Movie fans have yet another reason to be giddy near the end of the year ( besides the big serious Oscar films and those great special DVD sets that Santa brings). For the last two years around this time we’ve been transported to that “galaxy far, far away”. When the Disney company bought Lucasfilm they made a promise to continue the saga AND delve into the mythos with “stand -alone” spin-off films. The “mouse house” has more than kept their promise. 2015 saw the much-anticipated release of “Episode VII” in the saga, introducing a new set of heroes and villains along with returning characters from the original first trilogy. Last year, while another episode was in production, we got the first live-action spin-off, a prequel of sorts to the first film, ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY. Both films were box office smashes with VII becoming the biggest B.O. blockbuster of all time. Now the cast and crew have re-united, under the guidance of a new director/screenwriter for “Episode VIII” also known as STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI. Really…the last?
Despite the decisive victory over the First Order in the last film (the Star Destroyer “blowed up real good”), the rebel forces are in hot water once more. They’re outgunned by the Order’s massive fleet, but one pilot takes his X-wing toward certain death. Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) can inflict some major damage if he can outwit the revenge-seeking General Hux (Dominhall Gleeson). The plan seems to work until Poe ignores orders from resistance leader General Organa (Carrie Fisher). When the Order’s fleet follows the rebels through hyper-space, all may be lost. Cut back to the final moments of the last installment as Rey (Daisy Ridley) meets the legendary last Jedi knight Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). Rey is eager to learn the ways of the “Force”, but Luke is still full of regret over past failures. Speaking of which, we catch up with former pupil gone bad Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), who is still straining under the watchful eyes of Supreme Leader Snoke (“mo-cap” by Andy Serkis). Back on the main rebel ship, reformed stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega) finally awakens from his wounds inflicted by Kylo. Finn tries to get away and find Rey, but is stopped by grieving mechanic Rose (Kelly Marie Tran). She believes she can disable the tracking devices on the Order’s ship. The duo enlist Poe’s help in finding a master “code breaker’ for the job, all while alluding new commander (Leia is injured), Vice Admiral Holdo (Laura Dern). As Rose, Finn, and droid BB-8 travel to a casino planet, Luke discovers that Rey is leaning toward the dark side, and is able to communicate with Kylo via the Force. Will the last of the knights be able to pull her back as he faces his former student. And will Poe’s secret mission succeed? If not, the rebellion may be finished.
As with the last installment fans get a chance to see several favorites from the first trilogy alongside those who’ll help the franchise “live long and prosper” (oops, wrong space series). The big draw here is Hamill returning to his iconic role. Skywalker, now 34 years older, is closer to that “crazy old hermit” Ben Kenobi that he encountered on Tatooine. He just wants to be left alone, still stinging from past failures which overshadow his triumphs. Yet he somehow gives us a hint that the vibrant warrior is not gone, but rather dormant, just waiting for his moment. Hard to believe, but it was nearly a year ago that Fisher unexpectantly passed away. Reports quickly surfaced that her work was complete for this and perhaps the next film. Happily, we see much more of her here than in last year’s AWAKENS. Leia’s keen strategy and leadership skills are on full display. She’s a stern taskmaster (as Poe finds out), but still a nurturing, warm maternal figure. As for the characters we first met two years ago, the actors are easing into the roles (maybe they feel less pressure after the success of their debut). Ridley’s Rey is full of fierce determination and a yearning to learn how to harness her skills. There’s a sadness in her also as she hopes to learn of the family that tossed her aside. Boyega as Finn embraces his new role as rebel agent, becoming confident as his life has a greater purpose. Isaac’s Poe still has lots of that familiar Han Solo-style swagger, though his vanity has truly taken its toll (too bad he never heard Han’s great advice to Luke:”Don’t get cocky!”). He’s a guy whose ego is as deadly as his piloting.
As for the “baddies”, Driver as Kylo Ren continues to have lots of issues: anger, family, authority. He’s a tightly coiled cobra, ready to lash out at friend or foe. Here he reaches out and tries to make an emotional connection exposing his inner lonely child. Gleeson as Hux has quite the temper also. He’s more of a self-serving, ambitious dilettante who believes he deserves much more respect. This time out Smoke is not a massive hologram projection, rather a lizard-like wraith give expressive life by Serkis. Also returning is Gwendoline Christie as the imposing Captain Phasma, who gets to showcase her considerable fighting talents.
Two familiar actors make their first saga appearances. Dern is a most intimidating leader as the no-nonsense Holdo, a boss with no tolerance for “hot-shots” like Poe. On their mission, Finn and Rose encounter an ally, DJ played by Benicio Del Toro, a con artist with conflicted loyalties whose pessimism comes right from this modern world. Speaking of Rose, Tran offers us a different type of rebel, one used to working in the shadows, who discovers that coming forward may be the best way to deal with her grief.
Speaking of saga newbies, Rian Johnson, who hasn’t made a feature since 2012’s LOOPER (he directed some episodes of the acclaimed TV series “Breaking Bad”), has directed a most engrossing entry, one that he also wrote. While AWAKENS took some critical heat for being a rehash of the original’s plot, Johnson takes some inspiration from the first sequel (1980’s THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK or “Episode V”), with his training subplot (Luke and Yoda becomes Luke and Rey), but generates tension with some creative twists. Rose and Finn head to a “pleasure planet” that feels like the Monte Carlo version of the Mos Eisley Cantina (still a “hive of scum and villainy”, but with fancy attire) in a “caper” plot (think “Ocean’s 1138”). Luckily the script has plenty of humor (Poe talks to Hux), even taking a jab at sacred saga tropes (Rey thinks using the Force is “moving rocks”). And kudos for making the affable flying ace Poe a really flawed guy. Of course the film is visually stunning from Luke’s rocky emerald isle to the “whiz-whiz, zap-zap” space battles (maybe too tough to follow at times, like the episode VI finale). And the John Williams score is sweeping, lush, and full of emotional heft (the new themes for Rey and her pals are really growing on me). Johnson balances the big action set pieces (one of the greatest light saber fights) with several compelling intimate moments (how the rebellion inspires hope). And though work has started on the next film which will “wrap up” this third trilogy, Johnson’s last act almost seems like a conclusion (no “cliff-hanger” as with EMPIRE). Either way, STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI is a superior, soaring sequel that’s full of the same kind of wonder that grabbed movie-goers 40 years ago in a theatre far, far away.
4.5 out of 5
