On Sunday evening, I've decided to join my brother and a few of his friends on the mandatory quest of ticking yet another Star Wars film off our list. It was my best chance to watch the latest Lucasfilm-Disney release, and a great opportunity to compare my experience with that of other fans of the series.
To me and my brother, Star Wars is quite a big deal: when we were young kids, we used to sneak into the living room and watch the late-night television screenings of George Lucas' masterpieces. We'd devour anything and everything that came our way (we even had Jar Jar Binks action figures in 2000, and that in itself tells a lot about our fandom level) and even duel with plastic swords imagining that we were jedi knights training at the academy.
That's why we couldn't miss on the opportunity of seeing "The Last Jedi" in theatres, just a couple of days after it premiered in Romania. Furthermore, bringing a few other friends guaranteed a heated post-film debate on what we loved, what we hated, and what we might have either misinterpreted and misunderstood. That is why this non-spoiler review is dedicated to my brother Luca, our friends Cornel, Bogdan and Mihai, and the girlfriends of the latter two. All the opinions and impressions expressed after the movie had been instrumental in building this article.
Methodology, Expectations, and First Impressions
First of all, I should mention the methodology and approach that I will be using in order to create the non-spoiler piece: I will be discussing ideas and concepts without linking them to the story and without describing the subsequent actions. Therefore, by reading this you won't know exactly what happens, but you will know about what characters appear and whether or not this is another remake of one of the films from the original trilogy. Also, an emphasis will be put on the underlying philosophical ideas and how certain paradigms have shifted - and this became evident from "The Force Awakens", which you should have seen by now.
Secondly, let's jump into the analysis and try to keep it as cryptic as the trailer itself in narrative terms. When I walked into the theatre, there were two important details that I already knew: "The Last Jedi" would be the longest of all 8 films in the main series, and the sad and unexpected death of Carrie Fisher would probably translate in a limited screen time for Princess Leia Organa.
I was also convinced that, for the sake of avoiding massive criticism, Lucasarts-Disney would try to not to remake "The Empire Strikes Back". However, the final result turned out to be an interesting combination of "The Empire Strikes Back" and "The Return of the Jedi", with elements taken from both and blended in order to generate a new result (see? I can keep it spoiler-free while creating some hype!).
My reaction to "The Last Jedi" wasn't positive at all: when I left the theatre, I felt betrayed by Disney and thought that they took too many liberties in terms of pacing and direction. I didn't feel like I've watched a Star Wars film, it was more like "The Guardians of the Galaxy" in the Star Wars universe. And this comparison of mine with the Marvel universe has been confirmed and reinforced by my brother and one of our friends.
Maybe that they brought the characters back and put them in a new story, but the spirit and the atmosphere of the originals are dead
George Lucas' universe was never humorous and I can hardly recall any slapstick moments. On the contrary, there was something dark, mythic, and tense about the storytelling. Maybe that in hindsight the acting was bad and some of the dialogues felt awkward. But you as a viewer can actually relate to the struggles and hardships of the liberty-loving rebels and you develop a respect-hate feeling for anything and everything about the Galactic Empire.
What Disney has changed really massively is the atmosphere. Not only that there are many nostalgia trips via "the old meets the new" moments, but the most intense scenes get ruined by a stupid one-liner that clearly destroys all of your tension. When one of the main characters is able to joke during his times of danger, it's like breaking the fourth wall and reassuring you that everything is going to be fine while this is just a temporary transitional situation that shall be overcome.
It's probably safe to say that Han Solo (as played by Harrison Ford) was the most humorous character in the series. But his attitude was never like Poe Damron's (Solo's spiritual successor) who, in "The Force Awakens", carelessly cracks jokes while Kylo Ren threatens to kill him. I have nothing against the idea of adapting the script and direction for the younger audiences, but the process should not come at the cost of destroying the tension of the scenes. There are quite a few instances where pointless humor ruins the gravity of the events, and even small gestures made by a character completely change our perception and understanding of his psychology.
