Star Wars Episode VIII - The Last Jedi

[ehh]

Re: Star Wars Episode VIII - The Last Jedi

I personally love

Spoiler

What they did with Luke. I get where the criticism comes, but to me this just shows his inner battle with how good/bad he was as a teacher and a "representative" for the Jedi and all that it stands for.
He still has demons after all these years and doesn't know how to react with Rey and the resistance showing up at his doorstep. (You could make the argument that he should have seen this coming, but I truly believe he closed himself off from the force and everything it stands for)

He failed Ben Solo and didn't WANT to kill him as shown in all the flashbacks.
So make with that what you will, but he was torn on the inside his entire life.
He wasn't the "badass" people thought he was supposed to be, but he was never that. He did what he was supposed to do, give an illusion of the hero he was his entire life.

Spoiler

Like most things with this movie, I liked the idea but didn't like the execution. I'm fine with him being a broken man, in fact it's one of the few things that TFA set up that TLJ didn't throw in the trash. No one should have been surprised at Luke's arc in this movie but the details bothered me.

Also, the humor from his character was more out of place than any other. It felt like he was Mark Hamill for half the movie and Luke Skywalker for the other. This stuff killed the immersion with his character for me - we're trying to feel his pain and dispair but it's undermined by milking a space moose, calling lightsabers "laser swords" and goofily tossing his lightsaber over his shoulder after receiving it from Rey. He felt like the goofy Yoda from ESB who's testing Luke when they first meet, except it's not a test or front.

[tdawg3782]

Re: Star Wars Episode VIII - The Last Jedi

Saw with the family today. I get the criticism for sure but all in all I enjoyed the movie. Some really good parts and some huh? parts as well but I'm easily pleased so all in all a fun time at the movies.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[Cardot]

Re: Star Wars Episode VIII - The Last Jedi

Like some others, I enjoyed the experience in the theatre. But now having some time to digest the movie, and put it into perspective with the rest of the series, I have some issues. In fact my issues really begin with the opening crawl of VII.

Spoiler

Back in 1983 with ROTJ, We were left with the impression that the empire was defeated, and the republic would be rebuilt. Flash ahead to episode 7 and I LOVED the previews with the abandoned crashed Destroyer from the defunct empire in the Dessert. So far so good. Then we learn of the First Order "Rising from the ashes of the Empire"....ok, sounds like a movement to overtake the republic, I am ok with this. But it turns out, the First Order is well beyond that....in fact they might be stronger than the original empire was. It basically nullifies ROTJ. At least the emperor is still dead.....but whoops, we have another creepy old Sith with super force powers well pulled out of no where. WTF? (And don't get me started with StarKiller Base....I hated that from the get go).

My next major issue is the base of the entire arc. Luke Skywalker had a thought of killing his nephew while he slept?? I know the character's family DNA may inherently be conflicted, but murdering his nephew? I just didn't buy it. And I don't mind Luke becoming a recluse after the fact, but I think he would attempt to clean up the mess first.

Han Solo's growth from IV to VI was also pretty much erased as well to become a deadbeat dad.

I suppose we have to let the trilogy complete before really making a judgement...but IX does have a bit of a hole to dig out of.

[Blzer]

Re: Star Wars Episode VIII - The Last Jedi

Spoiler

My next major issue is the base of the entire arc. Luke Skywalker had a thought of killing his nephew while he slept?? I know the character's family DNA may inherently be conflicted, but murdering his nephew? I just didn't buy it. And I don't mind Luke becoming a recluse after the fact, but I think he would attempt to clean up the mess first.

Spoiler

You have to remember that was told from Ben's narrative. Luke had a much different take on the same matter.

[Cardot]

Re: Star Wars Episode VIII - The Last Jedi

Spoiler

You have to remember that was told from Ben's narrative. Luke had a much different take on the same matter.

Spoiler

Even from Luke's perspective, he said for a brief moment the thought did enter his mind, and then it was gone. Which in the heat of battle I might buy (like when Vader says "Sister"). But not when everyone in Jedi/Padawan camp is sound asleep. At least not the perception of Luke that I have had since 1983 LOL.

[jasontoddwhitt]

Re: Star Wars Episode VIII - The Last Jedi

Like some others, I enjoyed the experience in the theatre. But now having some time to digest the movie, and put it into perspective with the rest of the series, I have some issues. In fact my issues really begin with the opening crawl of VII.

