With the rise of Netflix and fast internet, we seldom watch movies in theaters. We only do so when big movie companies churn out franchises like this, Star Wars.
Since watching the very first one, Episode 4 - A New Hope, we fell in love with it. We ended it with the Episode 6 - The Return of the Jedi. Then came the prequels. We loved it less the first three but still we love them.
We tried to review this movie alone but you can't do so without connecting with the two films before it, Episodes 7 and 8. This was the conclusion to the trilogy in the same way it did with the original and prequels.
So how did this fare? As a stand alone movie, it was a fairly good one. We see Rey honing her Jedi skills with General Leia. We find the rest of the characters finding new information as to what the First Order was doing. Then they win in the end. That's a good movie.
However this is not a stand alone movie, how did it connect with the other two? This writer felt it rebooted the other two somehow. Episode 7 was an awakening of the sleeping franchise and it was okay in doing so. Then Episode 8 rebooted it as they felt that something was wrong with 7. Then 8 again, was rebooted so that they can have a credible and incredible ending.
There were a lot of things in 8 (the Last Jedi) that didn't connect with this one. The love story between Finn and Rose that was only realized in the end of that movie was somehow "lost" in here. Hell she was only featured a few minutes. We thought that the introduction of another ex storm trooper Jannah (played by Naomi Ackie) was the "new' love interest of Finn. Sadly this wasn't so, and maybe he would be the newest love for Lando Calrissian (he loves tech so he wouldn't). Rose's had a lot of minutes in 8 that we expect her role to be significant in 9 as well. Expectation bred frustration as she was relegated only in a few scenes.
Then there was the issue of Master Code Breaker in 8 that we thought would be shown again but wasn't. His character then was mysterious so it would have been a great addition in this last episode. The guy who impersonated him and betrayed Finn and Rose is also a colorful character to pursue. I would like to see their revenge on this character here but alas, wasn't there at all.
So to reboot the whole 7 and 8, they returned Emperor Palpatine of Episode 6. How in the world did he manage to escape his death in Return of the Jedi? How did he manage to hide after that and escaped detection in 7 and 8. Was it the Sith power again that kept him hidden? Why create the First Order (with Snoke) when he was creating the Last Order? How was he able to do both? If he was alive, and Snoke was merely a clone, why not resurrect Snoke again? We saw a lot of Snoke yet not one was resurrected. There are a lot of questions we have but was not clearly discussed in the movie. If this was unintentional, then they have a very bad team of writers. If this was intentional, then they are a genius. We will see the answers in new series to be shows on Disney+, their new streaming service. We are seeing this in the Mandolorian and their Clone Wars series where they try to patch the holes they have dug in previous films. Clever.
Going back to the movie, if you were not a Star Wars fan, you can learn to appreciate this but maybe confused on some plot points as they may have been in previous films. Taken as a stand alone film, you can say yes to this. Simple story line, good triumphs over evil.
For us fans this movie will remain dead last in the 9 films shown so far. Very confusing story telling and introduction of Palpatine was the last straw for us. Are there no more plot twists available in the galaxy? The last scenes of this movie I thought I was watching Return of the Jedi. Here was Palpatine enticing Rey to go over the dark side and showing her the battle between the Rebels and the Last Order ships in the skies above. Kylo Ren's turn wasn't a surprise either, his grandfather did so we expected this. We were kinda hoping Rey would turn dark side to make this ending interesting and possibly have a great sequel in Episode 10. She didn't so it was a bummer.
The only thing we liked or was pleasantly surprised with great writing and story telling was why Rey had to carry two light sabers to confront Palpatine. That one was very clever and won't spoil it for you. Better watch it closely or else you'll miss it.
I can't blame the movie was it was so confusing, but I blame Disney for mucking up a very good franchise. George Lucas was chastised for making the prequels that he eventually sold it to Disney. The latter had a great run with Marvel so we expect so much with Episodes 7, 8 and 9 with them. This was a let down more than the prequels by George Lucas.
Although mostly still with the Star Wars feeling, the movies lack continuity and direction. Various director and creative team changes resulted to this and I do hope they make a good comeback. Knowing Disney, they will make another trilogy, Star Wars is a great cash cow but we are expecting them to do this in their Disney+ streaming service.
Rian Johnson (the director of Last Jedi) had a good run with the movie he made and rumors has it, he has a trilogy already lined up beginning 2022 release. This was still a rumor and with the effect of 9, that's a pipe dream for now. Even the Obi Wan Kenobi TV series was also delayed.
I think there will be a major shake up at the Lucasfilm camp and I do hope for the better.
