Star Wars: The Last Jedi Review

Action Style

There is a significant upgrade to the action in The Last Jedi vs. its predecessor.  Vehicular combat maintains its intensity, blaster firing is solid, but light saber dueling is the true improvement as Disney finally opened the pocket book for some proper choreography.     

5/6

Action Frame

Director Rian Johnson and DP Steve Yedlin produce much more active framework than your typical Star Wars film.  Plenty of dynamic pushes, pulls, pans and tracking shots are present.  This film is certainly intent on evolving the visual style of Star Wars, so don’t be too upset if things like static wipe transitions were one of those things you couldn’t live without.

4/5

Lead Performance

This trilogy is as much Daisy Ridley’s as it is Adam Driver’s for Rey and Kylo Ren with both characters (thankfully) having some growth regarding each other in this film.  Both actors demonstrate vulnerability and charisma from their respective perspectives in scenes with each other, but then have a tendency to regressing to two dimensional objects in scenes with other characters.

4/6

Supporting Performance

I love Mark Hamill as an artist, and I know he only has so much input in determining who his character is due to the script and the director, but that is NOT Luke Skywalker.  I say that because I see no behavior, presence or demeanor from Yoda or Obi-Wan in this crusty version of the last Jedi Master.  It’s as if Luke went to the Harrison Ford school for How to Act Like a Grumpy Old Man in Fiction.  John Boyega is criminally underused as Finn is a glorified undercard in this movie.  Oscar Isaac’s Poe Dameron has an obvious character arc forming, but not as obvious as his uncharacteristically drab line delivery whenever Poe is showing that he’s learning a lesson onscreen.  This film didn’t need Laura Dern as Vice Admiral Holdo, nor did it need the superfluous mystery of Benicio Del Toro’s DJ.  Kelly Marie Tran’s Rose is introduced from nowhere because apparently this film needs more characters which is fine because it’s not like Gwendoline Christie’s Captain Phasma was ever going to be used for anything significant at any point in this trilogy.  Carrie Fisher’s final performance gives this category its only point as she makes her character matter more than what the text on the page had determined.   

1/5

Music

Legendary, powerful, impactful, thematically sound and constantly able to adapt is the musical composition of John Williams.

6/6

Sound F/X

The high standard for audio effects is maintained in this film as new sounds for new aliens provide opportunities for successful experimentation and diversity.

5/5

Digital F/X

Absolutely beautiful throughout with some special recognition for the design concepts and animation of the crystal foxes known as the Vulptex.  The one exception was the CG for a former Jedi Master.  Were they trying to CG a puppet version of him or was the animation just that bad?     

5/6

Special F/X

Not as many practical effects used here as was the calling card for the previous film, but still very effective throughout and well integrated with the CG.  

4/5

Costumes

An excellent array of design, style and color which I especially enjoyed Snoak’s cloak as well as the red armor of his personal guard in addition to the apparel of the gambling patrons of Star Wars’ second proper casino environment (sorry, EA’s Battlefront 2 has the honor of being the first).

6/6

Hair & Makeup

Very good work being done here as well, most notably regarding the progressively healing scars of Kylo Ren.  Although it does seem like Vice Admiral Holdo’s hair color was courtesy of a $5 can of Halloween spray from your local Target.

4/5

Exteriors

Beautiful compositions of real and CG exteriors for both Luke’s secluded island planet as well as the crystalline salt planet where our heroes gather to make a stand in the third act. 

6/6

Interiors

You can’t put a price on well dressed sets because if everything within the frame is important enough to be shown, your actors better not be the only things that look good inside.  High production value is on display here.

5/5

Hook

The entire first film is the true hook to The Last Jedi.  Outside of that, the “Resistance” needs Luke back in the fight and overcome whatever is holding him back.  A worthy motive by far, but again, one we’ve known since the first film.

2/4

Conflict

I still don’t understand The First Order vs. everyone else and most importantly where the true protagonist, Rey fits into all this.  I don’t even understand why Luke has fallen to despair after the film gives me an explanation because it simply does not mesh with what he’s seen and been through in his life.  The conflict here has the depth of a Slip ‘N Slide.

0/4

Resolution

Not a chance.  An unhappy ending does not mean an unsatisfactory ending and if you need an example, look no further than The Empire Strikes Back.  There is little satisfaction to be had in how Luke wraps up his character arc (seeing how there was real potential to be amazing), but no less satisfying than Rey’s lack of growth because according to one Jedi ghost, “she has everything she needs.”  What?

0/4

Dialogue

Inconsistent at best.  Exchanges between Poe/Holdo and Rose/Finn felt forced and awkward.  I didn’t care for the exchange between Luke and a ghost from the past.  The reunion of Luke and Leia could have been charged with far more emotional energy than what was delivered.  Overall, not fantastic.  

2/6

Exposition

As I mentioned in the introduction, the audience gets the details necessary for understanding the Kylo Ren/Luke Skywalker fallout.  Generally speaking, we still don’t know where we are or where we are going with our collective of heroes.  Every new detail and development is an example of deus-ex-pository.  No explanations needed here.

1/5

Character Uniqueness

That sure is a different Luke Skywalker, but it isn’t a “good” different.  Rey still shows up and wins which makes her a god?  I guess that’s unique, but no different than who she was in the first film.  DJ?  Been there done that.  Snoak?  Oh was that a character that was supposed to matter?  I guess we can all be thankful that Porgs weren’t elevated to the significance of Ewoks.

1/6

Character Relatability

Still cannot relate to the space deity known as Rey.  Complete disconnect from Luke.  I can empathize with Poe’s desire to fight with disregard to the cost and with Finn’s desire for revenge.  I still can’t put a finger on Kylo Ren’s angsty, teenage aggression other than he’s come to the age when he’s experiencing some changes inside.

2/5