The Force Whimpers

Rating: 4/10 (20 December 2017)

I saw 'The Last Jedi' opening night with all the fan fare and I walked out thinking we had a contender for the worst 'Star Wars' movie. I've been wanting to elaborate further with a full blown review but honestly the internet drama has been so off putting and childish that meh...
I say 'worst' 'Star Wars' movie and take what you will but even one of the worst 'Star Wars' films is going to have outstanding elements. I mean how could you make a terrible unredeemable film when you have that cast coupled with that kind of extraordinary production value? It's one of the best looking 'Star Wars' films and for all the concerns of how they would handle Luke I think we at least got the beginnings of an interesting characterization which Hamill tries his damnedest to flesh out.
I loved 'The Force Awakens' and 'Rogue One'. I think Disney is more or less on the right track with how to do 'Star Wars'. In fact my biggest gripes with 'The Last Jedi' are that it is (in my opinion) such a poor sequel to 'The Force Awakens'. None of the story threads or questions are given an answer that is satisfactorily fleshed out.
I'm sorry but not giving any explanation whatsoever to who Snoke was is infuriatingly lazy writing. You have a character hinted in shadows who has rebuilt the Empire in his own image and is clearly possesses force powers at least on par with some of the most important Jedi/Sith in the saga and you have not even the slightest inkling of a backstory. I don't mind that he gets killed. It's a shocking scene and I love that Kylo Ren does what Vader could not in that he usurps the top seat of power. You need to at least give a little hint as to who Snoke was. Because on face value all he is a Palpatine double. There needs to be some difference otherwise all this is is a retread.
Speaking of which... I remember the biggest complaint thrown at 'The Force Awakens' was that it was a remake of 'A New Hope'. I could see little hints and parallels of 'A New Hope' but for the most part I thought the story had it's own uniqueness even when it did rhyme a bit narratively. Cosmetically change what Starkiller Base looks like and I personally think you don't have as much of a problem but I digress...
'The Last Jedi' is a almost a gratuitous remake of 'The Empire Strikes Back'. The film follows ESB almost narrative beat for narrative beat.
A weakened star cruiser is pursued across the galaxy by the imperial fleet. Check.
Rey enters a dark mystic cave in her training which vaguely hints at the mysteries surrounding her lineage. Check.
A scoundrel offers his hand at helping our heroes only to betray them to get a better deal. Check.
Luke even has blaring echoes of Yoda, whom we forget had more than a dash of cynicism himself on Dagobah. So Check.
I don't know about you but I'd much rather watch 'Empire' because it did it better.
The ending didn't do anything for me either aside from the acting from Hamill and Driver. Wouldn't it have been so much more effective had Luke actually gone to confront Ren in person? Hell, don't even have the lightsaber duel. Have Luke stare down the fleet and get gunned down. The whole vision apparition force power just crosses over too much into the realm of convoluted for me.
There's a moment that might have redeemed the film for me and that I hope is expanded upon in IX. DJ shows that the wars have been the stabilizing social and economic factor in the galaxy that the cultures has been built on. That's pretty subversive for a 'Star Wars' film. Of course Finn and Rose say nothing of it.
I don't think the sequel trilogy is beyond being saved. I still very much look forward to Episode IX and I still think Rey, Poe and Finn are worthy successors to Han,Luke and Leia. On a storytelling level though I cannot recommend 'The Last Jedi'
But it's just my opinion and you are more than welcome to yours. Personally I hope everyone had a blast with it. It's not worth any drama, certainly not the garbage I've seen over the last few days