Didn't seem to be much new

Rating: 7/10 (27 January 2019)

The title sort of says it all in a fashion. There didn't seem to be much new about this episode, except that the audience is introduced briefly to some cute cuddly alien creatures, though even in trailer scene in the upcoming Annihilation (2018) has some even more startling creatures. The theme of self-sacrifice is seen over and over again and the same scenario is repeated like three times throughout the movie. The inclusion of the light charm and witty dialogue from the original Star Wars franchise (1977) is sort of like attempting to bring together the raw grit of Daniel Craig's James Bond's character from Casino Royale (2006) and Roger Moore's light-hearted James Bond from Live and Let Die (1973). There are also logical lapses in the storyline in order to maintain the pace and action, such a necessary delay in reacting to a lethal obliteration of the rebel cause or the cavalier ability of a single rebel fighter to take down a monstrous weapon. The movie sort of has cross between Karate Kid (1984), Gettysburg (1993), and the more formidable fantasy epic Excalibur (1981). The storyline is deliberately somewhat convoluted but for the most part predictable and Princess Leia (?)...well that's whole other quandary. David Lynch's Dune (1984) still retains a manner of sacrifice, convoluted mega-multi-planetary, galactic intrigue, evil power, and the relational bonding and betrayal all wrapped up into one movie while the Chronicles of Naria: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (2005) retain the epic charm of a total immersion into a magical world along with betrayal. Coming of age, and relational bond on a global scale.