Its all about Luke... really

Rating: 8/10 (14 December 2017)

Well its 3 am and I have just got back from the midnight showing of The Last Jedi.
We re-join the heroes of the Force Awakens as they attempt to flee from the New Order. A bit like Empire Strikes Back really there are a few bits in terms of mimicking that film. My biggest qualm about The Force Awakens was that it mimicked a New Hope. The Last Jedi makes you think it will go down that mimicking path but it turns.
After a cool opening sequence we now get to meet our hero of the day/week 40 years.... Oh yes Luke is back. Or more to the point Mark Hamill is back, from the moment he arrives on screen he had me mesmerised.
He is older, greyer, maybe a bit bitter and a shadow of his former self but his story is not yet finished. Without giving too much away he plays a huge role here.
Daisy Ridley as Rey does a decent job of the female hero orphan but she still needs all those around her to carry her through the film as her screen presence is a bit weak. Rather than being naïve about the force like in The Force Awakens here she is slightly less naïve about the force, which is a dangerous thing I guess.
Adam Driver as Kylo Ren continues to play an angry moody young lad and this is played upon many a time, He suits the role though and it kind of works but he definitely isn't the best bad guy out there.
John Boyega has a more toned down version of Finn here and less excitable which makes him way more likeable and he plays a big part in this film.
Carrie Fisher may she rest in peace, does her bit and there are a few sad moments and I did shed a tear for at one point in what I thought was a very touching scene due to her passing.
Oscar Issac as Poe plays the erratic swashbuckling pilot who still has much to learn. He is a hero but can also be a danger but Oscar plays it well.
Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux is ok, I find him a bit wooden as an actor and he comes across as a bossy head prefect rather than a great leader, to be fair this becomes his role later on.
Gwendoline Christie uses her voice ones more as Captain Phasma who is more of a bit part and not very interesting.
Kelly Marie Tran plays Rose a new character who becomes Fins sidekick, she is ok but pretty limited although I did come to like her by the end.
Laura Dern and Benicio Del Toro make interesting cameos, I won't say too much about them as not to spoil things but both do a good job if only for a short time.
There are some interesting and strange creatures again in this Star Wars film as well as some cute little things that find their way on the Millenium Falcon, I think Chewie has a softy spot for them.
I was a bit disappointed we did not get to see more of Maz Kanata as I liked her character in the Force Awakens, maybe she will reappear in the next film.
Overall this is a solid 8th film in the franchise but for me this one is all about Luke and his Legacy. It was like Mark Hamill had been waiting most of his life for this one moment and he did it with aplomb.
Positives - Great visuals and and action scenes, brilliant performance from Mark Hamill, Good twists and turns so you could never predict what was going to happen.
Negatives - Not enough depth into the Star Wars universe or the Force, I always want more. A few too many throwaway characters.
Ill give this 8/10 as while its not perfect its a fun and enjoyable movie and Mark Hamill gets it a bonus point or two. Without him it may have fell flat !!!