[Review] Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Redefining the Star Wars Saga!

After a two-year wait, Star Wars: The Last Jedi finally premiered two weeks ago, and we finally learned what Luke Skywalker has been up to for the past three decades. I believe this review will inevitably contain major spoilers, which is why it's being published two weeks after the film's release. Friends who wish to avoid spoilers, please proceed with caution.

"This is not going to go the way you think," Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) says in the trailer, and indeed, the movie's plot did not unfold as we imagined. It was full of unexpected surprises, heading in a direction I never could have foreseen. From the opening scene, director Rian Johnson constantly attempted to mislead the audience through his camerawork and plot setup. Just when you think Rey (Daisy Ridley) is about to use the Force to blast open the door, we discover it's Chewbacca. When you know Kylo Ren / Ben Solo (Adam Driver) wouldn't attack his mother Leia (Carrie Fisher), the director arranges for other fighters to attack, and what follows is even more astonishing. Later, in one scene, the director even seems aware that audiences prefer seeing Kylo Ren with his helmet on, not wanting to see the plain-looking Adam Driver; he directly challenges this expectation, having Snoke (Andy Serkis) utter, "Take off that ridiculous helmet!" and then destroying it. As a Star Wars fan himself, the director clearly knows what audiences want to see and how they hope the story will develop, and he doesn't beat around the bush, directly presenting those scenes. However, after building enough tension and captivating the audience's attention, he immediately pivots in another direction, delivering surprises. Thus, while watching the film, viewers might think they've predicted the plot or understood a shot's meaning, only to find something completely different happens. And the surprises come one after another, keeping the audience fully engaged and focused for the entire 150-minute runtime, marveling at how the director tells this story. Even though these surprises are unexpected, they are logical within the story, never feeling forced.

The film's plot did not unfold as we imagined, and the consequences of the director's choices in the film have also exceeded our imagination. At the very least, we never imagined this film would spark so much controversy. As early as October, when the official trailer was released, many noticed that its editing constantly attempted to mislead audiences. But at the time, we didn't realize that one line of dialogue in the trailer accurately described what the director did in this film: "Let the past die. Kill it, if you have to. That's the only way to become what you are meant to be." The film truly "destroyed the past" on multiple levels. First, the film clarifies the nature of the Force, indicating that the Force is everywhere and within everyone, thus not exclusive to Jedi and Sith. Previously, when watching Star Wars films, audiences always focused on the good-versus-evil dynamic of the Jedi and Sith. Now, the film tells us that they are not the sole possessors of the Force; we no longer need to focus only on Jedi and Sith, or just the Skywalker family, but on all characters. The film also naturally explains a big mystery from the previous film: Who are Rey's parents? For the past two years, everyone speculated whether Rey's lineage would be Skywalker or Kenobi. But since the Force is not solely inherited by Jedi or Sith, her parents didn't need to be familiar characters, and the film, through Kylo Ren's dialogue, tells us that Rey's parents were just ordinary people. We used to consider the Star Wars main saga as the story of the Skywalker family, but Star Wars: The Last Jedi completely changes this. Rey was never part of the Skywalker story, but she has now become a crucial part of the main saga.

Aside from Rey's parentage, another highly controversial decision in the film was the deaths of Luke Skywalker and Snoke. Luke Skywalker has been the male protagonist of this film series since the first Star Wars: A New Hope forty years ago. He was missing for most of the previous film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, only appearing for a few seconds at the end, so fans eagerly anticipated his return and a major display of his power in this installment. However, Luke spent most of the film on the island, hardly using the Force. In the film's climax, Luke used a Force projection ability, projecting himself onto the battlefield for a "duel to the death" with Kylo Ren, before peacefully passing away on the island. On the other hand, Snoke's first appearance in the previous film led many fans to speculate about his true identity. Yet, Star Wars: The Last Jedi had Kylo Ren kill him without ever solving the mystery. After the film's release, much of the negative criticism focused on the plot and character abilities being too different from previous Star Wars works. Moreover, after killing off Han Solo (Harrison Ford) in the last film, this film kills Luke, seemingly erasing characters from past films and making Star Wars unrecognizable. In reality, as Yoda wisely says in the film, reminding Luke to let go of the past and focus on the present, the film's approach aligns perfectly with this theme: allowing audiences to let go of past concepts and characters and focus on the characters and plot of the new trilogy. Star Wars is now forty years old, and Rian Johnson has precisely redefined the series, giving it a chance for change.

