REVIEW | Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)

Let the past die. That’s the only way the franchise can go beyond its galaxy.

The defining difference between more of a saga — and more from a saga.

Not long after the destruction of Starkiller base, the Rebel Alliance flee from their former stronghold as General Hux and his advancing forces prepare to eradicate their exposed base. While the galactic skirmish begins to lean in the favour of the tyrannical First Order, Rey seeks out the aid of Luke Skywalker — the legendary last Jedi left in the galaxy — to bring balance back to the universe against the interests of Supreme Leader Snoke and his rising apprentice, Kylo Ren.

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*Minor spoilers for Star Wars: The Last Jedi ahead*

Where The Force Awakens was an anchor forged with classic references, reused storyline, and the task of reinvigorating a dormant franchise. The Last Jedi takes J.J. Abrams’ effort and drops it with a weight heavy enough to cause waves across oceans and tremors beyond the reef.

Though it does take a runtime of 152-minutes to do so.

As someone that is constantly in search of new perspectives (while valuing the old), The Last Jedi for me has made a dent in its galaxy. Marking a milestone for the entire franchise as a fork drives right into the heart of Star Wars to reveal glistening cinematic potential.

Simultaneously separating and bridging the meaning behind darkness and light, what’s old from the new — all to illustrate a palpable, manifested balance of the fresh and familiar.

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While fans, reviewers, and audiences alike insist on drawing comparisons to the original Skywalker-saga sequel — The Empire Strike Back — a reference of greater resonance would be T2: Judgment Day (1991). 

Mirroring a franchise entry that has justified and enhanced its predecessor’s existence, while retaining the attention and spotlight as the definitive film of the series.

I only noticed the movie’s [minor and negligible] shadowing of The Empire Strikes Back after a couple of days. Mostly because The Last Jedi has so much more to offer this time around than just reflecting past cinematic marvels and presenting real-world comparisons.

With an entirely new facet of the galaxy that is beginning to be noticed and explored, it reintroduces new depth of engagement towards the continuity of the characters and their trials.

Director Rian Johnson has arguably channelled the successful-sequel-syndrome into The Last Jedi — a page right out of James Cameron’s book when he received the creative baton from Ridley Scott for Aliens (1986). Inviting more ‘new’ to the franchise with open [Wookie] arms, and turning the established story on its head with elements and instances that satiated the primed “wouldn’t it be cool?” fanboy questions.

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The film — instead of taking itself too seriously — insists on bringing you for a womp-rat-filled kessel run. Acknowledging what has come before while exploring different reaches of its universe without compromising or succumbing to unnecessary spoon-feeding and excessive self-explanation.

All accompanied by a mix of new and nostalgic film scores by John Williams himself — along with a more artistic angle in cinematography to display the vibrant saga of space, species, and setting encapsulated by The Last Jedi.

Though it may be unevenly paced when focusing on several characters and story-arcs in its titanic runtime. Credit goes to Rian Johnson’s funambulism of a cohesive and uncomplicated plot that retains your interest and investment as they unfold.

His vision has rolled out the red carpet towards new avenues within the familiar and ever-growing galaxy far, far away. Spearheading towards the prospect that entails a hundred years of Star Wars.

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In a nutshell — The Last Jedi serves as the afterburner-film to The Force Awakens. And whether you’re feeling cynical about the ninth-film of the franchise or have been a fanboy throughout, rest assured that Episode VIII subverts expectations well from its forerunners and brings with it the refreshed space opera story you’ve been waiting for.

Where reality, meets artistry, meets fantasy.