'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' (2017)

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Can a Star Wars movie really explore a new territory? I mean, without being tied to the mythology of the Skywalker family? Star Wars: The Last Jedi gives an indication. If Star Wars: The Force Awakens , JJ Abrams is criticized for being so attached to the nostalgia of the original Star Wars movie, The Last Jedi becomes an important point that would seem to bring the Star Wars franchise in a new direction. This film contains many fresh ideas and surprises that are executed with enough satisfaction that makes us sincerely menobatkannya as the most surprising Star Wars movie so far. Other than Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back of course.



For some people, Star Wars and The Force is a reliji that must be defended desperately though not necessarily until the demo in Monas. However, more people consider the films as an exciting space-opera that relies more on spectacle and world-building . Star Wars does have a wide and complex mythology, but in my opinion, it has never been a complicated film. That's what makes it so easy to be liked by many people from different generations. The conflict is simple: Light Side versus Dark Side, good against evil, rebels against tyrants. And the tools to embody it are visual aims specifically aimed at making us mesmerized and sumrigah while watching.



So it's a success when writer / director Rian Johnson presents an entertaining and easy-to-digest Star Wars movie that he does not play as safe as Abrams. Some of the plot points were unexpected because Johnson prepared the surprise after the surprise. As the middle film of a trilogy, The Last Jedi does not seem burdened with expectations from the previous film or the obligation to bridge the next film. It strikes for hard-line fans and regular audiences.



However, the emotional tohokan and excitement is not like The Force Awakens . Maybe it has something to do with its long duration (reaching 152 minutes, the longest of all Star Wars movies), multiple subplots, and crowded with lots of characters that end up being less exposed. Especially after the prequel trilogy, the level of danger that must be faced it feels smaller with less threatening villain.



But if you want to look for is a spacecraft battle and a laser sword fight, The Last Jedi presents the most exciting sequences of all Star Wars movies. The martial arts choreography and X-Wing shooting staging this time seems so convincing. There are so many cool moments that will fascinate us. Moreover, the climax scene lasted no less than 30 minutes.

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The visuals are amazing. I had no idea if the color scheme on a poster dominated by red and white would play a big part in the movie. The Throne of Supreme Leader Snoke ( Andy Serkis in CGI) is decorated in red and is also escorted by red-lined stormtroopers. The background to the final battle is a planet whose surface is a blood-colored mineral.



The action started from the beginning, when Commander Poe ( Oscar Isaac ) struggled to sabotage General Hux's ( Domhnall Gleeson ) plan of the First Order who wanted to suppress all remaining Resistance planes. But the game of cat-kucingan is increasingly difficult. Resistance leader, General Leia (late Carrie Fisher ) is made a headache because First Order troops have a trick to track their aircraft presence, even in hyperspeed mode.



Meanwhile, Rey ( Daisy Ridley ) finally meets with the Jedi master, Luke Skywalker ( Mark Hamill ) which is expected by everyone to be a savior but instead to be alone on a remote planet. Rey also asks Luke to teach how to control The Force. What is his response to the laser sword of all of us given by Rey at the end of The Force Awakens ? The response is likely to make you lol. Kylo Ren ( Adam Driver ), which we already know the original name of Ben Solo, is still upset although previously as already convinced by his choice to settle on the Dark Side.



Many compare this film with The Empire Strikes Back (AT-AT presence, Jedi training, to climax battles on ice planet), but I prefer to align it with Return of the Jedi . Not because of the title resemblance but because the movie is no longer a Star Wars movie about space opera and the building of the universe but a character-oriented Star Wars movie. Reasonable choice, because in the era of cinema now, technology makes us so easily adapt to the sense of wonders



All got conflict. The greatest of course is Luke who has personal reasons why he is alienating himself. Hamill makes his character as a complex Luke. His presence is not just a nostalgic lighter, but it is crucial because it deals with the current situation involving his past with his niece, Kylo Ren. As with intergalactic conflict, interpersonal conflict is no less complicated. The film is also about the transformation of Rey and Ren. Both are the owners of The Force are still immature and do not understand the strength. I'm not going to say anything more than to say that there's some kind of connection between Ridley and Driver character that confirms that turmoil is not as simple as choosing the bright side or the dark side. There is the possibility of someone from the Dark Side can be made insyaf or how the temptation of the Dark Side is not so easy to be rejected. No Star Wars movie with such an intriguing inner conflict since the Revenge of the Sith .



But do I care-care about each other beyond Rey-Ren-Luke's trinity? The Finn ( John Boyega ) adventure with a Resistance mechanic, Rose ( Kelly Marie Tran ) to find a codebreaker to a casino planet, as if it came from a different movie. Johnson handle many characters at the same time with different emotional stake , so inevitably there must be a victim. The middle of the film seemed long-extend. Honestly, I am a little swayed in the middle of the movie. I think this movie will be special if the duration is shorter.



Johnson's main ammunition is his success in playing with expectations. No need to bother to guess the plot twist . When we think we know where the movie sailed, Johnson reversed his ship. He uses familiar elements but also tinkers into something fresh (who would have thought a laser sword and hyperspeed could be worn like that?). Star Wars creator George Lucas once said that there is nothing more to tell after the Return of the Jedi . At least, The Last Jedi dare to try to open new avenues for the new generation. This is a NEW new hope