The Joseph Campbell Influence
By now, everyone should know that George Lucas' main source of inspiration for creating the Star Wars universe was Joseph Campbell's 1949 work of comparative mythology "The Hero With a Thousand Faces". It's all about evoking certain cultural and religious ideas that are deeply rooted in our education in order to tell a story that's relatable, easy to comprehend, moralistic in terms of delimitating the good from the evil, and fulfilling in terms of the character's development from the initial state.
Most of the notions regarding the journey of the hero/heroine and his/her encounters are taught in literature classes, and perhaps the most formulaic epic genre is the fairy tale (the heroic tales that we tell our children in order to help them develop a system of good values and avoid trouble).
Think of Cinderella, compare her story to that of Luke Skywalker, and you will find many similarities in terms of development: they are both good-natured characters who find themselves stuck in a place they don't like and can't relate to. They were born for something greater and they know it. But the mundane is unexpectedly disrupted by the appearance of an unusual entity who helps them fulfill their dreams and expectations of getting away. They go on a journey which takes unexpected turns, at one point seem to have reached success, but eventually make mistakes that are specific to the inexperienced and uninitiated. At the end of the initiation process, with the help of other good-natured characters whom they meet on the way, they manage to overcome their struggles and finally do something that's worthy of the greatness they always felt destined for.
Nevertheless, the approach of "The Last Jedi" is very different from the usual Campbell influences: as it was hinted in "The Force Awakens", the line between jedi and sith is blurred. Disney tries to create a sense of mandatory balance between the two forces, and this leads characters into a morally grey area where they have to determine their alignment on the way, according to the choices that they make. It somehow sounds like an RPG game (probably from the Knights of the Old Republic series), but it's a little shadier than that.
Now it's a little hard to tell who the villain is and whom you're supposed to root for. The concept seems to be that of "two sides of the same coin", as if the fight and struggle are perpetual, cyclical, and bound to happen while civilization still exists. Maybe that it's Disney's own way of saying that the fight doesn't end with the victory of one of the sides, as there will always be an opposition to counter the majoritarian approach.
And what Star Wars lacks right now is a strong antagonist.
Darth Vader was absolutely perfect in the original trilogy, and there's a reason why his mask has remained an iconic symbol that even his nephew Kylo Ren tries to replicate. His tactics were the mark of an evil mastermind, he was ruthless in his use of the dark side, and he didn't question his ways until the moment his human side was awoken by his son's screams of agony.
Vader was imposing, intimidating, and somehow respectable. Kylo Ren or his great leader Snoke? Not so much. That's why it's hard to root for somebody and feel any feelings of despise. Not even Rey, the purest of characters, has the same charm as Luke Skywalker - and it's mostly because she seems natively proficient in the ways of the force (which is pretty ridiculous in itself, since every other jedi required rigorous training). Luke was flawed and felt both unready and insecure before his brave confrontation with Darth Vader from "The Empire Strikes Back" - and this is a lot more relatable than anything Rey's character does.
Therefore, in the absence of a clear and absolute delimitation of the light side and the dark side, "The Last Jedi" becomes a little more mature. Which isn't necessarily good.It seems a little odd that all of a sudden we get these nihilistic and self-doubting characters who become self-aware of the ambiguity of the force itself.
Sure, it's a way to provide something fresh and different from what we're used to, and maybe that it's good that we're challenged to identify the good and evil parts of each character. But on a personal note, I didn't feel satisfied about the direction that they've chosen to follow. It's good that they aren't following the exact footsteps of the original trilogy (which they're often referencing in various "old meets new" scenes), but the fact that they're meddling with the fundamental paradigms of the universe leads to questionable results.
All in all, "The Last Jedi" is a nostalgia trip that's worth watching just for the sake of being a fan of the Star Wars franchise.
Maybe that this sounds a little bad, but I don't think someone who isn't a fan of the series and accidentally walks into the wrong screening room will understand much from this sophomore film of the new trilogy. Disney is doing fan service and they're doing their best to please both young and old audiences. They have the characters and universe that gen X kids have watched in the theatres, and the dynamics and visual effects of the more contemporary productions. The dialogues and humor are also adapted to our times, and there is also a subtle feminist turn in the second half of the film.
