Oh, what's the point?

Rating: 3/10 (24 December 2017)

I will make this short and spoiler-free. This film is an absolute mess. If someone wrote this script and it didn't take place within the established Star Wars universe, it would be immediately rejected as a mad collection of worthless sub-plots.
This is a series which has become completely engrossed with itself. The original trilogy was so fantastic because it told a simple story very well, with characters that we genuinely connected with. Now, I think the creators have taken their audience for granted (and hey, why wouldn't they, given the ridiculously excessive screaming nature of Star Wars fandom?), and reckon they can serve up the most convoluted, unfocused nonsense so long as there's plenty of explosions and nods to the original trilogy.
This franchise has gone precisely the way the Marvel/DC franchises have: annually pumping out pretty much the same big screen fare because legions of fans, especially kids, will definitely go and watch it. At least The Force Awakens was a pretty tightly made film - The Last Jedi is just stuffed full of head-scratching creative decisions.
Given that this series is nothing special any more, and given that we've had 3 recent films, none of which have been impressive, plus the prequels (at least The Last Jedi didn't reach those lows), I don't see why people still wet their pants in excitement for this series, which is now just a cash cow. But equally, I don't see why people are raging that this film has 'ruined Star Wars'. The series had already been turned to trash. Yes, it's sad every time we see beloved old characters and imagery milked for everything they've got on a soulless movie production line - but hasn't everyone realised by now that the Star Wars franchise is nothing but a money-making machine now?
Here's my advice: The Last Jedi isn't the worst movie ever made, but please don't give Disney your money by going to see it at the cinema.