SHOW-- DON'T TELL.

Rating: 4/10 (20 December 2017)

This film's Meta-narrative structure was thoroughly infuriating. Just tell the damn story already-- you don't have to make every single line ("Let the past die," "You want me to take on the entire first order with a laser sword?" "This isn't going to go the way you think!") a character's message to the audience about the direction the writing process is taking. This is an example of the Marvel-ified STAR WARS winking at its' own intrinsic absurdity and asking the audience to take the stakes seriously when its' central character bafflingly doesn't anymore. The reverse-engineered decision by Luke which creates the central conflict is completely out-of-character and his self-imposed exile is forced, weak, and a total head-scratcher, leaving his attempt at redemption and ultimate fate hollow, unsatisfying and infuriating to longtime fans. Johnson misfires way too many times by inserting hit-us-all-over-the-head social commentary into a ridiculous side-plot at the expense of characters who absolutely deserve to have that precious time devoted to them. I don't care what happens in episode IX, and I've loved STAR WARS all my life. Good luck, JJ Abrams- you have your work cut our for you...