But the film is pretty good if you approach it with an open mind and have no expectations at all. If you don't care about some fundamental concepts from the Star Wars universe, then you're going to like this even more and just feel slightly annoyed by the excessive use of humor.
I didn't feel like it lived up to my personal expectations and hopes, but I can see the value of the film and how it adapts the story for our times. After all, we're talking about the same story of rebels who fight for their libertarian ideals while an authoritarian empire tries to contain them in their conquest. We have the same narrative with similar elements, except that it all takes place a generation later.
So is "The Last Jedi" the greatest Star Wars film ever released? Definitely not, I think I'd prefer the prequel trilogy in spite of its overstated flaws. But is it worth watching? Well, yes. And it isn't just about the nostalgia trip: it will help you connect with this magical space universe and help you discover some more of the whackiness that hides inside it.
If you haven't seen it yet, then you should totally reconsider your priorities - this is a cultural zeitgeist that will hunt you all the way through the winter holidays and it's very unlikely that someone will spoil some of the action at the dinner table or during the new year party. It's always better to know and maybe use your insights to enhance your personal charm and (hopefully) find a geeky partner. May the force be with you!
Later Edit - here are the links to the full review articles which include spoilers. For the sake of convenience, I've divided the piece in more topical parts that are easier to read. Your comments are always welcome and highly appreciated!
Part 1, published on December 22nd 2017: https://steemit.com/starwars/@vladcostea/vlad-s-diary-star-wars-the-last-jedi-full-spoilers-review-part-i-december-22nd-2017
Nice post, beautifully presented and explained. Detail oriented with nice pics. Thank you for sharing this with us, Upvoted.
Thank you, your majesty! Thou shalt receive a new follower!
Also, if you've liked it and also seen the movie, check out the first part of the full review which includes spoilers. Your input and thoughts are more than welcome!
https://steemit.com/starwars/@vladcostea/vlad-s-diary-star-wars-the-last-jedi-full-spoilers-review-part-i-december-22nd-2017
Will do ,cheers!
for i believe it is a worthy successor. i also wrote a review on that from a casual fan perspective.
My reaction to "The Last Jedi" wasn't positive at all: when I left the theater, I felt betrayed by Disney and thought that they took too many liberties in terms of pacing and direction. I didn't feel like I've watched a Star Wars film, it was more like "The Guardians of the Galaxy" in the Star Wars universe. And this comparison of mine with the Marvel universe has been confirmed and reinforced by my brother and one of our friends.
I felt this way also. I also that Mark Hamill said it best: “were never going to catch lightning in bottle again…If you think your going to go into that theater and recapture your childhood you got another thing coming” I’m paraphrasing here but it’s pretty close.
Maybe that they brought the characters back and put them in a new story, but the spirit and the atmosphere of the originals are dead.
Yes and No. ( I never seen anyone refer to the feeling towards the empire as “respect-hate feeling” but yes and yes). The spirit isn’t dead Vlad (it lives on in our hearts...SNIFFFF....) They can never take away the original trilogy or it’s message. But we also have accept the fact that the Star wars trilogy is now in the hands of people who don’t share the values of much of the audience. And all future installments will be a disappointing ride.
"the old meets the new" moments, but the most intense scenes get ruined by a stupid one-liner that clearly destroys all of your tension. When one of the main characters is able to joke during his times of danger, it's like breaking the fourth wall and reassuring you that everything is going to be fine while this is just a temporary transitional situation that shall be overcome.
Exactly! They had so many opportunities to make these new movies powerful and they fucked it up by doing this. I cringed when Leia said “I changed my hair” Blech.
I have nothing against the idea of adapting the script and direction for the younger audiences, but the process should not come at the cost of destroying the tension of the scenes. There are quite a few instances where pointless humor ruins the gravity of the events, and even small gestures made by a character completely change our perception and understanding of his psychology.
This is happening all throughout newer films. It’s like they are afraid to portray seriousness. The attitude of perpetual adolescence. Rian’s portrayal of Luke is disgusting because it stripped him of his wisdom that he would have at that age and turned him into a moody teenager. Part of the magic of the Star Wars movies was the portrayal of archetypes. These portrayals are important because they are reminders of what we need to bring into our own lives to some degree. They inspire and help to act as guide stones by the billions of people who came before us.