Director Rian Johnson, who previously directed several episodes of the acclaimed series Breaking Bad, brings not only his signature misdirection and cinematography to Star Wars: The Last Jedi but also deep character development. The film opens with a space battle, initially focusing on Poe Dameron's (Oscar Isaac) X-wing and other fighters attacking the First Order dreadnought. Later, when depicting the bomber's actions, the film narrows its focus from a grand battle to the sacrifice of the bomber crew, securing a small victory for the Resistance. This brief scene alone illustrates how this film differs from previous Star Wars movies and deeply stirs the audience's emotions. Subsequently, the film delves deeply into characters' psychologies and explores themes very close to reality, as it portrays Rey's journey of growth, Kylo Ren's internal conflict, and Finn (John Boyega) discovering the dark side of war. This approach is unprecedented in previous Star Wars films; Star Wars: The Last Jedi feels less like a typical blockbuster and more like an independent film wrapped in blockbuster packaging.

In addition to its depth, the film doesn't lack humor. Star Wars: The Last Jedi itself has a very dark story, but fortunately, Rian Johnson skillfully uses certain characters and scenes to inject humor, lightening the film's atmosphere. After thirty years, Luke Skywalker is a weary, silent old man, and Mark Hamill's eyes perfectly convey his cynicism and fear. However, the scene where he misleads Rey during her training, making her think she's feeling the Force, is arguably the funniest moment in the film. When it comes to the most comedic characters in the film, the newly introduced Porgs are, of course, the standout. Their appearance and interactions with Chewbacca are absolutely hilarious and never overdone. Later, Yoda's appearance evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, reminding audiences of his amusing scenes with Luke in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Notably, the film presents Yoda using a puppet, not the CGI animation from the prequels, making him feel closer to the original trilogy, almost like a slap in the face to George Lucas.

Beyond handling the plot and characters, the film's visuals are also stunning. As displayed on the film's poster, the film prominently features red. I particularly loved Snoke's "throne room," with its dominant red color scheme and minimalist design, perfectly conveying a sense of evil and dread. Later, in the battle between Rey and Kylo Ren in the "throne room," the burning red background adds a sense of urgency to their duel with the guards. In the climax of the film's final battle, the red streaks left by the speeders as they glide across the ground—lines of red drawn against the First Order—fully illustrate the Resistance's determination and courage. And these red streaks lay crucial groundwork for Luke and Kylo Ren's "battle" later, hinting to the audience that Luke isn't truly there. Speaking of the most magnificent scene in the film, it must be Vice Admiral Holdo's (Laura Dern) sacrifice. This visual, combined with the moment of silence followed by the immense sound, is not only incredibly magnificent but also deeply moving, a scene audiences are unlikely to forget. Furthermore, the film's depiction of Rey's reflections in the cave is visually unique, something never before seen in Star Wars. Moreover, the shot of Luke Skywalker's entrance during the film's climactic ending reminded me of his entrance into Jabba's palace in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. His subsequent walk through the fiery doorway onto the battlefield also showcased his commanding presence and his ability to face hundreds alone.

As for the characters, among the new additions, Laura Dern's portrayal of Holdo is the most striking, thanks partly to Rian Johnson's deliberate misdirection in the plot, giving viewers the same "aha!" moment as Poe Dameron. From initially seeming like an arrogant, selfish commander to later sacrificing herself to protect the galaxy's last hope, Laura Dern's performance in every scene commanded audience attention. She skillfully leveraged the plot's twists to enhance her character's depth, and her final moments are deeply moving. Even if she only appears in this one film, her performance is enough for fans to remember. In comparison, Benicio del Toro's DJ, while embodying the character's morally ambiguous and unreliable nature, had limited screen time and development, perhaps offering an opportunity for his return in the next installment! As for Kelly Marie Tran's Rose Tico, despite having more screentime, the film's depiction of her relationship with Finn wasn't particularly deep, making her moment of self-sacrifice less impactful for audiences.

What garnered the most attention this time, of course, was the performance of Carrie Fisher, who tragically passed away after filming Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Compared to the previous film, Leia certainly had more room to shine in this installment, and Carrie Fisher's portrayal was absolutely spot-on. Her farewell scene with Holdo, in retrospect, feels like the audience's farewell to her, making it exceptionally poignant. Similarly, her long-awaited reunion with Luke after thirty years was a moment audiences anticipated, and Carrie Fisher maintained the character's established image in these scenes, avoiding excessive sentimentality and injecting a touch of humor. Additionally, the film's opening featuring Leia's classic recorded message from A New Hope was truly touching, making the entire film feel like a tribute to Carrie Fisher. It also left audiences wondering how the next film would address Leia's fate without Carrie Fisher's performance. Although there were no post-credits scenes, the film concluded with a dedication to Carrie Fisher, allowing audiences a final moment of tribute.

Rian Johnson's approach in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, in addition to being unpredictable, propelled the series into uncharted territory. Essentially, we have no idea where the next film will go, making director J.J. Abrams's task undoubtedly more challenging, and in turn, more exciting for audiences. Furthermore, Lucasfilm has already enlisted Rian Johnson to develop a new Star Wars trilogy. Given his achievements in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, this new trilogy is truly something to look forward to. The Force is indeed with him!