A Wonderfully Crafted Deconstruction of Everything we Know and Love

Rating: 9/10 (18 December 2017)

Director Rian Johnson knows what Star Wars is - that much is obvious. At times, it even seems as though he understands Star Wars better than its original creator George Lucas. Johnson knows what makes it special, what fans want to see, and what makes a Star Wars film - well - a Star Wars film! So Johnson does what any good director of a Star Wars film does - he gives us fans exactly what we want to see!
...
Just kidding. He doesn't.
He blows what we think we want out of a Star Wars movie to high hell and, instead, gives us the Star Wars movie we need.
Not only does Johnson deconstruct and subvert our expectations of The Last Jedi's plot, he deconstructs our very understanding of Star Wars. What sway do our heroes hold over us, and what happens when they don't live up to our expectations? What kind of power is in the myths we grew up believing in, and are they still worth believing in?
Don't be mistaken - Johnson knows what you want out of this Star Wars film, and that's exactly why he doesn't give it to you. The film is able to put you in the exact emotional state that the character's of the Star Wars universe exist in throughout the entirety of the movie, feeling disappointment and confusion just as much as joy and elation.
Our favourite green friend spelt this out for us all those years ago. You must unlearn what you have learned. The greatest teacher, failure is - and fail our heroes do. Time and time again, the audience is forced to experience failure and dismay until, when all hope is lost, Johnson shows us that failure really is the greatest teacher. Maybe there is a reason to have hope, maybe our failures and disappointments - no matter how big or small - aren't really failures or disappointments at all.
This dense and weighted theme is laid bare through the entirety of the film, which itself features beautiful cinematography, shocking moments, touching fan service, and exceptional performances from the cast. While not all subplots express the theme that Johnson spins through the film as well as others, the wonderful attention to character detail more than make up for any slow moments. This is not a movie you can watch once and hope to catch all of its nuance and subtleties. This is a film to return to and to think about.
This is not your mother's or father's Star Wars. This is a Star Wars for a new generation. Throw away your "fan theories." Rid yourself of your own "head canon." We've had two years to theorize and hypothesize about what Episode VIII will bring and I can tell you with much certainty: not only are you wrong, but you're better off for it.
Go and see this movie. Let Johnson challenge everything you think you know about Star Wars. Think about why you feel the way that you feel. Feel anger. Feel joy. Feel the balance. Feel the force.