Such great potential, ultimately a bitter disappointment

Rating: 5/10 (15 December 2017)

This review is in two parts. A shortened version for those without time to read and a longer more in depth version afterwards.
The Good

Absolutely terrific performance by Mark Hamill
Excellent visual effects
Better performance from Daisy Ridley
Likeable new character Rose Tico

The Bad

Subplots that made no difference to direction of the film
Under-development of several characters
Overuse of Porgs
Forced Humour

The Ugly

Complete destruction of everything Luke Skywalker has done or achieved
Waste of true potential with the death of Snoke
Narrative inconsistencies from previous Star Wars Films

Now the TL:DR version
I feel really let down by this instalment. I am someone who thoroughly enjoyed TFA and enjoyed Rogue One. The choices made for certain characters in this film however made very little sense. They were diabolical. What i will explain now is the really Ugly parts of this film.
Its well established that Darth Vader was immensely powerful through previous films. Luke Skywalker however was the chosen one, The one to bring balance to the force. Not only did he beat Vader in combat, he saw the light in Vader and helped turned him back into the light. Fast forward a few decades and Luke is easily bested by a young Ben Solo. A Ben Solo that is beyond redemption, too far gone to be saved. Leading Luke to contemplate the most despicable of acts, something unimaginable, something that makes no sense. Why Ben Solo was so far gone, i guess we will have to see. What was it about the Dark side that pulled him? What was the allure? We know Anakin was pulled in through fear, fear of losing Padme. He was manipulated by Palpatine. We know very little about the Kylo Ren/Palpatine relationship even though we are two films into a trilogy.
This is a Ben Solo that others can sense conflict in. By his own admission, even Snoke can sense this conflict. Yet Luke cant. And what becomes of this man, who is beyond redemption too far gone that he killed his own father. Someone who isnt able to kill his mother (one maybe can understand this) or Rey. The latter makes very little sense at all. Narratively speaking, Kylo Ren should have no concerns about killing Rey. Yet this being a Disney film that was never going to happen. She should never have been led to this point by the writers who seem to make things up as they go along.
Speaking about making things up as they go along, how Rey ever got to be so powerful is ludicrous. Anakin was trained by a Jedi Knight for many years. Luke was the chosen one, trained by Yoda, perhaps the greatest of all Jedi. So think about this for a moment. Luke beats Vader, however cant beat Ben Solo. Kylo then cant beat Rey (on two occasions). Where is the consisntency? I was willing to forgive the first battle between Rey and Kylo in TFA, after all Kylo was injured, hadnt completed his training and Rey was competent in self defense/weapons fighting. Now we hear that years prior, it didnt matter that his training was incomplete, he was already too powerful that he could beat Luke Skywalker but now cant beat Rey, someone who has zero training in the ways of the Force?
This is what happens when different when you allow someone to completely write and direct their own script, someone who wants to bring his own ideas on board, at the expense of everything that has already been established. TFA had consistency. Even the prequel trilogies had it too, while they werent great at least they were consistent.
Then comes the waste of potential with Snoke. Here we had what could have been a true villain, extremely powerful. His use of the force was something that brought a chill to my spine. For a moment i thought this could be set up for a duel too good for words. Luke and Rey versus Snoke and Kylo. Or perhaps even with Rey turning Kylo a three on one battle? Alas it wasnt to be, they decided to go down the dull, senseless route.
Lastly, believe it or not, this is the first Star Wars film in the main series without a lightsaber on lightsaber duel. A duel between a sith and a Jedi. Make of that what you will. Personally, its a massive missed opportunity. This film as mentioned did have some good aspects. While the route they went with Luke wasnt to my liking, Hamill was still nonetheless magnificent. Daisy Ridley put in a better performance than she did in TFA and showed good range. The space battles were enjoyable and the special effects were excellent. Finally although they did overuse Porgs, there was one scene with Chewie that was hilarious.
The Last Jedi will leave you confused, with conflicting emotions. Much like Kylo Ren. Just dont expect Luke to sense this or do anything about it.