Nevertheless, the approach of "The Last Jedi" is very different from the usual Campbell influences: as it was hinted in "The Force Awakens", the line between jedi and sith is blurred. Disney tries to create a sense of mandatory balance between the two forces, and this leads characters into a morally grey area where they have to determine their alignment on the way, according to the choices that they make.
This s a result of the post-modern ideology creeping into the Starwars franchise. Post-modernist (like Rian Johnson) habits are generally to take something established and turn it on its head and then pat themselves of back for being so brave. When in fact all they have done is the equivalent of taking a sharpie marker to the Mona Lisa and say: “she always had a mustache we just couldn’t see it until we drew it there.” I know the Mona Lisa statement seems confusing but I'm not sure how else to put it...
this IS a cultural zeitgeist I couldn’t agree more.
Damn Vlad, wish I could go have a beer with you or something. We see eye to eye on a bunch of stuff.
This article was cathartic, and I appreciate you writing it. You articulated some things I’ve been feeling since I saw the movie.
Also I'm selfishly hoping you do a how to post on formatting... Because I need some help bro. Badly. Your posts so far look crisp as fuck. Looking forward to your future posts
Oh wow, I'm happy that people actually read the article for the sake of starting debates and making further analysis. As a 90s kid, I grew up watching Star Wars on late television and feeling amazed by the complexity of the entire universe - so the films are quite a big deal to me. I've spent a lot of time watching documentaries and researching George Lucas' inspiration for the films, but never really cared much for the spin-offs and the Extended Universe. I understand that this side of the story has been told in a version of the EU, but I'm pretty sure it's written better than it's directed and presented to us visually by the Disney-owned Lucasfilm.
Anyway, this review is a little milder than my initial impulse to completely bash the production. Half the time I felt like I was watching "Guardians of the Galaxy" with Star Wars characters, but there were some satisfying moments that made it all feel worthwhile.
I kind of like Poe Dameron, he embodies the Han Solo spirit pretty well (though his humor is updated and in the spirit of the film). On the other hand, Luke Skywalker and Snoke were the biggest disappointments, as they both let us down in terms of action and inaction (I've written my latest article about their shallow portrayal).
All we have left for the next film is the Kylo/Ben - Rey antithesis, and I guess it's going to be interesting to see how their newly-discovered postmodernist approach helps them solve that.
Thank you again for your comment!
PS: I've written a reply to your introduction article and I've briefly described the "secret" of my formatting. Just make sure you never write long paragraphs because they're very likely to get skipped/scrolled through, add a subtitle every 300-400 words, and add a picture in between sections to give readers a break. This is basic SEO writing and lots of bloggers and internet writers take notice of these notions (however, I tend to get annoyed when they hit "enter" twice after each sentence and it all feels like a series of sticked-together haiku. To me, an idea or article has to be presented within a paragraph).
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Thank you, I've just read it and found it really useful. I'm still a rookie here, but from now on I shall follow your advice :)
Always glad to help. Have a great day and if you got some questions feel free to ask.
Cheers!
I've also followed you for some more good stuff! Hope we can keep in touch.
We sure can, you can always contact Discord name is same as here
I don't use discord, but I've followed you and will keep an eye on your articles. Also, if you're a Star Wars fan and have seen "The Last Jedi", you may read the first part of my full review here (WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD): https://steemit.com/starwars/@vladcostea/vlad-s-diary-star-wars-the-last-jedi-full-spoilers-review-part-i-december-22nd-2017
Nice post! Would love to follow you!
Please do check out my blog as well!
Here's my new post, let me know if you like it
https://steemit.com/poem/@timesedge/intution-original-poetry
Regards,
Ana
Thank you! I've just read your poem and it felt pretty personal and heartfelt. So here's my follow, maybe that this will motivate you to keep on writing :)
If you've seen "The Last Jedi" and liked this article, I think you will also enjoy reading the first part of my full review. Watch out for spoilers! https://steemit.com/starwars/@vladcostea/vlad-s-diary-star-wars-the-last-jedi-full-spoilers-review-part-i-december-22nd-2017