Star Wars: The Last Jedi

[CF DolFan]

I haven't seen it yet but am going tonight before I get too many spoilers. With that said I've never seen a movie with more positive and negative reviews.  If you've already seen it ... did you like it or not?

[Dave Gray]

I will give a more full-fledged review later.  The short versions is this:

The choices that the movie makes are superb.  They WILL NOT LINE UP with what you want for these characters.  If you try to tell the movie what to be, it will not be that.  The characters do what is right for them.  In my opinion, they are all the correct choices that are true to the message of the film and the characters we've been given.  Star Wars is wide open, where it was shrinking before.

There is a less-interesting B-plot involving casino stuff and there is some CG clusterfuckery in the 2nd Act.

Outside of that, this is a great movie and is a great for Star Wars.

[CF DolFan]

I thought it was good and bad and will need to watch it again. One scene I'm like ... "this is so cool" and then I'm like "WTF is this even in this movie for?". I could easily edit out 30 minutes or more of the movie and it would have been much better. I like some of the new stuff but some things seem so forced they are uncomfortable. Certain characters are only there for political correctness and humor and offer nothing to the story. Then you have the fact they just allow for anything to happen at any time. There are no "physical laws" which cannot be broken.

I like the Kylo - Rey connection although I really hate her so called lineage. Too much build up for absolutely nothing.

[Dave Gray]

Her lineage is the correct answer.  The answer matters.  That is the message of the entire movie.

[CF DolFan]

Her lineage is the correct answer.  The answer matters.  That is the message of the entire movie.

SPOILER ALERT ...

Her lineage does not matter. If your answer is "now we know anyone can be strong in the Force" then you haven't been paying attention. There is a long line of great Jedi ... including non-humans who were not named Skywalker. It just seemed sad attempt to bring political correctness to the movie. Just like freeing the fathiers. The "was worth it" and "now it was worth it" lines were very overplayed after releasing them. It was pretty obvious they were going to be rounded up in a matter of minutes but going through everything they were under was suddenly "worth it" for few moments of freedom? Just silly. In my opinion that whole trip and their failure should be cut from the movie. They add nothing to the story but fulfilling the minority quota.

I also think the Laura Linney storyline was stupid. There was no reason for her to not tell her plan except to create a mutiny by being so covert ... when there was no reason to be covert except to make a surprise entrance by Leah.

The light speed destruction through the destroyer. Why has that never been done before and wil this be how they destroy all future ships? How can Leah suddenly fly in space and how come bombs fall in space when there is no gravity? There seemed to be a lot of plot holes to me but I did like the Rey - Kylo banter. Looking forward to where that goes ... although I'm hoping other characters get a better storyline or move on.

[Dave Gray]

As for bombs in space, this is a surprising criticism for several reason:

1) Star Wars doesn't operate by the laws of our physics, as evidenced by sound in space, people not floating around in their ships, breaking the speed of light, etc.

2) There have been bombs in Star Wars in space dating back to The Empire Strikes Back.  Tie Bombers drop bombs on asteroids in space.

3) Even if there is artificial gravity in the ships by some kind of tech, but no gravity in space, the bombs would fall in the ship (because of the gravity) and then would continue to "drop" in space because they'd have momentum without friction from air, so you'd have the same effect.

...just a weird criticism, because it doesn't matter, but even if it did, it's correct.

[CF DolFan]

I honestly feel I was hypercritical just from getting irritated from stupid storylines like Finn, Rose, and even the stupid even Captain Phasma thing. I also wasn't happy about how they reduced Luke to nothing. Even in "winning" he wasn't even there so it kind of took from the coolness aspect of it.  It's obvious they are done with the Skywalker family storyline. Since that's been the basis for 40 years it just seems like they went out kind of sad when it could have been spectacular. Mark Hamill and George Lucas weren't happy with it either so I guess I'm in good company.   

[Cathal]

I left the movie conflicted. I liked it because it was Star Wars, but I was less than impressed with it. In my opinion, it doesn't beat out Rogue One and The Force Awakens. If it wasn't a Star Wars movie, I probably would say it was "meh". There were a few parts of the movie that could have been epic but were kind of a let down.

[CF DolFan]

I left the movie conflicted. I liked it because it was Star Wars, but I was less than impressed with it. In my opinion, it doesn't beat out Rogue One and The Force Awakens. If it wasn't a Star Wars movie, I probably would say it was "meh". There were a few parts of the movie that could have been epic but were kind of a let down.

I'm thinking there is a lot of people feeling that way. I think expectations were high and it didn't meet them.  I'm going to see it again just to see if that helps me pull it together.

It feels like the story is no longer the most important aspect. There is a sense of trying to add forced humor, cuteness, and diverse characters without worrying about the story. It went from being good vs evil to let's make this as politically correct and humorous as possible so we can sell it to as many people as possible. The reveal about Rey was the complete opposite of the "I am your father" moment in the Empire Strikes Back. It went from one of the biggest reveals in history to one of the biggest let downs .... and that just makes it seems worse than it probably is.

My wife watches them with me but isn't the biggest fan. She liked it more than I but said when Leia flew out of her space death that it seemed like the series just "jumped the shark".

[Dave Gray]

I think people are crazy and this is one of the best Star Wars films.  It's all about story and doing what is right for the characters.  It avoids sacrificing what expands the story and grows the universe, at the cost of giving fans more of the same thing that they think they want.

[mecadonzilla]

I also think the Laura Linney storyline was stupid.

Did Linney play Laura Dern?!

[mecadonzilla]

There was definitely a point in this film where I felt I was out...that I did not like it, but the 3rd act came together and saved it for me.  I definitely need to see it again. 

I think the biggest issue I had was that it was basically a big FU to long time Star Wars fans.  This movie really wanted to wipe the slate clean of previous canon, painfully so.  There were many things that could have/should have been handled better, but in the end, I enjoyed it.  I would rather a Star Wars film challenge my perception of my love of the franchise than churn out utter garbage prequels. 

[Spider-Dan]

My summary:
This movie is Disney putting their stamp on Star Wars.  This is what Star Wars will be going forward.  Get used to it.

The first half of the movie was brutal.  Unwatchable.  Prequel-quality.  After [dead Jedi master] showed up it took a turn for the better.  I liked the final battle with Luke and felt it was appropriate for a light-side Jedi.  I loved Rey's parentage, as I am tired of everyone important in the galaxy being the offspring of Shmi Skywalker.

I am so, so glad that I did not see this movie on premiere night, as I would have been forced to watch it again with my nephew.  I'll wait for my opinion to set, but right now I have it as V-IV-VII-III-VI-VIII-II.

[Dave Gray]

I have seen this a 2nd time and the movie is much better, in my opinion -- the humor sets in, because you're not so hanging on every word in fear of what's going on.  I can conclusively say that it's definitely a better film that The Force Awakens or Rogue One.  I've got this movie in my top 3 Star Wars at the moment.

[Cathal]

I have seen this a 2nd time and the movie is much better, in my opinion -- the humor sets in, because you're not so hanging on every word in fear of what's going on.  I can conclusively say that it's definitely a better film that The Force Awakens or Rogue One.  I've got this movie in my top 3 Star Wars at the moment.

Better than Rogue One? Oh man, that's a big statement. What part of the Last Jedi really stood out to you? What part felt epic?