A Breath of Fresh Air

Rating: 10/10 (15 December 2017)

The release of a Star Wars film is something of a cultural event that enraptures audiences the world over. No other film series has been analyzed, praised, hated, adored, reviewed, or examined to the degree that Star Wars has seen. I am of the mindset that Star Wars deserves neither the blind praise nor bitter resentment that many harbor towards it. It is, primarily, a film series - and deserves analysis as such.
Now, we are presented with "The Last Jedi", today's subject of review. (I will assume the reader has a general understanding of the plot from previous films from here on). The film picks up immediately after the events of Episode VII: Rey has found Luke Skywalker and must recruit him to teach her in the Jedi arts. Meanwhile, the Resistance (led by Princess Leia) is on the run from the First Order after having been decimated in the previous film. Will Luke agree to teach Rey the ways of the Force? Will the First Order destroy the Resistance once and for all? The answers are not as clear as one may think.
This brings up my first major praise for the film: the dozens of well-executed ideas. "The Last Jedi" is the most conceptually experimental Star Wars film we have seen in decades. Insights are raised into the nature of the Force. Characters struggle with their pasts, while fighting towards their futures. Starfighters zip through the air in brilliant vehicle-combat sequences. I lost track of the number of times I thought to myself, "Wow, what a cool idea!" throughout the film. These ideas make a 40-year-old intellectual property feel fresh and new, while remaining reverent and grounded.
However, the film truly shines in its' writing and characters. A frequent problem throughout Star Wars (or, at least in Episodes I-III) lies in the flimsy, boring characterizations and bad dialogue. The stakes in these films are meaningless because the characters are meaningless. In "The Last Jedi", the script kept me on the edge of my seat because the characters meant something to me. I felt for every single character; I sweat when they sweat, and cried when they cried. I related to Luke's reluctance to train Rey, and Poe's coming-to-terms with failure.
Without good writing and characters, this film would've been a standard popcorn flick. However, the characters fuel the heart and soul of the film while driving forward the action at a consistent pace. When coupled with the bevy of new ideas on display, I can safely say that the "The Last Jedi" is exactly what the Star Wars franchise needed. It's safe to say the the franchise is in good hands with Disney. They've taken the most beloved sci-fi property of all time and crafted three thrilling, memorable films for moviegoers young and old. Don't miss this one - it's the most fresh and alive Star Wars has felt since 1980.