The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
‘The Last Jedi’ is a grandiose, epic space opera
Writer/director Rian Johnson goes for broke during his turn at bat in the “Star Wars” franchise, and he delivers an epic space opera with “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” a film that is as indebted to the previous installments and “Star Wars” canon as it is to classic Westerns, sword and sandal epics, and martial arts films. After this impressive showing, it’s no wonder producer Kathleen Kennedy has hired Johnson to make a trilogy of “Star Wars” films with a whole new cast of characters.
But first, in classic nonlinear “Star Wars” fashion, “Episode VIII.” Picking up where “The Force Awakens” left off, “The Last Jedi” reunites audiences with the host of new characters we fell in love with two years ago. Poe (Oscar Isaac), Finn ( John Boyega), Rey (Daisy Ridley) and BB-8 are back, still fighting in the Resistance against the First Order, led by Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis), General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson), and prodigal Solo son Kylo Ren (Adam Driver).
Our heroes are scattered to the wind, as Rey has been dispatched to an isolated planet to recruit Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to the cause, while hotshot flyboy Poe tangles with the pecking order of Resistance leadership. Finn and a new ally, Rose (Kelly Marie Tran), have their own secret mission they’re undertaking to protect the Resistance fighters who are being chased all over the galaxy by the First Order.
“The Last Jedi” is a sweeping and grandiose film, and also, far funnier than possibly any other “Star Wars” film has attempted to be. Johnson pitches the tone just right, with actual jokes and visual gags peppered amongst the stunning action set pieces, as well as earnest and emotionally moving moments of heroism and self-sacrifice.
That desire to do it all and more in “The Last Jedi” does come with its drawbacks. Thankfully, the pace never lets up, with masterful editing by Bruce Ducsay, hopping nimbly from spaceship to planet and back again as we follow our space heroes new characters of “The Last dispersed among the stars. Jedi,” this is a film that ultimately But “The Last Jedi” is overstuffed pays beautiful tribute with plot — by the to the people who first time the last showdown happens, made us fall in love with it feels like a set piece “Star Wars” — Mark Hamill that should have been saved and Carrie Fisher. Hamill is for the next film, as visually at a career best as the legendary intoxicating and eye-popping Jedi Luke, stealing as it is. At a whopping the film, while Leia’s journey two hours and 32 minutes, receives a fitting finale. “The Last Jedi” overstays its It’s the blend of reverence welcome just a tad. for its roots and embrace
For the fresh, unique of the new that makes “The visual style and lovable Last Jedi” a triumph.