The Last Jedi Reactions Thread

Naturally I need to view the film at least a second time, but my initial reactions are good. With that being said, I think the abundance of fan outrage is a bit overwhelming in my opinion. I understand why some people didn't like it, but I thought it was significantly better than the rehashed movie that was The Force Awakens.

I do of course have some concerns/issues with the film.
- The character development was pretty minimal across the board, but we did get enough to continue to satisfy the process moving forward so to speak.
- Snoke being a throw away character with minimal backstory was a bit disappointing. With that being said, it was also rather predictable as I assumed Kylo would eventually become to main antagonist in the series.
- The plot hole for Luke's Lightsaber continues, I don't expect a resolution on film in the next Episode.
- I have a hard time believing that Snoke's capital ship didn't have the firepower to destroy the Resistance Freighter immediately instead of allowing the slowest space chase ever in history.
- Why did Holdo have to do suicide by lightspeed? Couldn't the ship have been on autopilot and she save herself? Seemed unnecessary, but I understand the emotional drive behind the sacrifice.
- I feel they missed an opportunity with Luke and Rey in regards to training. The fact that Rey has minimal training (if you want to call what took place training) and has effectively bested Kylo who was trained by Luke and Snoke continues to bother me. With Luke now gone and the Jedi essentially extinct, who will train Rey in the Force? Only options are now the Jedi text and/or Force Ghosts.
- Rey's lineage and parents continue to be a joke in the Universe. I tend to believe the fact they were nothing, as Anakin came from nothing as well. But a rather stupid build up for a simple and disappointing result.
- Phasma was nearly redeemed, but still disappointed by her character and lack of usage in the films.

There were some things I thought were great about the film too.
- Of course most people didn't catch the Darth Revan easter egg, but not sure what it will mean moving forward. Will Revan be canon again now? Who knows...
- Mark Hamill's performace as Luke was his best.
- It was nice to get a better understanding of the fall of Kylo and the dynamic between him and Luke.
- Benecio del Toro is great in his role.
- Lots of solid nods to other films in the Skywalker Saga, which is always nice.

Ultimately I think this film will relay heavily on the next episode.

 

--- Double Post Merged, Dec 15, 2017, Original Post Date: Dec 15, 2017 ---

What is the Revan Easter egg?

 

8 out of 10 for me. I enjoyed the movie but I would really need another viewing to take everything in. I'm still mixed emotions about the direction of the franchise but I have an open mind. I wouldn't say this movie is better than ESB but I like it more than TFA. Also can ReyLo officially die and let ReyPoe be a thing?

 

ditto...tell me more about the darth reven egg!!

 

In a very quick view of some of Luke's personal stuff, there is a handmade pendant of leather carrying a special object. It was a red Kyber crystal, mounted inside a cradle of sorts. Most would assume it is Vaders. However in the the Visual Dictionary for The Last Jedi, it is revealed to be a "recovered Jedi Crusader pendant" which refers to only one aspect of Star Wars and thats Darth Revan. Going back to the Mandalorian Wars, Revan was known as the Jedi Crusader. Makes sense for Luke to want to learn about Revan, as he was a powerful heroic Jedi that fell to the Dark Side and also returned to the Jedi order.

 

ReyLo died I agree but I dont see any chance of ReyPoe happens. I dont think we need romance for this trilogy. The "kiss" that Rose gave on Finn was enough.

 

I'm a little disheartened by a lot of the reactions here. I was one of the people who wished the force awakens had been more original in the tale it was telling, but I still absolutely loved the movie. Rian gave me an original tale that star wars needed. And more than that, he fit in some deeply interesting philosophical themes. Snoke knows that as darkness rises, so will the light. There is an eternal struggle. With this knowledge, how do you react? Snoke and Kylo feel order must be maintained. The Jedis of the prequel trilogy also thought this way, and they did some questionable things to try to protect the republic. The Last Jedi asks us a very interesting question - how do we break that cycle? On first viewing, I take Rian's position to be that what is needed is to show the Galaxy that hero's they need are not legends. They are you and me.

 

Rey-Poe has a small chance.
Rey-Finn smaller, but the chemistry with Boyega and Tran was great.
I think Finn-Rose would be perfect. It won't be the driving force in it but present and reminds us enough of past romances.

It must have felt so weird for Finn to have someone treat him like he treated Rey for so long. Haha.

 

So much to process...

It’s safe for me to say The Empire Strikes Back will never be replaced as the pinnacle of Star Wars.

Im most sad for R2 and Threepio. They were the magic that held the saga together. With them all but gone, it’s heartbreaking and not as much fun.Where the hell was R2 during the Crait Battle? Why didn’t he reunite with Threepio at th end? WTF Rian.

