Star Wars doesn't want or need me anymore.

Rating: 5/10 (15 January 2018)

I've not used IMDB to write a review in a few years now, but after viewing Star Wars: The Last Jedi recently, I decided to return to the fold. Straight to the point I was very disappointed with this entry in a number of areas, but there were things in it I enjoyed, hence the five stars.
I understand and agree that Star Wars has to evolve to survive and prosper in the 21st century and I appreciate that some of the decisions taken with regards to plot and character in the new film reflect this ethos. I knew this going in with the previous film, old favourites were going to "retire", new characters were going to come to the fore, perfectly reasonable.
What I couldn't prepare myself for, was the conspicuous inclusion of real world politics and social issues. I've never questioned these elements in other entertainments. Even populist stuff, can be a good forum to deal with subjects in an indirect way.
That said, I felt that I was being lectured by this film, as though they felt that to entertain me for my £19:95 was secondary to it telling me how much Women Contribute to our society, the inherent bad points that Men have, how certain cultures are exploited for profit by others.
As I said, some of the issues above I mention are worthy and deserve to be addressed, but not with such a heavy hand or so frequently, and not when I've simply gone to some expense to enjoy a couple of hours of escapist fun. I felt as though I was drip fed the things I wanted, in between lectures. Star Wars has tried to parallel our real world before, certainly in George Lucas's desire to symbolize the Vietnam conflict in Return of the Jedi's climatic battle between the low tech Ewoks and the highly technological Empire. That said, it was implied, but not over implied, you never felt patronised.

I don't resent the presence of modern tropes, just they're prevalence, consequently this is the least favourite Star Wars experience I have ever had since the age of 7 in 1977. Actual plot wise, I also feel that it is weak storytelling to present your audience with Anakin's light sabre, hidden in a wooden box in the backroom of a space bar, in the previous instalment, surely unrecoverable from where it was lost, only to have the mystery of it's recovery reduced to an over the shoulder site gag in the next film. What happened with Snoke was surprising, but I can accept it, as having another Emporer like figure draws unfavourable comparison and is therefore reductive. I felt that Rose and Finn's story was a little mute and the inclusion of the prosperous Casino planet was a strategically placed element to engender some subtle and not so subtle social commentary.
There is no equality in diminishing others, the new films are growing more guilty of this as they progress. Not just men having to be critiqued in order to elevate women, but the original trilogy diminished in its victories, which I feel betrays a lack of confidence in Star Wars' new owners that they have any tricks up their sleeves comparable to the quality of the original films.
I have struggled with the notion that Return of the Jedi wasn't quite the victory it seemed, Han and Leia had a failed marriage, Luke lost his way and became embittered, it stings, to a fan, particularly one who waited patiently since 1983 to find out what happened next. I just cannot except that the boy who grew to manhood fighting an evil, galaxy spanning Empire, forsaking his birth right for his friends and nearly sacrificing all to redeem his father. Would consider the murder of his nephew in his sleep and then give up entirely in the aftermath and withdraw to die in exile. A character as optimistic, hopeful and frankly, as good previously, is viewed with more than a pinch of derision and cynicism in our new century. Luke, as he was, is unpalatable to the new generation, characters previously like Luke, are now, particularly the men, anguished, indecisive, hopeless. The disappointment isn't really Luke's though, but those of society at large he now returns to, projecting it's own disillusionment, anguish and hopelessness onto a paragon from a simpler, happier time. Just a thought.
I grow truly weary of properties being resurrected from my childhood, only to discover their form is unwelcome and a "bad fit" for modern sensibilities, consequently becoming mangled and contorted, as lesser hands try to make them fit into a culture which has moved on. I feel that Star Wars is no longer for me or me for it, it doesn't want my support or seek my approval, maybe this is the clean break we needed, it can go on and impress new people and I can stay at home with my blu rays, sulk and eat chocolate. I never thought I'd write these things about Star Wars, feel this alienated by it, maybe it was inevitable or maybe some have tried to push it a little too quickly into the 21st century, we'll see with the next one.