Spoiler

Back in 1983 with ROTJ, We were left with the impression that the empire was defeated, and the republic would be rebuilt. Flash ahead to episode 7 and I LOVED the previews with the abandoned crashed Destroyer from the defunct empire in the Dessert. So far so good. Then we learn of the First Order "Rising from the ashes of the Empire"....ok, sounds like a movement to overtake the republic, I am ok with this. But it turns out, the First Order is well beyond that....in fact they might be stronger than the original empire was. It basically nullifies ROTJ. At least the emperor is still dead.....but whoops, we have another creepy old Sith with super force powers well pulled out of no where. WTF? (And don't get me started with StarKiller Base....I hated that from the get go).

My next major issue is the base of the entire arc. Luke Skywalker had a thought of killing his nephew while he slept?? I know the character's family DNA may inherently be conflicted, but murdering his nephew? I just didn't buy it. And I don't mind Luke becoming a recluse after the fact, but I think he would attempt to clean up the mess first.

Han Solo's growth from IV to VI was also pretty much erased as well to become a deadbeat dad.

I suppose we have to let the trilogy complete before really making a judgement...but IX does have a bit of a hole to dig out of.

Spoiler

This is where the canon novels kind of fills in some the gaps. The First Order is from the remnants of the Empire that fled into the Unknown Regions following the events of the Aftermath trilogy of novels. Darth Sidious sensed a strong disturbance in the Force in the Unknown Regions and was determined to find it (probably Snoke and his cronies). Leia knew the First Order was going to be trouble, but she lost all credibility in The New Republic when First Order spies revealed to the galaxy that Luke and Leia were the children of Darth Vader. So Leia and the people that were loyal to her formed the Resistance to tackle the First Order. Poe Dameron was a New Republic officer who defected to the Resistance after an engagement with the First Order. Tthe New Republic, after years of civil war, was wanting to avoid all-out war at all costs and refused to mobilize their fleets against the First Order. Meanwhile, Battlefront II is canon and unveiled that the First Order fleet was actually large enough to take over the galaxy thanks to Operation Cinder and Operation Resurrection. The First Order had been building up their forces this entire time in the Unknown Regions thanks to Empire loyalists secretly working for them in the Outer Rim. In The Force Awakens, Starkiller Base destroyed the planet the New Republic government was seated at. So what little support Leia had in The New Republic was destroyed, which sowed the seeds for why the Resistance was so underpowered in The Last Jedi.

Sucks that so much is covered in novels and what not....but then each of these novels could almost be a movie unto themselves.

[Blzer]

Re: Star Wars Episode VIII - The Last Jedi

Strange coincidence, I guess?

Spoiler

In the rebel base cave at the end, the only reason the resistance searched for another way out was because they said Luke found a way in. However, this is before we discover Luke is just projecting himself, and said projection could have gotten in with another opening or not. So was it just coincidence/convenience that they were able to find an exit despite Luke just passing through? Granted, the exit had a bunch of boulders in the way, but obviously it's not too much for Rey.

On that note...

Spoiler

I'm trying to think back to TFA and whether Finn has ever witnessed the Force be used before he saw Rey use it then, like if it was his first time or something. He clearly has a misguided idea about the Force dating back to TFA, and he was in a coma during all of the other bits (or Rey wasn't beside him), meanwhile Han Solo sat there in TFA also kind of telling Finn and Rey about how the Force is true and all that... so unless Finn ever saw Kylo Ren using it (did he see him use it in the first scene?), that might have been a bit of a revelation for him being saved by it for that first time. That would seem pretty special in that regard.

[jasontoddwhitt]

Re: Star Wars Episode VIII - The Last Jedi

Strange coincidence, I guess?

Spoiler

In the rebel base cave at the end, the only reason the resistance searched for another way out was because they said Luke found a way in. However, this is before we discover Luke is just projecting himself, and said projection could have gotten in with another opening or not. So was it just coincidence/convenience that they were able to find an exit despite Luke just passing through? Granted, the exit had a bunch of boulders in the way, but obviously it's not too much for Rey.

On that note...

Spoiler

I'm trying to think back to TFA and whether Finn has ever witnessed the Force be used before he saw Rey use it then, like if it was his first time or something. He clearly has a misguided idea about the Force dating back to TFA, and he was in a coma during all of the other bits (or Rey wasn't beside him), meanwhile Han Solo sat there in TFA also kind of telling Finn and Rey about how the Force is true and all that... so unless Finn ever saw Kylo Ren using it (did he see him use it in the first scene?), that might have been a bit of a revelation for him being saved by it for that first time. That would seem pretty special in that regard.

Spoiler

Finn did see Kylo stop that blaster shot from Poe with the Force at the very beginning.

