Either You Love Star Wars or, You're Wrong!!! And this film is Amazing!

Rating: 10/10 (25 February 2018)

After 40 years of capturing the hearts and minds of people from every corner of the world, it's amazing just to think how far Star Wars has come as a franchise. Even beyond the involvement of George Lucas, it's fair to say 'Star Wars' is still alive and kicking hard at an unprecedented rate, the franchise couldn't be at a better place in time than now.
If I read anything about this film before seeing it for myself with such ludicrous claims it 'destroys everything you thought you knew about the franchise' from a hugely loud and annoying niche of people/users, I would absolutely laugh out loud in the most ridiculous fashion possible. The fact of the matter is that these claims are all purely 'subjective', not to mention I most sincerely Hate!!! without a shadow of a doubt how 'entitled' some 'so-called-fans' be at that, for it is Not!!! one's judgement to be more important than any others for a particular film, especially if there are people who can think more critically than emotionally (as all pathetic consumer to Hollywood films are, myself included). Also, one rational saying I took from a dreaded fan-documentary; 'The People vs. George Lucas' is Neil Gaiman saying; 'Fans don't have the right to bitch at a creator for what they created. Fans are entitled to dislike what they want, but these creations come purely from their creator's heads, and they aren't entitled to ask them to change anything.' As much as it was for George Lucas to be free to make films the way he wanted, so to goes for the filmmakers of the franchise today, even with a story-group keeping everything in the franchise consistent with what is considered; 'Canon' in this day and age.
I went into this film with an open mind, I've always loved Star Wars ever since I was a young boy growing up in the 90s watching it on VHS before any film re-releases and before being optimal enough to enjoy the prequel trilogy when they were being released. Sure, I may be critical about 'all' Star Wars films released to date; as the saying goes "Nobody's Perfect", but when you have a film that's part of a huge multi-million-dollar franchise that's survived this long, the one question you should ask; 'Does it stack up?'
I say 'Yes!' now let me justify what I think about the film.
This film is surprisingly a direct continuation from the story that Episode VII: The Force Awakens started. On top of that, we hold the 'Original Trilogy' in too much of such high regard, it's not only daunting but also exciting to think what would happen to the characters we all know and love from the OT, if their stories were continued down the line in further films. While, it's always great to see new beginnings and continuations which Episode 'VII' has done exceptionally well, as they've also done introducing new characters and plot threads. As of now Lucasfilm could not have made anything better, when it comes to follow-ups of such hugely celebrated films of pop-culture. Even when you have such great characters involved in a whole new set of conflicts, while the original cast of characters are headlining these new films; it's not only paying homage to a by-gone-era, but also bringing the franchise into an all new era for fans and audiences of both young and old to really enjoy.
Writer/Director; Rian Johnson, has crafted an incredibly intense and cathartic Space Opera epic, even if this is the longest Star Wars film ever made, then don't be alarmed by the pacing as Johnson has kept everything intact. By this point, it's clear this franchise isn't just about large-scale space battles, lasers, light and dark, but that this film is an intelligent blockbuster with high stakes drama able to carry the weight of its ever-encompassing plot and the substantial nature of its characters from the very beginning to the very end. Even while the film tends to focus so much on varying plot threads, it is most certainly worth every minute as this film takes so many bold moves within the story, it's heart-pounding to not get caught up in the moments of extreme intensity, being either incredibly scary or deeply moving.
Overall, what started out as being an innovative space opera set action-adventure, has and always will be a global phenomenon with an incredibly authentic and emotional sense of cinematic escapism. It's intense conflict between good and evil, with deep philosophical understandings of it's world and lore, has been key to delivering on the goods of how big a film can be in both scale and substance. 'The Last Jedi' shows no sign of the franchise letting down anytime soon
I hate to say this, but either you love Star Wars as it is or "you're wrong" living in denial what's being done creatively isn't being taken with care from both the past and present. So sorry haters, but I don't think I'll ever understand your disdain for a film for which I absolutely loved and actually is worthy of being up among the best the franchise has ever produced.