Why Star Wars The Last Jedi Is A Poorly Executed Over Hyped Movie

(Warning: Spoilers)

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Star Wars: The Last Jedi – An Introduction

When Star Wars The Last Jedi starts
You see the words “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away”
You hear John Williams’ triumphant clarion-call-to-action
You read the iconic opening crawl that informs us about “The Evil First Order”
Goose Bumps!

Episode IV: A New Hope – A movie that began in 1977 (when I was born) which became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon was then followed by Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and finally, Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983).

The question always remained – what came before part IV?
Who really was Darth Vader?
How did it all begin?

Thankfully, for the benefit of all mankind, these answers were given to us once again by George Lucas in 1999 with the sequel trilogy:

• I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
• II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
• III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)

And today after 15 years since that day, The Sequel trilogy rolled out:

• VII – The Force Awakens (2015)
• VIII – The Last Jedi (2017)
• IX (2019)

I spoke about Episode VII – The Force Awakens on my youtube channel

And boy was I disappointed.
So now came….Star Wars The Last Jedi.

First lets get into The Interesting Facts & Tit-Bits of Star Wars Episode VIII – The Last Jedi 

• If you look closely at the Star Wars: The Last Jedi poster, you will see the manner in which the characters are positions – The Mask of Darth Vader appears
• The movie is 2 & half hours long
• Women were the Leaders, Mature & Level Headed while the men in this movie are portrayed as impulsive, reckless & macho.
• Kylo Ren, General Hux act like spoilt brats while Resistance, Poe Dameron, and Finn tend to confuse swashbuckling bravado for strategic decision making
• Asian American Kelly Marie Tran’s Rose Tico is the 1st ever Asian woman to be positioned as a protagonist in a blockbuster movie like this. Typically, the heroines have been white brunettes or blondes who have been typecast as heroines.
• Luke Skywalker is now a grumpy old man who – in the quest to avoid mistakes – now spends his time being alone on the island waiting for his death.
• Rey spends half the movie trying to win Luke Skywalker to leave the mysterious planet island and join his sister Leia to lead the resistance.
• Laura Dern plays the role Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo who is eccentrically & underwhelmingly dressed up in purple hair. Looked like they just picked up the leftover costumes for her.
• Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) is made to look as grizzly and worn out as possible with a stark contrast of Jedi Rey (Daisy Ridley) made to look as smooth, fresh and cute with a shiny set of white teeth as his student. It brought back memories of how Luke Skye Walker met Yoda

Now, What makes Star Wars The Last Jedi – WORTH A WATCH?
On Medium – I had stated one of the core reasons why Disney was choosing to mess up Star Wars – You can read it here – A Logical & Business Analysis of Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)  or https://medium.com/@loymachedo/a-logical-business-analysis-of-star-wars-the-last-jedi-2017-8fac48b40dbb

The rest of the items are here:

• The Beginning Space Battle Scene
  The fight sequence, in the beginning, is what makes you believe this is going to be a good movie. It is entertaining & keeps you at the edge of your seat.
• Snoke’s Throne Red Room:
  Particularly dazzling is Snoke’s throne room, with its Red walls, Red-armored guards, Black Glossy Floors. Absolutely a sight to behold.
• The Final Battle Scene:
  And the final battle, set on a salt planet whose flat white surfaces get ripped up to reveal shades of crimson. (Seen from a distance, the battlefield itself seems to be bleeding.)

And if that is not good enough, you have….Star Wars The Last Jedi – The Good Old Memories
For the good old folks & fans who have been around Star Wars for the 40 odd years, there are the moments that stand out more than anything else.

• YODA STRIKES BACK
  The green old wise man makes an appearance, however, director Rian Johnson does something very smart. He ensures that the criticisms from George Lucas prequels of having a CGI Yoda are adhered to – and this time he goes back to a practical Yoda puppet consistent with the original trilogy, as opposed to the smoother but somehow phonier-looking CG version featured in the prequels.
  Apparently, in another nostalgic touch, this film was actually shot on film, rather than digital cameras.)
• “Help me, Obi Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.”
  When episode IV came out in 1977 – it was R2-D2 trying to convince Luke Skywalker by playing Princess Leia’s hologram: “Help me, Obi Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.”
  Nearly 40 years later, we relive that scene once again on board the Millennium Falcon when R2-D2 plays Princess Leia’s original hologram: “Help me, Obi Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.”
• THE CIRCLE OF LIFE
  Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) is made to look as grizzly and worn-out as possible with a stark contrast of Jedi Rey (Daisy Ridley) made to look as smooth, fresh and cute with a shiny set of white teeth as his student. It kind of brought back memories of how Luke Skye Walker met Yoda
• GOOD OLD MEMORIES
  Yoda, Chewbacca, R2D2 and C-3P hardly play a vital role. But their presence was necessary – especially to those fans who have watched and witnessed this movie since ages. They all played a small role but it was worth seeing them.
• CARRIE FISHERS’S DEATH
  It is such a powerful moment to behold when you know that this movie that created the legend and legacy of Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia – I seriously looked at Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia with a sense of respect, love, admiration and gratitude.
  Seeing Carrie Fisher as the once young petite princess turned into the general – that too in her last and final moment of her life – makes this moment even more powerful.
  Fisher’s performance is so moving, sparkling, poignant and purposeful. It is impossible that anyone else could have replaced her in that iconic role.
  Given that this would be the final film of Carrie Fisher, we savor every moment to its fullest.

