HOLLYWOOD RETURNS TO GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY
KYLO AND REY EXAMINE THE DARK AND LIGHT IN ‘STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI’
There is a thrilling space opera somewhere in “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” if only it could rise above the echoes of its original mythology. That said, Episode VIII of Lucasfilm’s morality play of good and evil a long time ago, in the far reaches of a distant galaxy, certainly has its moments.
Set immediately after the end of the 2015 re-launch of the saga’s new trilogy, “The Force Awakens,” “Last Jedi” finds the Resistance on the run, as always, from the brutal First Order. Rey (Daisy Ridley), who grew up scavenging garbage on a hellish planet, has tracked down Luke Skywalker (an impressively conflicted Mark Hamill) on a gorgeous, rocky mound of greenery, the planet Ahch-to.
The Force is strong with her, and she finds herself able to communicate with her dark counterpart, sullen Sith-in-waiting Kylo Ren (Adam Driver).
Having just been locked in mortal combat in the previous film, it’s odd to see them testing each other’s emotions like a couple of high school kids. She feels alone in the world, frightened by her newly discovered power. He believes he has just “killed” the good side of himself, embodied by the murder of his father, Han Solo. At first he commands her to bring Skywalker to him and when that clearly isn’t going anywhere, he appeals to her hunger for knowledge of The Force.
Kylo Ren offers to educate her, a very bad idea indeed. But Luke has become a recluse out of guilt and sadness. It ended in disaster when he tried to train Kylo and other potential Jedi — he wants none of Rey. Perhaps Kylo Ren is her only hope?
“The legacy of the Jedi is failure,” Luke says. Still, he imparts some wisdom, and dispels her notion that The Force belongs to the Jedi. It is not a power but a life force. Embracing it is not about moving rocks around. Until, later, when it is.
Other threads of the existing narrative weave themselves into various adventures. Daredevil pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) has been elevated to the status of commander in service of General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher).
Meanwhile, former First Order stormtrooper/janitor Finn (John Boyega) has awakened from his coma. Although he became somewhat of a legend while asleep, Finn wants nothing more than to get out of Dodge. A fangirl mechanic, Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) insists he live up to his reputation.
The two have a nice chemistry, and it sets up a potential love triangle with Rey. But the script by writer/director Rian Johnson has no time for romance.
A relationship that does evolve in entertaining fashion is between Kylo Ren and General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson, working a delightfully staunch British accent that would have done Peter Cushing proud). Each hopes to gain the favor of Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) and practically fall over each other in their efforts.
Thewayward son of Leia and Han continues to display the emotional maturity of a cranky toddler due his nap; perhaps it’s time to let Kylo grow up a bit if he’s to be taken seriously. At least he finally ditches themask.
There’s not a great deal of plot: The dwindling ranks of the Resistance are fleeing for their lives. Things get blown up in spectacular fashion and the weapons are massive: The First Order fleet has a Dreadnought and, later, hauls out one really big battering ram of a laser canon.
Because this is a Star Wars film, there is a stretch involving three of our heroes who must de-activate something deep in the bowels of a First Order ship. They also make a stop in the city of Canto Bight, which Rose describes as “a terrible place filled with the worst people in the galaxy.”
It’s hardly Mos Isley, but she isn’t wrong.
“The Last Jedi” holds both the dark and thelight up to examination. Or as DJ, Benicio del Toro’s codebreaker notes off-handedly, “Goodguys, bad guys. Made-up words.”
Rey’s identity crisis has galactic implications: Is she the light, or can she be turned? As one who is trying to harness a great power and is desperate to know her place in the universe, there are frightening alternatives. (See: Ren, Kylo or Skywalker, Anakin).
Even with Luke’s waffling, his twin, Leia, has managed to keep in touch with her side of The Force, and it’s nice to see the late Ms. Fisher, in her last role, take a forceful hand in events. The film is dedicated “In Loving Memoryof Our Princess.”
At 152 minutes, “The Last Jedi” is probably 20 minutes too long yet never fails to entertain. Two crackerjack firefights in space occupy the first half-hour, and Crait, shot on the vast salt flats of Bolivia, is an otherworldly setting.
Scratch the eggshell-colored surface and beneath is a blood-red layer of crystal, hinting at the huge, shining mines below. The overstuffed gambling palace on Canto Bight is Monte Carlo dialed up to 11.
Silver-colored “crystal” foxes are adorable, even more so than the Puffin-like Porgs on Ahch-to. A few new characters are introduced into the trilogy — Laura Dern’s no-nonsense Vice Admiral Holdo chief among them, and Ms. Fisher’s daughter, Billie Lourd, is a lieutenant standing by Leia’s side.
“The Last Jedi” is still an event, a wonder for fans. Although it fails to break significant new ground, there’s always hope the trilogy’s finale will be grand, indeed. As Kylo Ren tells Rey, “Let the past die. Kill it if you have to.” Maria Sciullo: msciullo@post-gazette.com or @MariaSciulloPG.