Controversial Redemption, and Evolution.

Rating: 7/10 (6 January 2018)

STAR WARS IX TLJ REVIEW:
*WITH SPOILERS*
I FELT CONFLICTED COMING OUT OF THE THEATER, LIKE SO MANY AVID STAR WARS FANS DID. I HAVE COMPILED MY THOUGHTS INTO THIS REVIEW AND I HOPE THEY CAN BRING SOME PEACE TO THE MINDS OF MY FELLOW STAR WARS FANATICS.
This film is about Luke's Redemption.
I know... sounds crazy but read on.
Basically,
As those who have seen it know, Luke nearly killed his nephew for fear of him killing younglings (in contrast, earlier in his life he saved his father who was a genocidal murderer).
Question:
Is it not possible for him to do both at different times in his life? (Forget the argument of "it's not in his character")
He had a thought of fear in which he regretted a moment later. Is it not possible for even the strongest men to have weak points?
OF COURSE IT IS. Even the greatest men who have been held on the highest of pedestals have made mistakes, or at least considered them. And oh boy, Luke igniting his signature green lightsaber was one helluva mistake.
It is completely natural for "the Legend", the GOOD man, THE Luke Skywalker to feel like a hypocrite. He felt like he had betrayed his personal beliefs and himself. The one thing he cared for, his family and the growth of "good" in the galaxy, had been uprooted because of his moment of weakness.
Therefore He exiled himself. He questioned everything he knew.
The turning point was Rey coming to Ach To and annoying him to the point of training. (Although his only training was a few meager words in an attempt to dissuade Rey from learning about the Jedi ((which he failed)) it inevitably opened him up)
The pivotal point in the film is after Rey leaves. Jedi Master Yoda appears and tells Luke the truth about his shortcomings with Ben Solo and his failures. Yoda exlaims: "The greatest teacher, failure is..."
This final lesson kicks him hard. He picks himself up and restores his fractured hope. Luke realizes that he made a mistake but he was wrong and he cant give up hope.
He then appears before the First Order in a force-hologram and allows the remaining members of the resistance a chance to escape and fight another day. AND HE DIES...
My original thought was this: I wish Luke didn't die, and perhaps that still stands.
But if we are talking about his specific moment of death, would he have had enough time to travel to Crait to protect the resistance and efficiently create enough time for their escape? (Also with the AT-AT fire: in person he couldn't have stopped that barrage, lets be real)
Note: Remember how much effort it took Yoda to lift the Fuel canister about to fall on Anakin/ Obi Wan after the Dooku fight in Attack of the Clones or lifting the X-Wing in ESB? If those comparibly small actions tired out the arguably strongest force user of all time, then it makes sense that Luke would die from projecting himself clearly across the galaxy. In the end, He selflessly sacrificed himself to ensure the survival of the resistance, also saving, in his words "the Last Jedi": Rey.
If the sacrifice of himself for the continuation of the Jedi and the Resitance isnt Redmeption for Luke, then what is?
SOME CONS:
1. A Star Chase was the best plot to be used?
2. Admiral HOLDO not telling Poe is dumb and creates a useless side-plotline. Only reason I can think of for Poe/ Finn/ Roses plot is to introduce the planet with the force sensitive children and to involve the three in the film. Otherwise the scenes are pointless. Take out those scenes and the film is shorter, more intense, and significantly improved.
3. No Snoke backstory

IN CONCLUSION -

Luke/ Rey/ Ben's story along with the force-sensitive children at the end make this movie exciting and bring new elements as well as the "all-bets-are-off" mindset for Episode IX.
Ben Solo managed to do something even Vader couldn't (control the galxy, nearly).
The possibility of Rey leading a new Jedi Temple is intriguing.
(I DO HOPE LUKE RETURNS AS A FORCE-GHOST to guide Rey. Although, YODA did say she had all she needed to become a Jedi, so this may not happen.)
Maybe I'm a hopeless Star Wars fanatic trying desperately to cling onto the franchise. Maybe I'm trying to see the best out of Rian Johnson's film. It's clear what plenty of fans and critics think. This is my opinion, take it for what it is.
This is one fact about my opinion: I am trying to open my mind to the outcomes and possibilities of this storyline. That in itself is much more than most of the fans of this sci-fi franchise are ironically uncapable of doing. At first I was dissapointed with most of the film, but now I am looking at it without the opinions of others affecting me.
I remember feeing confused after seeing it, wondering if i should hate it or like it or love it. I have compiled my thoughts into this review. I dont hate it, I dont love it. But I like it and I respect it. I am looking forward to episode 9, in two long years from now, so far far away.