Star Wars: Tha Last Jedi

I'm glad I went to see it as early as possible, it was nice to be able to just enjoy it before getting on the internet and seeing all the thinkpieces and blogposts explaining why I shouldn't.

I agree - I went to see it on Friday, and enjoyed it, as a very pleasurable way to spend a couple of hours, and to envelope myself in a John Williams score that was like coming home, every time I hear the opening chords! I've loved Star Wars since I was a child, and have had enjoyment from every single one of the films made. I mean, there's always a Jar Jar Binks fly in the ointment-type bit of a film that you have to skate past in order to enjoy the rest(!), but on the whole, they're great fantasy films, that stand up to repeated viewings and the passage of time.

I honestly think the problem with this film is the fans! You know the ones I'm talking about - those that have spent the past year dissecting every frame of The Force Awakens, and have attributed deep meaning to every eye blink! I really do think you have to stop yourself from going too deep with any of these films - and it's very easy to blame Disney, but the paper-thin narrative isn't unique to this installment! For sure, it definitely felt like the middle film in a trilogy, with not quite enough forward drive to sustain 2.5 hours - and the Leia thing (you know what I'm talking about) was laughably strange - when something like that brings to mind Mary Poppins, and you're just wondering where the parrot-handled umbrella is, I suspect it means they got the scene wrong!

Did 15 minutes need editing from the film? Yes! Did they ignore quite a lot of the set-up from the 1st film, and skew off in different directions? Of course - but just because the preconceived notions of the hardcore fandom weren't acquiesced to, doesn't make it a bad film! Mind you, when the least character says "This isn't going to go the way you think", you need to pay attention to that!

My takeaway - they weren't sure what to do with Finn for the duration of this film, given Ray was off on her own adventure, so they sent him on that fool's errand just to give him screen time. He'd have been better off being stuck in carbonite! Mind you, I quite liked (in a strange way) that the 2 male 'heroes' were the ones who basically destroyed the resistance, whilst the women around them salvaged what they could from it all! Also, the moral of the story is, if Justin Theroux is the man you're looking for in a casino, don't go running off with Benicio del Toro, no matter how roguishly hot Benicio looks!!

I definitely didn't mind the thought processes behind Leia having extraordinary powers to save herself - that felt entirely within canon - it was just I felt the execution of the scene was framed a little 'off'. Perhaps a different shot, other than her gliding through space? I also appreciated the message in the casino scene, that was being conveyed about the people who make money from a galaxy in a permanent war setting. The imagery in the stolen ship, that showed some anonymous person was selling military equipment to both the First Order and Resistance - that was pretty damn on the nose, for me!

'Space opera' is absolutely how this series of 9 films should be referred to - like soap opera, in space! If anyone is looking for the meaning of life in these movies, they will certainly come out disappointed! All that being said, it's still the most plainly enjoyable film this year! How can you not enjoy seeing Luke and Leia, Chewie, and the Millennium Falcon back on screen? Those things have made me smile for decades, and this film was no exception.

I don't know, if you look up the history of the term "space opera", it's not really changed since the 1960s (and I'd argue not much since the 1930s either), and Star Wars has always fitted very neatly into the description.

I liked it, impressive in imax 3D and sitting at the front was quite immersive. The last film (the first one with Daisy Ridley) was the first Star Wars films I’d ever seen. Never had the slightest interest in it. So I know nothing of the back stories other than what I’d picked up over the years but found it self contained enough to entertain me. And I didn’t remember anything about the plot of that one going into the new one tonight and again it was enjoyable enough in its own right. I liked the jokey bits, so many of these films take themselves too seriously, but there were people laughing at what were obviously “in” jokes.

Did you see the petition? And the bot-reviews? Ridiculous behaviour.

For those not following geek news, someone actually set up a petition for Disney to officially remove TLJ from Star Wars canon, and re-make the film to please them!

And then it turns out someone set up bots to inundate the film’s Rotten Tomatoes page with bad reviews to bring down its score, only it went a bit haywire and started posting them to the Shape of Water’s page instead. 😂

It's okay. Way too long and full of really clunky dialogue but then the Star Wars films aren't known for their brilliant scriptwriting. Daisy Ridley is very easy on the eye, which helped but it's a pity she covered up her lovely calves halfway through.

Someone on another board was complaining about it and included his view that the chief villain's 'throne room' looked badly designed and unfinished, which made me laugh. Presumably after a couple of ineffective interior designers were killed for their inability to come up with a suitable colour scheme and decor, no-one else dared put in for the job. Ideally I suppose if you're trying to take over the galaxy your mind will be on other matters. That said, I've never fathomed these sci-fi stories with a villain trying to take over even a planet, let alone the entire galaxy. I mean, the admin and paperwork alone must be nightmarish.

But that complainer might have a sort of point - these sorts of evil villains never choose to reside in a pleasant environment. Their megalomania might be curbed if they surrounded themselves with softer, warmer colours and textures.

Thought it was utter crap. Thought we were back on track after episodes 7 and episode 3.5. At least in the worst two Star Wars films ever.

Was sat ten yards away from a young lad who swung every lightsaber. Mad me sadder, reminded me when I was that young lad who marvelled at Star Wars.

I am not a Star Wars fan. I sat through most of this hoping to be converted but realise it’s far too late. I’m lost. I enjoyed the ideas about our responsibility to the universe and our close connection to its creatures but that left me wanting to see a documentary about the environment. I don’t enjoy fantasy - I can’t read/watch Harry Potter and the like, although I have tried. As a child I loved the Narnia chronicles and Lewis Carroll so I don’t know what changed.

I want to add that I thought the film was beautifully crafted, great acting and loved the young leads contrasted with the more seasoned actors as though the film contained the ghosts of its own past. I see why others love it, but I just kept wanting to escape and get back to reality, do something else with my time - read a book, watch a play...