[Cardot]

Re: Star Wars Episode VIII - The Last Jedi

Spoiler

This is where the canon novels kind of fills in some the gaps. The First Order is from the remnants of the Empire that fled into the Unknown Regions following the events of the Aftermath trilogy of novels. Darth Sidious sensed a strong disturbance in the Force in the Unknown Regions and was determined to find it (probably Snoke and his cronies). Leia knew the First Order was going to be trouble, but she lost all credibility in The New Republic when First Order spies revealed to the galaxy that Luke and Leia were the children of Darth Vader. So Leia and the people that were loyal to her formed the Resistance to tackle the First Order. Poe Dameron was a New Republic officer who defected to the Resistance after an engagement with the First Order. Tthe New Republic, after years of civil war, was wanting to avoid all-out war at all costs and refused to mobilize their fleets against the First Order. Meanwhile, Battlefront II is canon and unveiled that the First Order fleet was actually large enough to take over the galaxy thanks to Operation Cinder and Operation Resurrection. The First Order had been building up their forces this entire time in the Unknown Regions thanks to Empire loyalists secretly working for them in the Outer Rim. In The Force Awakens, Starkiller Base destroyed the planet the New Republic government was seated at. So what little support Leia had in The New Republic was destroyed, which sowed the seeds for why the Resistance was so underpowered in The Last Jedi.

Sucks that so much is covered in novels and what not....but then each of these novels could almost be a movie unto themselves.

Ah that does fill in the gaps. Thanks for sharing. Although I still wish that they had taken a different direction than a complete reincarnation of the Empire. As much as I love Star Destroyers, AT-AT's and Storm Troopers, I have been watching then over and over for the last 34 years...kind of ready for a different flavor of antagonist. (I do recognize the challenge the movie makers have of coming up with something new while still being "Star Wars")

[Blzer]

Re: Star Wars Episode VIII - The Last Jedi

Spoiler

Finn did see Kylo stop that blaster shot from Poe with the Force at the very beginning.

Okay, I wasn't certain whether or not he was present in that moment. Thanks.

[Cardot]

Re: Star Wars Episode VIII - The Last Jedi

Okay, I wasn't certain whether or not he was present in that moment. Thanks.

Yeah, actually when Ren leaves and releases the laser blast, it continues on and hits the structure next to where Finn is standing. At the end of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idvB-58uKjE

[Sportsforever]

Re: Star Wars Episode VIII - The Last Jedi

Given the various reactions to this movie, I thought this was an interesting article:

http://www.acriticalhit.com/fans-react-empire-strikes-back-1980/

[mestevo]

Re: Star Wars Episode VIII - The Last Jedi

Having initially liked it, after a 2nd showing today I've soured on it quite a bit.

It was much better when I slept through the bulk of the Finn stuff.

[Money99]

Re: Star Wars Episode VIII - The Last Jedi

Having initially liked it, after a 2nd showing today I've soured on it quite a bit.

It was much better when I slept through the bulk of the Finn stuff.

Saw it last night and I feel the same way.
My brother saw it and he said he could explain all the important details in 5 minutes or less and I think that's accurate.
The Rey-Kylo Ren-Luke storyline was really the only thing of worth (as far as moving the story along) in the whole film.
The rest of it was complete filler and useless.

Spoiler

- Finn, Poe, Princess Leia, etc... all of it worthless.
The whole 'we need a gambler, smuggler, storyline was so contrived it was laughable.
- So I'm guessing Princess Leia has been training secretly on her own so she can survive in space using the force??
- If Phasma's armour can deflect lasers, why aren't they all wearing them?
And don't tell me 'lack of resources'. The Empire/First Order seems to have a limitless supply of resources and wealth. They've built 3 effing death stars and now a super death cannon ship without much effort. Surely they could have outfitted every storm trooper with laser deflecting armour.

I could go on and on, but what's the point...

I didn't hate the movie, it certainly had it's moments.
Loved the initial scene with Poe's x-wing taking down cannons.
And there was quite a bit of humour that really worked.

But overall, this is a renter. I doubt I'll ever watch it again even if/when it makes its way to Netflix.
The Force Awakens felt like a Star Wars movie. It captured the magic from the Original 3 and I was really looking forward to Episode 8.
But Ep8 felt more like Rogue One, in that it filled in the space until something really important takes place.

6/10.

[Money99]

Re: Star Wars Episode VIII - The Last Jedi

Given the various reactions to this movie, I thought this was an interesting article:

http://www.acriticalhit.com/fans-rea...kes-back-1980/

Thanks for posting that. Very interesting.

Still, the issues some had with Episode 5 are different than what most are saying about Ep8.
At least in Ep5 every scene was worthwhile and the storyline was moved along properly.

If you cut out every non Rey-Luke-Kylo Ren scene, you'd miss nothing. This movie could have been a 30-minute TV show.