Writer/Director
Rian Johnson (Looper) picks up where The
Force Awakens ends and takes on ambitious themes in The Last Jedi. Marking the
last appearance of Carrie Fisher as Leia, it is an emotional adventure with big
surprises.
As
the First Order, led by the supreme ruler Snoke with his apprentice, Kylo Ren
(Adam Driver), pursues and annihilates the Resistance, Poe (Oscar Isaac) leads
a desperate attempt to save the rebels and General Leia Organa (Fisher). Finn
(John Boyega) goes on an impromptu mission with an ally, Rose (Kelly Marie
Tran). Meanwhile Rey (Daisy Ridley) wants Jedi master, Luke Skywalker (Mark
Hamill), who is the last hope of the rebellion, to teach her the ways of the
force; what is the force, and how can it be wielded? It’s a fascinating study in
good and evil leading to a game changing climax.
This
is a beautifully realized, diverse universe populated by lovable little animals
called Porgs. The story alternates among
Finn, Rey, and Poe who all have substantially more character development, but
Hamill’s Luke dominates in every scene he appears. (In the year of Wonder
Woman, Rey, Leia, and Rose stand out as strong, female heroes.) The robot, BB-8, really shines here, and
other familiar faces make welcome appearances.
The screenplay is
peppered with funny lines, and
while subtly referencing (including musical riffs) from the early trilogy, there are revealing plot twists that
reinvigorate traditional storylines.
Production values and visual effects (including a great lightsaber
battle) are top notch with John Williams back in the saddle with an energetic
score.
The
film slows down a bit midway and picks up momentum for a grand finale in its 2
½ hour running time. The Star Wars
franchise has been energized in new ways by a talented director and a poignant
performance by Fisher who goes out on a fine note. It is a fitting tribute
that leaves this trilogy with enormous possibilities for the final film.
**** of ****
No comments:
Post a Comment