Poll: Did You Like TLJ's Characterization of Luke?

I think my general review of Luke's character would be something along the lines of this:

"He knew better than to do what he did. Luke had decades to internalize his lessons from the original trilogy with the benefit of age and hindsight, to say nothing of the fact that allowing fear to push you into doing something awful is about as against the Jedi way as you can possibly get. Not to mention that it doesn't seem like Rian even cared enough to develop this part of the film by giving you insight into Luke, Snoke and Ben's interactions in the years prior to The Force Awakens.

Seeing Luke get off on blaming the Jedi teachings for the uncharacteristically self-absorbed decision to cut himself off from the Force, running roughshod over his friends, his family and his ideals in the process for no narrative purpose other than to contrive the sequel trilogy into being was eyeroll-worthy and genuinely crappy. This wasn't a flaw of Luke's that was organically born from his personality. It was a flaw that he never had to begin with.

If this was how the sequel trilogy was to go, it was better having never been made in the first place as the few great moments don't justify the inconsistent narrative, the messy thematic structure and nonsensical (as well as often boring) plot. What was gained did not make up for what was ultimately lost from the overall saga and I think that's what people who love this film miss when they accuse others of being constrained to headcanon and being afraid of change. Which is a pretty despicable way of poisoning the well."

 

I am very mixed on Luke. Mostly good. I am stunned they allowed Rian to keep that opening scene in tact though. Flinging the lightsaber away like that. Horrendously executed moment for me.

 

Wait what? TV show about Luke post-ROTJ?

 

And would it have killed Rian to have Luke ignite his sabre. Any sabre. Not the holo version of himself..

I have to say, he had LUKE to do with what he could. Luke. Surprising choices. I really liked his tone on the Island with Rey and his ending scene was epic but this feels like opportunity lost for me on some level I have to say..

 

I really don't know how anyone can say it was mostly good. Especially given how underdeveloped so much of this revelation actually is. There's a lot of context that's needed in order for this to not be contrived. The film doesn't even attempt to imply important things like how or what Snoke exploited in order to get to Ben they way he did, what Luke's interactions with Ben were prior to the moment, Ben's interaction with the rest of the Order itself, etc. Due to that, the emotional core of this story and the coherency of the narrative is ultimately lost. I genuinely cannot fathom how any of this could be interpreted as good storytelling, especially when this film was 2 and a half hours long and burdened by an inconsequential subplot that could have been replaced for any of the above alternatives.

 

O thank god, I thought the new tv show was going to be about that.

 

I could not agree more. This, to me, was the sin of sins in this movie. Everything else was forgivable, but not giving us a single battle sequence with Like wielding his green lightsaber is a travesty. He could have left JJ to do this in Episode 9, but I guess that won't be happening.

 

I like the concept of Luke having a moment of weakness by almost murdering his nephew, it showed that he is not perfect. What I really hated was that after 2 years of waiting to see Luke's response to Rey with all of the emotional buildup of that last scene, we got him tossing the saber for a cheap laugh. My first thought was "that's what I waited for?"

 

Hummmm...i think its deppends here. I didnt laugh. My first impression was surprise/curiosity. And later on I did understand why Luke acted like that. His face tossing the saber was serious, I didnt felt any comic relif.

 

I did. Many wanted a Jesus-like Luke but a Jedis journey never ends.

 

I never knew a 'grumpy' person would just throw a lightsaber he once owned and fought with over the cliff... lol
So who is Luke again? a 'grumpy' person or a child?

 

Rollingstone Germany review called this scene 'slapstick'.

 

Do you think that JJ would have done the same?

 

A child throws things, a lot.

And he literally went there to die. Instead of asking 'if' somebody would do something, ask oneself 'why' he would do those things in front of Rey.