While Star Wars: The Last Jedi may have pulled through successfully in the box office, reaching $1 billion worldwide and even getting a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, controversy is still being stirred up amongst fans behind how events went down in the highly anticipated film. Now, I've been a big Star Wars fan my whole life, when Attack of the Clones was released in theaters in 2002, seeing Yoda fight Count Dooku on-screen as a two-year-old was the greatest feeling ever. Despite my love for the franchise, I know when a film's story-line is being poorly executed. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Star Wars: The Last Jedi dearly, Carrie Fisher's and Mark Hamill's performance was amazing but the new direction that Star Wars is heading in wasn't carried out in a way that fans would've hoped and actually could've had some potential.
Creating a New Path
Rian Johnson's new vision for Star Wars had a 50% chance of appealing to fans and critics. With the production of The Force Awakens, J.J Abrams had the idea of reintroducing fans to the galaxy, far, far, away by giving them a sense of nostalgia. This tactic led to the high success of a long-awaited sequel and helped reignite the Star Wars saga. To work off of a film like that isn't exactly the easiest task. Rian Johnson wanted to completely change the tone of Star Wars, he wanted to get rid of storylines that seemed like a repetitive template, such as the constant speculation surrounding bloodlines, a powerful dark side of the force master sitting on a throne, or the resistance (rebels) coming out with a total victory. It's understandable to see what his intentions were for the saga and his plan is something that would've been possible had the Force Awakens not already set the tone for the trilogy.
Too Much Change
This is where we had a complete and utter backfire. There are only three films set to be released that will finish telling the story of the aftermath of Return of The Jedi. For the second film in the sequel trilogy to reset the course in such a dramatic manner with only one film left is a move that has may have just damaged the franchise. One example would, of course, be the death of Supreme Leader Snoke. Now, the importance of this scene was for Kylo to finally realize who his true enemy really was. After being controlled and used by Snoke for his raw power, he finally said enough is enough and sliced his evil master right in half when he least expected it.
Here's the issue, Snoke is a character that has been portrayed in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi as a true lord of the dark side with ultimate power. Someone who can throw a general around like a ragdoll through a hologram. How can his whiny apprentice sneakily overthrow him? If this was truly going to be the fate of Snoke, his character should've never been so pushed. Truth be told, the story of Snoke is something that could've been worked off of immensely. It's a topic Star Wars fans have long speculated about and for it to possibly go to waste makes all of our heads hurt. But then again, I guess Snoke got a little too cocky with his confidence in his apprentice and it cost him 50% of himself.
Gone Too Soon?
I'll say this first, I was happy with the way Luke Skywalker died, by becoming one with the force as Obi-Wan and Yoda did in the original trilogy. His death scene was filled with such emotion as it felt reminiscent of A New Hope when he looked up at the two suns as he used to watch back on his home planet Tatooine. The only factor I wasn't happy with was the timing, this is a scene that would've fit more perfectly in the final film at the very end. While Luke is definitely going to have an important role as he guides Rey as a force ghost, it would've been better for him to do it alive. Not to also mention that the Resistance is shattered and Luke's presence is something that would've helped rebuild the fight. Yes, Luke saved them from the First Order by distracting Kylo Ren but it would've meant a lot more if he was there in person rocking the classic green lightsaber. Believe or not, I'm not only one bothered by Luke's fate as Mark Hamill has made it public that he is also displeased.
Even with Luke gone, I hope to see a lot more emotional interactions between him and his old apprentice in the next film attempting to pull him back to the light now that Snoke is no longer in the picture.
Who Knows What'll Happen Next!
After everything that has taken place, the big question is how will Star Wars bounce back in Episode IX? High hopes are reportedly beginning to rise as it has been recently announced that J.J Abrams is set to come back and finish off the trilogy so we can only wait and see! Comment down below on your thoughts about The Last Jedi!