 

This is what is really upsetting some fans -- this movie completely dismantles entrenched fan relationships with the franchise. TLJ doesn't see SW as a franchise at all. RJ made some executive decisions -- such as getting rid of dead weight like Snoke and Phasma -- he's imposing taste on the audience the same way GL did with the PT and TCW. Many fans do not like that -- they want to be serviced. RO and TLJ were not made for the hardcore, vocal fanbase -- some, after the elation of full-on automated fan service of TFA, are having bad flashbacks to when this series had an actual personality behind it For one brief shining moment they were all promoted to Fans In Charge but they've been fired twice since then -- three if you count Rebels. It's refreshing -- I'd rather see a flawed movie from an individual artist than a "perfect" movie cranked out by a well oiled entertainment machine.

 

I have seen it again and nothing has changed. I am still disappointed.

 

If she didn't jump to lightspeed, not only would she never have reached Snoke's ship in one piece, but even if she did, she would be like an insect in a windscreen... Light speed is what tore the ship apart...

 

The Last Jedi blew my mind. It was nothing I expected, but everything I could've ever wanted. I am simply stunned. Of course, like any movie, there were parts that faltered: moments that seemed like a bit of a reach, some characters/motivations not fully explained, etc. It looked and felt nothing like a Star Wars film and it was this fact: the cinematography, the pacing, the bold risks, the incredible performances, that launches this film to the near top of the Star Wars franchise.

I can see why people would not like the film. It is a complete deviation from the Star Wars films we are used to and for some The Last Jedi might be too bold and too original. But we need original, refreshing content in order to keep this saga going and keep people on the edge of their seats.

The Last Jedi has been the only Star Wars film in a long time to actually expand the universe, our idea of the force, and push storytelling boundaries. I cannot wait to see this movie again and revel in its epicness. I have never been more impressed.

 

To a certain extant, yes. But it shouldnt be too deviant, a SW film should always be a SW film and TLJ didnt really felt like real SW film for me. Johnson could have done a standalone film instead.

 

So The Last Jedi posits several big things in Star Wars:

Violence isn't the only way to win. Whether it's by way of good or evil. It's a key theme and an important one. I think it's the only Star Wars where mass killing or intimate murder/violence isn't the final salvo. It's a presentation of being smart and salvation.

Hope, uh, finds a way. To paraphrase Ian Malcolm, hope found a way in the darkest of dark.

Who you are isn't as important as what you do. We got so wrapped up in names and lineages that we forgot what really should matter is the war between good and evil. The pull between light and dark.

Luke saw what the pull between the light and dark has done to people. He saw what it could do to Rey. Luke got the moment he needed. IMO Luke was never going in a blaze of glory. It wouldn't fit. He won by being Luke friggin Skywalker and doing the impossible while saving the rebellion.

Can force ghosts use those powers off of a place like Ach-To?

The devaluation of the caste system established by prior films. When Luke scolded Rey for how and what she thought the force was, felt like a message to everyone...this isn't just for the elites. It's in and around everything for a reason.

--- Double Post Merged, Dec 15, 2017, Original Post Date: Dec 15, 2017 ---

Oh and the nuance throughout blew my mind. The way Snoke was able to manipulate both Ren and Hux the right way, which was different for both. Humiliation in public, especially if you've read the books, would be the ultimate slap to Hux. And Snoke tossing him down highlights that perfectly. He needs order and control. Being humiliated takes that away. And Ren being chided in private and just berated and belittled. Subtle things. Then Luke exploits that same kind of flaw. Belittling him in front of the army.

 

I've been trying to put into words some of the feelings I felt when I walked away from the film and you stated them beautifully. Thank you so much for that.

 

Thank you for the kind words. There's more stirring in my head right now too.

While I didn't overly like the Canto Bight stuff (pacing, overhanded animal rights stuff), I enjoyed the character development for Finn and Rose there. As well as them using it as a chance to show how hope spreads. It isn't through a grand action of a Death Star being bamboozled every time. It's a simple act of kindness. It's showing someone respect and that there's better in the world. Little things.

I also liked how it opens the door to this seedy side of the war with the profiteers and war mongering.
Leaves some very interesting ideas open for future films.
Even with Snoke dead the money is still there to be made so will it ever really end?

Perpetual war...

 

I believe this was a MUCH smarter and more nuanced film than lots of fans are used to, or maybe wanted. There's a whole lot more artistry in the story and design than we've seen before. So much of the plot, the characterizations, the dialogue, is built on layers of mythology, classic tropes, Star Wars' past, fan expectation, and a singular idea of what this fictional universe can teach us.
It's one of the few blockbusters that I think is going to improve with each viewing.

And maybe lots of you are far too young to remember, but while most of the reviews were positive, LOTS of fans were upset by Empire Strikes Back. The revelation of Luke's lineage, the bummer of an ending, the separation of the cast. Aside from the AT-AT assault, I remember many of my friends hated it for being too far removed from their expectations.

 

Maybe this is my own hubris (don't hate me Luke!) but it kind of feels like people missed a lot of the explanations given through good dialogue in the film because SO much was going on. Rey's strong connection to Ren and to the force was explained by Snoke. He just did his part to mess with their emotions about it but they were always connected, she was the light side of the force manifesting itself to balance the darkness that was Ren. That's why she seemed so powerful. Because she had to be. The force basically willed her into those powers. I have to say, I like this notion of the force self-balancing like this more than the dreaded M-word count being why....