Visually impressive, but surprisingly sterile

Rating: Null/10 (24 March 2018)

I'd heard lots of good things about this film before coming to it; in particular with its darker tone being comparable to Empire Strikes Back. Perhaps this slightly hyped expectation is what led to the film being quite the disappointment. There is an attempt at darker material here, while also shadowing what has gone before, but mostly it feels like a production line film, rather than something made with real energy and risk. That feeling is not anti-Disney for the sake of it (I get most of my entertainment from massive corporations seeking to make money) but certainly part of that is the weight and ease of the franchise, and how it impacts the film.
Picking up after the previous film, we find the rebellion on the run while a new Jedi seeks out an old master - so essentially Empire. Within this there is a lot of action and impressive special effects, but surprisingly little in the way of emotional impact - even the previous film has it outstripped on that front. I found the characters pretty bland in the most part, and was surprised by the use of the main characters to essentially do stupid things and waste everyone's time. The moments of conflict have some strengths but there isn't as much human drama there as one would have liked. The action sequences are good in terms of bang for buck, but they don't draw you into them as much as I would have liked.
The cast are mixed. Driver remains good and deserves more. Ridley is pretty non-descript here, although the script gives her so little. Boyega doesn't quite have the spark he usually has, and his chemistry with Tran's Rose is pretty non-existent. Hamill is good and has the most to do. The other characters tend not to make much of an impact; majorly significant characters are forgotten or moved aside, and generally he plot goes where it wants to go. In this way the narrative is fine in the grand sweep, but in any specific detail or action it tends not to make sense or to be lazy in the writing.
Last Jedi gives you lots of spectacle for your money, and there is enough to it to be entertaining for a few hours; however it is surprisingly sterile. It lacks emotional punch or weight, and plays out even its darker moments in a way that feels designed by committee and lacking rough edges or any sort.