It's good, very good...not great.

Rating: 8/10 (17 December 2017)

I liked it, but I didn't love it. I feel like saying that is just asking for someone to point a sniper rifle at my head, but I won't lie that I have problems with this movie. Not sure why I'm discussing my opinion on the movie now since most of America has probably already seen this movie twice. However, I have things to say so why not?
The story picks up immediately where "The Force Awakens" leaves off; what remains of the Resistance, led by Leia Organa, is on the run from the First Order while Rey has gone off in hopes to retrieve Luke Skywalker since he may be their last hope to defeat Supreme Leader Snoke and his army. Finn wakes up as the attack is persists on the Resistance and has to come up with a plan with Poe Dameron and a new character named Rose Tico to create an escape for what remains of Organa's army.
From the start, this is a very entertaining movie for sure. The characters are all likable and interesting to watch. The action is actually some of the best the entire series has ever had to offer. The effects are spot on, along with the cinematography which is absolutely terrific. I was totally engaged in the dynamic between Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Rey (Daisy Ridley). I was hooked onto the internal struggle that continues on with Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). And I was actually pleasantly surprised by the character arc that Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) goes through. Also expect a few heart string pulling scenes with Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher). There is some astonishingly great moments in this film that I really did love.
So if I love so much about it then why do I only like it as a whole? Because the story, while not bad, is very familiar much like how "The Force Awakens" was very familiar. "The Force Awakens" is known to be extremely reminiscent of "A New Hope" with elements of "Empire Strikes Back". "The Last Jedi" I would say also has a very similar issue being similar to "Empire" and "Return of the Jedi". I wouldn't say that makes it a bad movie by any means, I thoroughly enjoyed myself watching it. However, I was hoping for something a little more original and for something in this movie to shock me. May I feel that way because of how much "The Last Jedi" parallels itself to "Empire Strikes Back" which is a highly original and surprising sequel for its time and even today continues to shock first time viewers of it. "The Last Jedi" follows a lot of the same beats of "Empire" and "Return" that it's hard not to compare; a somewhat naive youth travels to a remote planet in order to be trained by an old, quirky Jedi master. While that goes on the youth's friends are being chased across the galaxy by a dark shadowy figure along with his army of Storm Troopers to the point where they have to take refuge on another planet. Rey learns about the force, what makes up the light and dark side of the force, experiences surreal visions, and has a revelation about her heritage much like Luke Skywalker went through in "Empire". There is a whole third act revolving around whether Rey will join the dark side, Kylo Ren attempting to convince her to join him like Darth Vader tried with Luke in "Return". Snoke acting in place of the Emperor in "Return of the Jedi" when he brings the young Jedi to his throne room on a giant space station to enable this big confrontation as he reveals the chaos ensuing on her friends in the distance.
It is near impossible not to see the similarities and that is a huge reason why I can't say I loved this movie. I already have "Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi", I don't particularly need a repackaged version of those films. But there is enough differences and slightly unique turns that the story does take that I still found myself enjoying the movie. I am trying my best not to spoil as much as I can, everything I've said can be easily speculated from seeing the trailers so I don't believe I've said anything that's really all that hidden. Speaking of those unique aspects of the story, Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker is one of the best qualities of the film. He is equal parts funny, intimidating, cool, and even kinda scary in parts. Hamill absolutely owns this role, hell I think he fights to own this whole movie. He is giving his "A" game to this performance here in "The Last Jedi" and is a huge factor in separating this movie from being "just a rehash". Rey is easily one of my favorite heroes of the entire franchise, largely because Daisy Ridley is so expressive in every emotion she performs that I can't help but sympathize with her character and want to know what will happen next with her. That and I just love her energy that she gives in every line she reads.
Now Kylo Ren...my god, he is so good in this. I really loved Adam Driver's performance in "The Force Awakens" and was one of my favorite parts of that installment; in "The Last Jedi" he has become one of my favorite villains of any movie in recent memory and certainly rivals being one of the great villains in all of Star Wars history. The struggle and torment of this character is so interesting to watch that I am constantly wondering what he's going to do next. His relationship between him and Rey is nail biting at times as it develops. Starting out severely rocky of course with how the events of the last movie panned out, but then slowly progresses into an oddly believable bond that they share. Both of them trying to find their place in the world, or galaxy in this case, and maybe even finding it together. Again, another element that helps differentiate itself from being "Empire Strikes Back...Again".
John Boyega's character, Finn, returns in this movie and tags along with a new character named Rose (Kelly Marie Tran). Personally, I didn't have any real problem with their subplot together as it seems like many critics and fans do. I thought that it was fine. I didn't love their story line, but I thought that it worked well enough, didn't take up that much screen time, and it concluded in a satisfying way. Could it have been cut? Sure. Could it have been better? Most certainly. But I can't see much else that Finn could have been up to in this rather simple story. I won't spoil exactly what Finn and Rose do, but they have to embark on a mission in order to help the Resistance escape certain death.
Poe Dameron is also a part of this plan that results in a lot of conflict between him and Leia as well as Vice Admiral Holdo (Laura Dern) who takes over the lead for escaping the New Order when Leia becomes preoccupied. Even though I did like Poe Dameron's arc in learning how not to always go on the offense and has to know when not to be so aggressive in his plans, I didn't much care for his dynamic with Laura Dern's character, Holdo. I found her relatively unlikable and even idiotic when it is revealed what her plan is. But it wasn't necessarily a deal breaker from my enjoyment, just a small irritance honestly.
Aside from that, I don't really have any other criticisms on the film except for one that's actually a spoiler so I won't get into it. But even with that spoiler I have a problem with, I actually do kind of like what will result from it and opens the doors wide as to where things can go in the next sequel. If you've seen the movie then you might know what I'm talking about. Overall I did really like this movie and I do recommend it as a highly entertaining space adventure epic. The characters are great, the visuals are breathtaking, and the story is still solid even if it does feel a bit derivative. It's just far from being perfect is all and I wish that it would have taken a few more risks that would shock the audience. If you liked "The Force Awakens" then you will like "The Last Jedi". If you had a problem with "Force Awakens" being so similar to "A New Hope" then "Last Jedi" won't be much of an improvement to you.