Movie Review: 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' (2017)

Hello, one and all.

As I told a friend of mine, the Star Wars Universe (which I'm abbreviating to SWU for the purposes of this review; not to be confused with SVU, which is a subsection of the NYPD, which is also a popular NBC police drama, but, now I'm getting off the beaten path here) was a universe that I wasn't to keen on beaming up to (now, that's a Star Trek reference — but OK, I'm back to the topic at hand). As a five-year-old over forty summers ago, I honestly thought it was a lame universe to inhabit. Robots, wookies, a black-helmeted/cloaked villain with the voice of James Earl Jones was just too much of a head-scratching idea for my young head. It certainly didn't help that TV kept pounding the movie's images ad nauseum and with constant repetition. A popular disco song based on the iconic John Williams score was just the tip of the iceberg. I actually made my mother take me to see the film's rival, Close Encounters of The Third Kind, just to shut out the irritating SW mania sweeping the land. That didn't help matters as my mother still chastises me to this day for sleeping through most of it! But, this was the one movie franchise that clicked — just wouldn't stop clicking ever since, much to my chagrin. So, you all know the inevitable cliche: "If you can't beat 'em..."

Having said all that, here's the ninth film in the franchise; now belonging to Disney, but still with the Lucasfilm logo ever reminding us who was, and still is its creator, George Lucas. Yes, it skipped around continuity and yes, we now have to add Rogue One: A Star Wars Story to the story arc with plenty of CGI used for the original 1977 footage. Just as Episodes I, II, and III were polarized when Lucas attempted to revive the franchise with prequels delineating the rise of Anakin Skywalker and his eventual metamorphosis into evil Sith lord Darth Vader, these new sequels, overseen by super-producer/director J.J. Abrams, have already been met with strong skepticism by SWU purists who are criticizing everything from the casting to the subplots involving the returning characters from previous episodes. In the 40 years since its inception, the SWU has definitely been through its share of ideas, good and bad; its reputation has grown from a series that blazed the trail with its boffo special effects and continues to impress with the strides made with computer-generated-imagery (CGI) and its bevvy of colorful characters, and also its ability to transport us into worlds that are ethereal and eye-popping each time around. Needless to say that the universe has grown indeed (this time, with an interstellar casino to boot), but to my honest and to-the-point pleasure, the universe still retains its most important straightforward directive: escapism.

Now, off the soapbox (officially) and ready to review the latest space opera; ninth overall. After Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) restored my faith in the franchise, I've been steadily awaiting the latest. The last film left us with the promise of bringing back its most iconic character, Luke Skywalker, played by Mark Hamill, and happy to report, I wasn't disappointed. Now that we know he's got a stake in this latest installment, was it worth it for that massive cherry we received in Force Awakens? The answer is a resounding and a super loud "yes."

All the criticism aside, much of it being that all the characters from the first official Lucas installments are now just bystanders and voyeurs in their own universe and no longer taking center stage in lieu of a much younger cast of characters and a new crisis in the saga, it still entertains and is unapologetic for it. Han Solo (Harrison Ford) may have been the only exception in the last chapter, as well as General Leia Organa (the late Carrie Fisher, who is sadly now the real legend that left our universe). Finn (John Boyega), or FN-2187, the traitor stormtrooper who is now part of the Resistance, and Ren (Daisy Ridley) who may or may not have a psychic connection with Luke as she does with the new Vader; Leia and Solo's son Ben Solo, a.k.a. Kylo Ren (Adam Driver who bristles and smolders more convincingly than Hayden Christiansen did in the previous "first" three installments), and Skywalker is his overly-suspicious uncle. Another joy to behold? Benicio Del Toro as a very skewed Han Solo-type character joining the cast. Laura Dern is another fine addition, although not much is known or understood about her connection with Leia, save perhaps a very quietly romantic underline? No hate mail, please. Just an observation.

No, I have no intention of revealing any key secrets or plot revelations. Part of the fun of relishing the SWU is the ever-expected, "Yeah, I kinda saw that coming" moment, of which this film has many. But, it doesn't take anything away from the pure fun the film allows us to have as it also has us guessing with one element: the (yes, I will tip-toe on eggshells with this) possibility of Rey and Kylo Ren, who are completely psychically in synch with each other, having some sort of genealogical connection and if she herself may join Kylo in his aspirations of having a Dark Side ally.

There are many other surprises, yes, even for someone who wasn't a fan to begin with. A certain Jedi Master makes a CGI cameo to remind the main hero about why failure exists (the voice used to voice Fozzie Bear and Miss Piggy in the Muppets heydey) and of course, always a joy to hear Anthony Daniels' quaint British butler's voice as C-3PO. Another treasure is seeing and sadly bidding farewell to an iconically sad and weary face, especially when she still had the possibility of being the glue that kept the SWU from falling apart — and especially remembering her freshly cherubic face as a Princess in 1977 before becoming a General in this, her final film role and the many explorations of being fractured Hollywood royalty that will never be written and even acted and touched upon anymore. Yes, this latest film is dedicated in her memory; so it seems sadly ironic that the real exit was made by General Leia played by Carrie Fisher. I found myself studying and relishing her very last film performance and still enjoying the sarcasm that always resonated from her gravelly voice, her life-beaten beauty still ever sharp and present on screen. A great, but sorrowful send-off indeed.

The film's plot? Well, to be forward, if you've seen all the other eight entries, it would ill-behoove me to disclose any details. Evil empire wants to destroy all of creation — but, a key group of resistance fighters are doing all they can to fend and fight for their very existence. And, yes, a newbie is now being groomed to become a Jedi Knight learning the ways of the Force and becoming a beacon for peace in the entire galaxy. Did I miss anything? I'm pretty sure, no; and again, I am somewhat of a fractured fan of the series. So, in closing: Star Wars: The Last Jedi is pure escapism of the highest order and worthy of still gracing silver screens in the years to come. If you're a purist and an uber-fan and feel the need to nitpick at any and all things that you feel they're getting wrong in the SWU, then it's a safe bet that this one isn't for you.

Episode XI is slated for a 2019 release. Should be interesting where the Force will take us this time out.