If you haven’t seen “The Last Jedi”, don’t continue scrolling…SPOILER ALERT!
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The Last Jedi was one for the books (er…films). The story was plain and simple. The Resistance was running away from the overpowering First Order. The entire movie began with their evacuation and ended with their getaway. There’s nothing new or unique to this episode. In many ways, it was similar to the first trilogy with the recon, low budget Rebel Alliance versus the dominant Imperial Empire.
What got most of the attention from fans was more so the events that took place and how it affects the Star Wars lore and the future of the franchise. According to Rotten Tomatoes, The Last Jedi got a fabulous 91% rating from the critics, but a strange 51% viewer rating. Why…?
While every viewer will have their own thoughts, the thing that divides most of my peers were expectations.
Expectation #1: The Historical View
This may be you if you grew up watching the first trilogy (IV, V, and VI). These were the tried and true originals. You laughed at Episodes I, II, and III for the poor acting, over use of technological visuals, and introductions of force-ology (i.e. midichlorians). When you watched The Force Awakens, you were pleased with all the A New Hope parallel. Redemption was at hand!
But when you saw The Last Jedi, you were utterly baffled. You expected a similar rhythm to mirror The Empire Strikes Back but was disappointed with surprising twists and turns! Are they breaking away from the past? Is this the introduction to the Disney version of Star Wars? But hey, at least a hand got severed. And please…let’s not talk about Rogue One. Episode IX better tie everything together and bring it back!
Expectation #2: The Futurist View
This may be you if you did not grow up with the original trilogy. You were fascinated with the digital cinematography and only expect more! The technology is what drives you to think beyond the past and beyond the galaxy. In fact, these movies all collectively gave us a snapshot of a 40 year old story.
But out with the old and in with the new. The nostalgia is only good for those who cared, but you want something different. The Last Jedi stood its ground and did just that. Disney did acquire Lucasfilm, so give them the liberty to remake the story. What’s more confusing is the mess with Marvel! You are excited for the new vision and future of the Star Wars franchise!
Concluding Thoughts
It’s safe to say that it’s impossible to please everyone. Just look at the viewer ratings–it’s split nearly down the middle! There will be those who will be seeking for the nostalgia and those who are looking for something fresh. Many reviewers thought that The Force Awakens was too similar to A New Hope. Now, we have the opposite, The Last Jedi did not have enough of The Empire Strikes Back. Some people are blaming the Mouse for ruining the original, while some are pleasantly surprised with the decisions and direction of the franchise. All in all, when you watch the movie, hold off on your expectations, and have an open mind when watching the movie and you may be pleasantly surprised.
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