Hope in dark times

Rating: 10/10 (15 December 2017)

The Last Jedi takes its viewers on a stunning journey, from despair to hope. I think many reviewers here are being negative because this journey is different from what they expected, but that's what gives this installment of Star Wars its vibrancy.
So many of the characters are trying to figure out who they are, and what their role is, from Poe's desire to be the flashy hero, which recklessly costs lives, to Luke's deep pain at his own personal failure, which has cost the universe its freedom. In this mix, Rey is trying to find purpose to her life, and Kylo Ren, like Anakin before him, attempts to solve the universe's problems with a lightsaber. Finn and Rose go on their own, seemingly pointless journey, but the last scenes of the film highlight that theirs was perhaps the most important in the film.
This question of purpose is what the film tackles thematically; how do we move forward? Do we need to cut all ties with the past, and reinvent ourselves? Do we need to find some sort of hazy truce between what is good and bad? In our postmodern world, is there even a good or bad? And while no answer is definitely given, we can cheer as hope returns, sacrifices are made, and the universe is given something to fight for.
Plus, it is highlighted that failure is part of life, and your past victories are not diminished by your failures, neither does failing once condemn you to a life of failure.
Mark Hamill was awesome as Luke, worth the price of admittance alone.