I honestly must resist. This is a film you have to see. I really mean it. You have to see this on the biggest screen possible and you have to witness this movie to fully understand why this film is such perfection. When TFA came out, we were all on the high of Star Wars being back, and we didn’t realize it wasn’t as good as the other adventures that came before it. The Last Jedi is so good that it’s not even comparable to Empire. It simply is The Last Jedi. And you will remember this part of the saga for centuries and beyond. A popcorn flick that is also a cinematic adventure. I say stop the Star Wars films right now. I don’t know how JJ Abrams is going to continue after this win. This is your win Rian. Enjoy it, because you created this. You made us all proud. And you earned it.

Two Nebs Up!