Star Wars: The Last Jedi Movie Review

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (IMAX/3D)
Cast: Daisy Ridley, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Kelly Marie Tran, Benicio Del Toro, Gwendoline Christie, Laura Dern, Domhnall Gleeson, Andy Serkis
Director: Rian Johnson
Rating:

Writer/director Rian Johnson's "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" is an expansive, eventful, spectacular driven by strong characterisations, amazingly scaled-up and deep visuals and rejuvenated new generation action surrounded by enveloping signature sound. The action here picks up from the end of "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens" taking us through a set-piece opener that is as breath-taking and adrenaline gushing as they come. The legend of the Jedi endures with a fresh blood inducement, expanding the famed mythology to new territories, new battles while saying a befitting goodbye to the old.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

The surprises here stay true to the originator George Lucas' sci-fi logic while straddling a new set of goals for the future. The narrative cross-cuts between Leia Organa's(Late Carrie Fisher) attempts to save her ragtag resistance fleet from imminent destruction by the First Order and Rey's (Daisy Ridley) visit to the aquatic planet Ahch-To, in order to convince the self-exiled Jedi master Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to overcome his grief at failing a group of young Jedi trainees and rejoin the Resistance. The New Order's Supreme Leader Snoke (CGI augented Andy Serkis) has his own sinister plans for both Rey and his Darth Vader-obsessed apprentice Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) though.

The entire film is an attempt at reverse psychology where 'Retreat' becomes the best form of defence for an entire generation of resistance fighters looking to survive and carry on their noble endeavour to the next escapade. The narrative expanse is full of exactingly orchestrated mini-missions that invariably lead us to the next level of engagement.

Rian Johnson's vision for the legacy is not stale and padded out- instead what we get is a hugely credible display of technology, mythology and imagery -in a way that engages and entertains without making it all seem jaded and enervating. The lengthy, consecutive climaxes pull off a variegated scale of sci-fi dramaturgy, thus making the end result seem immensely satisfying and relatable to boot. Johnson designs it in such a way that both veterans (Chewbacca and R2-D2 et al) and newbies are given enough screen time to showcase their special qualities within the elaborate ecosystem. The Last Jedi is definitely not the end of the road for the Jedi warriors. Johnson in fact brings their future creations into the sub-textual discussion that embraces issues of legitimacy and succession. The franchise's future appears to be in safe hands - with the baton having passed down from the old trinity - Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill to a newer and more energised lot. Let the force be with them!

Watch 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' Trailer

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