The Last Jedi Isn't The Empire Strikes Back and That Is Why It's So Great

Rating: 8/10 (15 May 2018)

The Last Jedi has its various story problems (the introduction of Rose, the Canto Bight scenes, Poe's brashness) but along its failings comes a fascinating tale that delves deeper into the realms of the force and sets up some remarkable ideas for the final installment of the trilogy.
Daisy Ridley takes Rey into an even more personal level as we discover the truth about her parents and what her place is in the galaxy. Mark Hamill returns and gives Star Wars a final major performance worth remembering. Adam Driver, oh my goodness, I absolutely loved his role as Kylo Ren in this film. Writer/Director Rian Johnson took the character of Kylo Ren, humanized him to the point where now I legitimately care about him, and then made him an even more important villain moving forward into Episode IX. These three characters are the shining lights of the movie and are a huge part of the reason why I have given this movie an 8 out of 10 stars.
The rest of the story excluding Rey, Luke, and Kylo Ren isn't exactly terrible but sometimes it can make the film a little annoying, if I'm being honest. Finn gets lost as Rose is highly prioritized in the story over him. Poe needs to stay in a cockpit if he wants to get cool again. And Captain Phasma NEEDS to return because that duel between her and Finn wasn't enough!
All in all, I love that at least this movie doesn't feel like a rehash of one of the previous Star Wars films like The Force Awakens did and I appreciated Rian Johnson's vision of taking the Star Wars franchise further. I just wish The Last Jedi could've been a little more epic like Rogue One or The Empire Strikes Back. If you're a Rey or Kylo Ren fan this movie is definitely worth the watch.