"Let the past die, kill it if you have to. That's the only way to become what you were meant to be"

Rating: 7/10 (16 December 2017)

Star Wars: The Last Jedi will certainly (and has proven to be before the opening weekend has even concluded) a polarizing entry in the franchise.
Rian Johnson had to have known that fans have been speculating answers to questions that are answered in this film since before "The Force Awakens" hit theatres.
Johnsons handling of these answers is sure to infuriate those who felt they figured out the answers by devoting untold hours of research into dissecting trailers, interviews, "The Force Awakens", and any other official cannon they could get their hands on.
Instead of further steeping Star Wars into established hierarchy, Johnson bravely decides to dash that and begins to create a new lore for the series.
No longer will the fate of the galaxy be resting on the shoulders of the same dozen or so characters. Johnson is thrusting Star Wars into new territory whether we like it or not. This isn't about the old characters anymore. The torch was passed last film and these new actors are running fiercely with it.
This isn't to say that the tone of Star Wars was lost. It's not, it's just being told through new perspectives. For example, the perpetual emphasis on the balance between good and evil is still addressed in the film, but not quite like it has before. In our modern world where the line between good and evil is an ever growing blur Johnson utilizes the yin-yang as symbolism throughout the film. Perhaps the light and dark side are not polar opposites, but forces that are interlinked together.
While that may be a change for the series, the absolutely wonderful and exciting Star Wars action set pieces are still top notch. Infact, one particular action set piece may be the best set piece since the original Death Star destruction sequence.
As with all Star Wars pictures, the set pieces are varied, from the dark void of space, to a space casino, to a dry white planet that hides crimson coloured salt just below it's top crust.
The film has it's flaws to be sure, there's logic gaps, information that's needlessly kept from characters, and humour that some may find out of place or goes too far.
However, none of these flaws are strong enough to have me not recommend the film.
Especially one that ends with a perfect encapsulation of how Star Wars makes us feel.