Star Wars: The Last Jedi
| Star Wars: The Last Jedi | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Rian Johnson |
| Produced by | |
| Written by | Rian Johnson |
| Based on | Characters by George Lucas |
| Starring | |
| Music by | John Williams[1] |
| Cinematography | Steve Yedlin[2] |
| Edited by | Bob Ducsay[2] |
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Production
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| Distributed by | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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152 minutes[3] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $105.8 million[4][5] |
Star Wars: The Last Jedi (also known as Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi[6]) is a 2017 American epicspace opera film written and directed by Rian Johnson. It is the second film in the Star Warssequel trilogy, following Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015). The film is produced by Lucasfilm and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, and Gwendoline Christie in returning roles, with Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern, and Benicio del Toro joining the cast. It also marks the final performance of Fisher, who died in December 2016, with the film being dedicated in her memory.
The film was announced after Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm in October 2012. It is produced by Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman, with Force Awakens director J. J. Abrams as an executive producer. John Williams, composer for the previous seven films, returns to compose the score. Scenes that required shooting at Skellig Michael in Ireland were filmed during pre-production in September 2015, with principal photography beginning at Pinewood Studios in England in February 2016 and ending in July 2016. Post-production wrapped up in September 2017.[7]
The Last Jedi had its world premiere in Los Angeles on December 9, 2017, and was released in the United States on December 15, 2017. The film received highly positive reviews, with praise for its plot, ensemble cast, action scenes, visual effects, musical score and emotional weight. Some critics considered it the best film of the franchise since The Empire Strikes Back.[8][9][10][11][12] A sequel, provisionally titled Star Wars: Episode IX, is scheduled for release on December 20, 2019.
Plot
Resistance fighters led by General Leia Organa evacuate their main base when a First Order fleet reaches the Resistance base on D’Qar. Poe Dameron‘s X-wings and bombers lead a preemptive attack, neutralizing their enemies’ offensive power. The Resistance vessels regroup and jump into hyperspace to escape, but the First Order gives pursuit using a tracking device. During an attack, Leia’s son, Kylo Ren, hesitates to fire at the lead Resistance ship after sensing his mother’s presence on board, but TIE fighters destroy the bridge of the ship, killing many Resistance leaders. Leia saves herself using the Force but is incapacitated, leaving Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo in command. Disapproving of her passive strategy, Poe, Finn, BB-8, and mechanic Rose Tico embark on a secret plan to disable the tracking device.
Meanwhile, having arrived on Ahch-To with Chewbacca and R2-D2 aboard the Millennium Falcon, Rey meets Luke Skywalker. Luke refuses to initiate her in the ways of the Force because of his past failure with teaching Kylo, even after learning of Han Solo‘s death. Unbeknownst to Luke, Rey and Kylo begin communicating with each other through visions. Prompted by R2-D2, Luke eventually agrees to teach Rey. Luke and Kylo give Rey differing accounts of the incident that swayed Kylo toward the dark side of the Force, with Luke confessing that he contemplated killing Kylo upon discovering his corruption at the hands of Supreme Leader Snoke. Unable to convince Luke to join the Resistance, Rey leaves Ahch-To without him to confront Kylo. Luke sees the ghost of Yoda, who destroys the Ahch-To Jedi temple for him and tells him that failure is the greatest teacher.
Holdo reveals her plan to discreetly evacuate the remaining Resistance members using small transports. Believing her actions to be cowardly and risky, Poe instigates a mutiny.
Our Thoughts
This was a great action and adventure sci-fi film, as all of the Star Wars movies are. There is a lot going on in this one, and I was excited for most of the film. Then toward the end, something happened that made me say, “Ughhh really?” One of the most glaring plot holes in all of movie history. This did not ruin the movie for me, because, well, just because, but it sort of ruined the premise and plot of several past movies, because: SPOILER ALERT: To destroy a fleet of massive and powerful pursuing enemy ships all they ever had to do was put a droid in a personnel carrier and jump it into light speed into the lead ship. The way it happened in this movie, it was no droid, but a dying rebel leader trying to help her friends escape. They could have made this same move long before most of the rebel ships ran out of fuel and their passengers died, but they didn’t. They waited until the very last moment, when most of the ships and people they were trying to save were dead, and then a human made the move instead of a droid. The amount of destruction she caused by jumping into light speed into the enemy ship was enough that they could have probably ordered C3PO to do the same thing right into the Death Star at the beginning of episode IV and killed Darth Vader while he was sleeping. No need for flying down the canyon to put two in the vent shaft was ever needed. To destroy any of the intimidating vessels that have plagued them in the past, all that was ever needed was just a small personnel carrier and a light speed jump. END OF SPOILER
Glaring plot hole aside, I did like Luke Skywalker’s return and the new characters are great. The rest of the story was fun and exciting for all ages. I highly recommend The Last Jedi, but I can only give it 4 stars. My reason is stated above. -MR
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