Might well become the next 'Empire'

Rating: 9/10 (16 December 2017)

Yes, I am aware that not everyone shares this view. In fact I'm well aware that there is in fact quite a bit of backlash to the new Star Wars movie.
However, I also vividly remember when The Empire Strikes Back came out (I believe I was 10). And I vividly remember that there was quite a bit of backlash against Empire at the time of its initial release. At least a few critics and fans complained that it had no beginning and no ending, and that it was dark and more than a bit depressing at times. They took issue with the fact that the villains won - while the heroes not only lost every fight big and small, but were humiliated, tortured, and even maimed along the way. There were grumblings that there was no real plot other than the Empire chasing the rebels for two hours. Above all, it wasn't very much like its predecessor. Unlike A New Hope (simply known as Star Wars at the time), The Empire Strikes Back wasn't exactly a crowd-pleaser.
And frankly, at 10 years old, I wasn't too crazy about Empire myself. I expected the heroes to win, the Death Star (or something like it) to be blown up, and for there to be a big celebration at the end. And wow was I wrong. And at the time - disappointed.
So why do some people have such issues with TLJ? For starters, there's no beginning and no ending. The plot? Pretty much just the good guys being chased by the bad guys. And I'll also note that there have been complaints about the film's bleakness. Without giving away too much - let's just say that the fates of most the good guys in TLJ don't exactly make you feel like it's such a good idea to stand up to a bully - much less an evil galactic empire. And not only do the heroes fail to win - some of them aren't always particularly heroic. 'Never meet your heroes' is an undeniable if unspoken theme throughout the movie. And above all, the detractors note - The Last Jedi isn't like many of the other movies in the franchise.
In case you haven't caught on yet - I'm trying to make a point. The criticisms The Last Jedi very much echo the criticisms of Empire some 36 years later.
So why do I personally believe The Last Jedi will follow in the footsteps of Empire to overcome its initial criticisms and in time be viewed as one of the best in the series? In my opinion, because it has so many of the same good qualities that made Empire an eventual classic.
The plot may not be particularly complex - but it's not supposed to be. Like Empire, TLJ is not about plot but rather about a struggle - and like Empire it does it very well. And like Empire, The Last Jedi rises above the us-versus-them conflict of the previous film to (very effectively) delve into the conflicts within each character. And in so doing - the characters grow far more than they did in the previous film.
And above all - like Empire, The Last Jedi is very good at surprising us. There are moments that are very humorous - nearly all of which occur when you least expect it. Not everyone will be happy with the characters - but no one can deny they keep you on your toes. Good guys turn out to be bad guys - and vice-versa. There are characters you are certain will die who live; and characters you are certain will live who die. And even those who don't turn out to be something altogether different make choices you will not see coming - I promise.
Oh - and like Empire, The Last Jedi has some REALLY cool action/battle scenes. Some of which are good enough to make it a classic for that reason alone. Guess we'll see.