Tonal problems and weak writing hamper new film’s technical achievements
DISCLOSURE: This article discusses major plot points of Star Wars: The Last Jedi
I was introduced to the original Episodes — IV, V, and VI — at a young age, marathoning the VHS tapes for hours, then grudgingly suffered through the prequels so as not to remain ignorant of their atrocities. Given my lifelong love of the franchise, perhaps my anticipation was too great and my expectations were too high for Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
While the opening text and introductory theme got my nerdy senses tingling, the film left me feeling conflicted and disappointed. Although it received glowing critical reviews, with a 90 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes, I stand among a class of fans who left the theatre with mixed feelings.
The Last Jedi premiered to unrealistic expectations, charged with the task of appealing to a cross-generational audience of loyal fans and modern sci-fi enthusiasts. I found it succeeded only at a superficial level, the high quality visuals and original sound effects among the only things grounding me in the galaxy far, far away. Mostly, it overreached, as in the embarrassing moment when the beloved Princess Leia, arm outstretched, propels herself THROUGH SPACE in slow motion. I’m all for embellishing the fantastic, but this was not the Star Wars we know.
While the pew pew pews and Wookiee cries brought joy to my heart, the experience was disrupted by fundamental character flaws, cringe-worthy humour, and inconsistencies in plot. In particular, the portrayal of Luke’s character threatened the fundamental integrity of the original series. The much anticipated return of the Jedi Master gave us nothing more than a morally conflicted hermit caught between master and student. Luke was never the heroically charming badass that Han Solo was, but he was good. The Last Jedi sacrificed that for the incomplete backstory of the underwhelmingly villainous Kylo Ren, and yet another chance for Rey to show her true colours. Overall, the revisionism overstepped, leaving integral details behind.
But The Last Jedi belongs to a movie franchise that makes room for creative oversights. Although different from a traditional lightsaber battle scene, the climactic moment when Kylo Ren and Rey join forces to defeat Supreme Leader Snoke is epic. The soundtrack prevails, delivering deviations from the original themes and character motifs to create a nostalgic atmosphere that fans can relate to. Although the direction is questionable and the characters misleading, I will still watch it again… and again. With the final film in the trilogy projected to release in 2019, we have time to repair the damage to our fanatic pride, and come to terms with the fact that the Star Wars galaxy we know and love is changing with the times.
May the Force be with us.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons