The Force in the Balance

Rating: 10/10 (18 December 2017)

I loved "Star Wars: The Last Jedi". "The Last Jedi" is about redemption. Also Writer and Director Rian Johnson's "Last Jedi" redeems this "Star Wars" trilogy. Unlike its predecessor "The Force Awakens", "The Last Jedi" is original narrative and tone, surprising in a great way. Daisy Ridley as Rey and Mark Hamill as her Jedi Master Luke Skywalker are awesome. Johnson eloquently deepens his characters in the story long, long ago in the galaxy far, far away. Adam Driver is welcome strength returning as the Dark Side Force's Kylo Ren.
At its very best "The Last Jedi" is about the lightness in dark, darkness in light. The compelling central triangle of the mythical Force is Rey, Luke, and Ren. Not to mention the visuals of galactic battles and red salt covered worlds astounds. Yet, the Hero story resonates. The Forces of good and evil are in the eyes of the beholder. The hero must ultimately choose.
Discovering Luke on the island of the remote world, Rey tearfully pleads with 'The Last Jedi', "I need someone to show me my place in all of this." Hamill's Luke is not the familiar hero Skywalker we have come to know. His self banishment hides the great secret. Rey wants to define herself, fill the part that is missing.
I think Luke fears that he may fail Rey, as he did with Kylo Ren. Ren is the son of Resistance General Leia, played with touching gravitas by the late Carrie Fisher. In "The Force Awakens" Ren murdered his very Father Han Solo, conflicted within the Dark Side of the Force. Ren serves the powerful Dark Side Leader Snoke, played by malevolent Andy Serkis. Are salvation and redemption possible for Luke and Ren? Does the Jedi - the Hero emerge from within Rey?
In one of my favorite scenes Luke converses with an 'old friend'. They speak of others becoming greater than. They speak poignantly of Master and Student. The Student doesn't fail his or her master. The Master can fail his or her student. That is Luke's regret for Ren, who chose the Dark path. There is no light or dark in the Force. "The Last Jedi" explores balance of lightness and darkness in the Force. This Yin and Yang of "Star Wars".
In the journey of lightness and darkness Daisy Ridley is amazing. As Rey she transcends as the hero, whose courage and compassion inspires others to be greater. Hamill gives his best performance as older tortured Luke. His Luke is wise, strength and frailty with the endearing sense of humor. Writer Johnson daringly infuses the lightness of a sense of humor in the darker narrative.
The other narrative threads are often perfunctory in the subplot with Resistance fighters Finn, played by solid John Boyega, Poe Dameron, played by intrepid Oscar Isaac, and Rose, played by stellar newcomer Kelly Marie Tran, attempting to obtain secret codes to disable the First Order's battle ship fleet. The X-wing and Tie-fighter battles are spectacular in Dolby and Digital imagery. Although in the grand scheme, this distracts away from Rey, Luke and Ren's story.
Heroes inspire others to be greater. I think that is what "The Last Jedi" does best. Also life or the galaxy is neither all light nor all dark. We must reconcile that in our own worlds as well. The Force or the truth lies in the balance of lightness and darkness. Rian Johnson wisely enrolls us to choose. Ridley's brave Rey inspires, believing that in the balance we all become greater.