It’s perhaps an understatement to say that the return of Star Wars two years ago was a massive success.
The Force Awakens borrowed all of the best bits of George Lucas’ legendary original trilogy and allowed a fresh generation to fall in love with the biggest science fiction franchise of them all.
It bridged the gap between generations and found that sweet spot that allowed almost everybody to enjoy the film for what it was – a genuinely awesome way to get a new era of people into Star Wars.
Rogue One was perhaps even better, but The Last Jedi – which promised the return of Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker – had all the tools to be the best Star Wars film since The Empire Strikes Back (which, for my money, is the best sequel ever made).
As somebody that has loved Star Wars since childhood, I can tell you that The Last Jedi is everything that I wanted it to be and more, while also being refreshingly original at the same time. While
The Force Awakens (TFA) was accused of mimicking A New Hope a little too closely, The Last Jedi (TLJ) is perhaps the most brave Star Wars film yet – and I loved the direction in which director Rian Johnson took the story.
The story follows on directly from TFA, with aspiring Jedi Rey (Daisy Ridley) having tracked down Jedi Master Luke Skywalker (Hamill) on the remote island of Ahch-To.
I’m not going to offer any spoilers, but those of you expecting a re-hash of the Yoda training sequences from The Empire Strikes Back are mistaken. Luke is a shadow of his former self and is haunted by Kylo Ren’s (Adam Driver) decision to turn to the dark side.
He senses great power in Rey, but does he have the answers she wants? Perhaps not, but the chemistry between the two is superb. While Ridley remains a revelation as Rey, seeing Hamill return as Luke was a real thrill – and his arc was handled very well by Johnson, who resisted the urge to play it safe with one of cinema’s most popular characters.
The wild card in Luke and Rey’s relationship is Kylo Ren, or Ben Solo as he used to be known. The conflicted villain has a real connection with Rey and the pair do share the film’s stand-out scene, which is beautifully shot and packed full of suspense.
Also making an appearance in this thread is Andy Serkis’ Supreme Leader Snoke. A mysterious and overarching presence in TFA, we get to see Snoke’s true form this time around.
I sense that the way Kylo Ren’s master is treated may leave a few fans disappointed, but he’s a formidable foe in the mould of The Emperor/Palpatine from the originals.
Aside from the Jedi angle, large parts of TLJ showcase the First Order’s attempt to wipe out what remains of the Resistance. We find Leia Organa (the late Carrie Fisher), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) and Finn (John Boyega) very much on the run, as they bid to relocate to a new base.
It’s also here that we meet two significant new characters – Laura Dern’s Vice Admiral Holdo and Kelly Marie Tran’s Rose Tico.
Poe, Finn and Rose do cook up something of a side quest in a bid to turn the tide in their favour, but it leads to what is perhaps TLJ’s weakest thread – a rampage through a Las Vegas-style planet that is home to the Galaxy’s rich and most care-free.
It’s not a bad sequence, just one that isn’t as slick as everything else around it.
With BB8, C-3PO, R2-D2, Maz Kanata (Lupita Nyong’o), Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie) and General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) also back from TFA – plus the debut of Benicio Del Toro – there’s so much going on a great pace, which works in TLJ’s favour.
The action is dramatic, relentless and beautifully realised, while there are emotional and dark moments that will really hit home too.
And, although TLJ is a bridge from TFA to Episode IX, it doesn’t feel like a typical middle movie. Some major threads do reach a conclusion and a host of key questions do get answered.
There is much still to be decided in the conclusion to this new Star Wars trilogy, but this second instalment is as good – if not better – than its predecessor TFA.
It doesn’t deliver the same nostalgic vibe, but TLJ almost reinvents the Star Wars wheel – and it should be commended for it.
Voice Verdict: 9.5/10 (reviewed at Boston’s West End Cinema)
+ Hamill’s Luke
+ Rey and Kylo Ren
+ Takes risks…and delivers
+ Dramatic, emotional and visually superb
SHOWTIMES
Boston’s West End Cinema (Fri, Dec 22 to Thurs, Dec 28)
**THE GREATEST SHOWMAN (PG)
5.30pm (Tue/Wed/Thu), 8pm (Tue/Wed)
STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI (12A)
2D – 10am (not Tue), 1.30pm (daily), 3.15pm (Sun), 3.25pm (not Sun) 5pm (daily), 8.30pm (not Sun)
3D – noon (not Tue), 12.25pm (Tue), 6.15pm (Sun), 7pm (not Sun)
PITCH PERFECT 3 (12A)
1.45pm (daily), 4pm (not Wed), 6.20pm (daily), 8.45pm (not Sun)
FERDINAND (U)
2D – 10am (not Sat/Tue), 12.25pm (daily), 3pm (daily), 5.30pm (Fri/Sat)
JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (12A)
2D – 11am (Fri/Sat/Sun), 3pm (daily) 8.30pm (not Sun)
3D – 5.40pm (daily)
THE STAR (U)
10am (not Tue)
DADDYS HOME 2 (12A)
6pm (Sun), 8pm (Fri/Sat)
PADDINGTON 2 (PG)
12.40pm (daily)
KIDS’ CLUB
10.15am – Home Alone (PG) (not Tue)
SILVER SCREEN
Wed 11.30am – Home Alone (PG)
SUBTITLED SHOWING
Wed 4pm – Pitch Perfect 3 (12A)
**FREE LIST SUSPENDED
CINEMA IS CLOSED ON CHRISTMAS DAY
