Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering...

Rating: 10/10 (29 December 2017)

Before I write down anything, let's be clear, this review contains MAJOR spoilers...
******** WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD ********
So, after getting this out of the way, let me start with the most important thing: yes, I was late. I watched the movie last night, I broke my decade long tradition of wathcing every new Star Wars movie on the opening night. I had my reasosns, no need to go into details about that.
And that's the first thing I want to mention: I read a lot of reviews before watching, and I was rather preplexed, confused, and baffled about how much hate this movie has gotten in such a short period of time. It made me even more excited for my first viewing.
I've got to be honest, i'm not your average movei-goer. I am an amaterur filmmaker, and I have a quite decent understandig regarding how showbusiness works. But: I've been a Star Wars fan since I saw New Hope in 1981. Avid fan. Not hardcore fan, but a fan nonetheless.
I LOVED "The Force Awakens" and I LOVED "Rogue One" and I did not love the prequels. I still sit down and watch them on BR from time to time, because they are a part of the saga I love, but I have major issues with them.
That been said, let's get to it: I don't understand the hate. I don't understand, why so called "fans" don't understand the intentions, motives, and the overall message of "The Last Jedi". I thing it is a very well thought through, and marvellously executed addition to the saga. Everything in this movie works, and serves a purpose. Yes, not the particular fan-serving purpose the majority of the die-hard fans were anticipating, but still.
First of all, this is a very well made movie. No one can attack this: the visuals are stunning, the pacing is just right, the acting is first class, and yes: even the soundtrack is OK. Why are you hating this one so much?
I am 42 years old, and I LITERALLY grew up on the original trilogy. I had the posters, the toys, the VHS tapes (remember them?), the whole shabang. And when the Special Edition came to theatres, I was there, cheering like a 6 year old, like I was when I first saw Star Wars. The prequels did not make me cheer. They made me think, and criticize. That's not what Star Wars is out there to do. The Force Awakens made me 6 years old again, and cheer and laugh and just go with the flow with the story (WHATEVER it was, I did not understand it as a 6 year old anyway, just went with it) and enjoyed it immensely.
Same thing happened with Rogue One, I just dove into it and enjoyed it. And YES, a thousand times YES: I enjoyed The Last Jedi immensely, it was a captivating, fullfilling joyride of a movie, and I was "yes, yes, yes" all the time, watching it. I forgot everything outside of the big screen, and I just enjoyed the ride. This is what Disney does very well: showing you something to fill your senses, and enjoy it. I feel bad for everyone who did not, I think your inner child has grown up, into someone sad and bitter. And this is where my title comes: You were afraid, that this episode will not go the way you wanted. And it did not. This was the will of the Force (do you not believe in it?). This fear lead to anger, anger towards the makers of the movie, saying: "WHY DID YOU NOT MAKE THE MOVIE I WANTED TO SEE?" Well folks, everything is not the way you were planning... Not fan service? There you have it. And this led to hate, hate toward the whole franchise in some of you, hate toward the wonderful imaginary writer/director Rian Johnson (HATE leads to the dark side, remember?) and this, in conclusion leads to suffering: yes, you are suffering, my dear haters, you've just joined the dark side... You completely missed the message of the whole saga: do not fear, do not give in to your anger, do not hate, it only leads to suffering.
I on the other hand, enjoy the light side of the Force: I welcome all changes made to the lore, and to the franchise, I accept it, and love it. Hate is for the Sith. You made your choice. This is an excellent movie, and I cannot wait to see episode 9.
And, sidenote: why are you so keen on explanations and espositions, and backstories...? Did you forget to believe? Believe in the Force? Come on, folks...