Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi

“Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi,” released nine days ago, is just magnificent, an overload of creative ideas in full motion. Writer-director Rian Johnson, known for independent movies like “Looper” and “Brick,” slides into masterful filmmaking like a genius. Peter Travers said in his review, “The Star Wars universe is the best toy box a fanboy could ever wish for, and Johnson makes sure that Jedi is bursting at the seams with knockout fun surprises, marvelous adventure and shocking revelations that will leave your head spinning. Even those few jaded doubters, the ones still reeling from the disastrous trilogy of prequels perpetrated by George Lucas, will roar like Wookies and holler, "Holy smokes!"”

Want lightsaber fights, X-Wing space fights, creative creatures (like the crystal ice-dogs!), criss-crossing family bloodlines (“Who’s your parents?” gets asked a lot), top-notch FX and cheap mockery? All of that is here, but Johnson takes it to the next level, taking us through so many twists and turns that we can’t tell the dark side from the good. Heroes die and villains win…and then the reverse happens. That’s the point of the movie, which edges over with characters hanging by a thread.

The story starts where director J.J. Abrams left off in “The Force Awakens.” The Resistance, led by General Leia (the late Carrie Fisher) is again fighting the evil First Order, led by Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis in genius motion-capture form). Resistance fighter Rey, reprised by Daisy Ridley, has gone to the isolated island of Ahch-To, the planet of the Jedi Order’s first temple. The goal: to find AWOL Jedi master Luke Skywalker, reprised by Mark Hamill, and bring his depressed old self back to save the galaxy and go up against his troubled nephew. That would be Ben Solo, aka Kylo Ren, reprised by Adam Driver, who last time killed his own father and now gives his mom, Leia, more depression.

Travers said it best when he said, “Just when you think you know where this movie is going, Johnson pulls the rug out from under you.” Old friends are back, including R2-D2 (Jimmy Vee), C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) and the wookie Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew). Former Stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega), proud to be called “rebel scum,” partners with newcomer Rose (Kelly Marie Tran), a mechanic with skills to plan a risky rescue for the Resistance, whose sister (Veronica Ngô) died in the beginning. Benicio del Toro is the highlight of a casino planet, Canto Bight, and a codebreaker no one can trust. Fighter pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isacc) has his own trouble about Vice-Admiral Holdo (Laura Dern), the dictator who takes command when Leia is knocked unconscious. “The Last Jedi” is a sad farewell to Fisher, who passed away last year and whose cautiously funny and deeply felt performance tells everyone why she’s irreplaceable.

Obviously there are problems. This is really long at two hours and 36 minutes – and sometimes too much. Travers said, “The screen is so crowded with character and incident that you might need a scorecard to keep up. But the way Johnson, who's slated to direct three more Star Wars films with unfamiliar characters, balances the skyrocketing action with tender feeling keeps you emphatically in the game.” The actors are amazing in big roles and small. Ridley and Driver really work off of one another as Rey and Ren, two characters brought together by a Force they don’t fully understand.

Travers credited, “Still, The Last Jedi belongs to Hamill in a portrayal that cuts to the core of what Star Wars means to a generation of dreamers looking to the heavens. In the 40 years since the actor first played Luke Skywalker, we've followed him from callow youth to Jedi master. But it's here that Hamill gives the performance of his career, nailing every nuance of an iconic role and rewarding the emotional investment we've made in him.” There are people, places and things you’ll have to say goodbye to in this movie, even the laughs are touched with tears. No worries, you’re in good hands with Johnson who makes sure you leave the movie theater complex feeling happy. The middle part of the current trilogy, “The Last Jedi” is amongst the very best “Star Wars” movies (even the peak that is “The Empire Strikes Back”) by going further ahead to a next generation of Jedis – and, excitingly to a new hope.

In all honesty, I liked this film better than “The Force Awakens.” This film didn’t really feel like a complete retelling of a previous movie, although there are parts that seem to be borrowing heavily from “The Empire Strikes Back” and “The Return of the Jedi.” Watch the movie if you want to know what I mean. Also, there are questions that still will be unanswered after watching it, but hopefully all will be revealed in the final movie of this sequel trilogy. I am sad that this is the final film Carrie Fisher did, and I know that they will kill off Leia in the next movie, but how is the question. Will they CG Leia like they did with Philip Seymour Hoffman in “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2?” Probably, until they kill her off, which who knows how long into the movie that will be. When they said in the credits, "In Loving Memory of our Princess, Carrie Fisher," I was the only one who applauded. I felt it was the right thing to do since I really loved Carrie Fisher as an actress.

All of that aside, definitely go to the theater to see this movie, I give it a high recommendation. Seeing how I am a hardcore Star Wars fan, I will rate this with a 10+. I know this isn’t a perfect film, but the problems I have are minor and I don’t really mind it as much as other people might.

Stay tuned tomorrow for not only the continuation of “Studio Ghibli Month,” but also for a Christmas movie that I know everyone will love when they watch it.