Oh…and guess what – there are the funny bits!
Star Wars The Last Jedi also has funny bits of Humor in it
The Last Jedi is also perhaps the funniest Star Wars films ever.

• Early in the movie, we hear Poe joke rag General Hux when he is speaking to him on the bridge – and then pretends to keep General Hux on hold.
• We witness General Hux’s stupid & silly nature.
• Snoke orders Kylo to “take off that ridiculous helmet,”
• Luke chastises an old friend for showing a nostalgic video by muttering “That was a cheap move,”
• Leia chides Poe: “Get your head out of your cockpit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-K6Ey0S86g

So now…after telling you all this – Why in the world am I disappointed with it?

Here are a few pointers
Star Wars The Last Jedi – Criticisms

1. I still do not understand what the point of Kylo Ren’s Neo-Vader mask was? What was the point?
   The Last Jedi is grossly bloated it is with stupid subplots, narrative cul-de-sacs, and detours that amount to little more than distractions.
2. The movie’s main plot is a ridiculously over-drawn out drag between Snoke’s armada and Leia’s handful rebels which was illogically put across – Imagine – the most powerful army with millions of stormtroopers – that cannot overtake a few rebels? Really?
3. So many times it is repeated that the Resistance ships are now encountering dwindling fuel supply. You listen to it again and again and again. And then you wonder – er…why isn’t anyone attacking them?
4. There are plots, sub-plots, schemes, mutinies, sub-mutinies, double-crosses on top of double-crosses only to move to a ridiculous illusion trick in the end?
5. The film drags merely too much in the middle. Somewhere in the film’s 152-minute running time is an incredible 90-minute movie.
6. Why was Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie) role so poorly introduced?
7. What was the point of having Max Kanata (Lupita Nyong’o)?
8. Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christine) the silver plated stormtrooper didn’t do much other than have 5 minutes presence
9. The enormous sea-bird Nessie-like hybrid creatures whose nipples offer up blue milk. Er…. what was the point?
10. The casino royale planet of Canto Bight which is filled with tuxedos and the rich aliens of the galaxy – although I absolutely enjoyed this – what was the point of having this scene in the movie when the whole adventure was just a red-herring?
11. Driver’s and Ridley’s telepathic connection plays out more like a sci-fi version of romantic “Ghost 1990” movie. Is it romantic? A manipulative power play? Maybe both?

Loy Machedo’s Moment of Truth

I am a hardcore Star Wars Fan. The movies were great when they were under the tutelage of George Lucas. He was the father, he was the creator, he was the man who brought into this world Star Wars. And just like Steve Jobs knew what apple stood for, just as a Mentor know what his student stands for – George Lucas knew what Star Wars meant and where it should have been headed.

Sadly – because of Father time – he had to sell it off to Disney – and with that began the deterioration of a one-time classic.

Keep this much in mind – whatever said and done – if it wasn’t for George Lucas – there wouldn’t be Star Wars. He alone is the reason for its greatness and immortality – even after 40 years of its creation.

Sadly, ever since Disney got its hands on it – they have done nothing but ruin the franchise. They have tried to copy its success, they have tried having paid-positive reviews and blinded fans promote the movie – only for its true followers to be disappointed.

I watched the movie in a very neutral mind, however, after 2 and Half Hours – I was convinced that this was once again staying true to the gloomy prediction I once gave – Star Wars – the magic is now over.

I was disappointed by this movie. If there was anything worthwhile – it was just watching Mark Hamil, R2D2 and Carrie Fisher grace the Silverscreen for one last time.

I do not know if they will be together again (Carrie Fisher sadly died before the movie would be released). And now all that remains are memories.

Personally, this movie could have been shortered to 90 minutes and be made great. Instead they made it 2 hours 30 minutes and made it too long, too drawn out and too bloated for its own good with too many complex sub-plots and questionable twists & creative decisions. In the end – with too many loose ends and too many illogical decisions – the poor sadly gets downgraded once again in its ongoing saga.

Loy Machedo’s Overall Rating

4 out of 10.
Its a disappointment.
(BONUS CONTENT DOWN BELOW)

BONUS MATERIAL

Star Wars The Last Jedi – Core Characters

Here are the most important character in Star Wars: The Last Jedi:

• Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) – who is vulnerable, young & not perfect. But gives us her best.
• General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) who plays the role as a bumbling idiot who desperately wants to impress Supreme Commander Snoke (Andy Serkis)
• Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) plays the role of the main villain who struggles with his emotions & feelings between good, bad & powerful.
• Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) is still a hot-headed but skilled Resistance pilot.
• Finn (John Boyega) is struggling to find his place in the Resistance as a First Order deserter.
• Rey (Daisy Ridley) has quite a job convincing Luke (Mark Hamill) to come out of exile, and then finally Luke gives Rey a crash course on Jedi Training. Luke also reveals his own tragic backstory with villainous nephew Kylo.
• Leia (Carrie Fisher) leads the Resistance against overwhelming odds.
• Supreme Leader Snoke (a CGI baddie played by Andy Serkis) is a very powerful addition but whose death seem pointless
• BB-8 is still great.
• BB-9E is a great villainous introduction
• Benicio del Toro’s DJ who is a good & bad thief
• There are the highly anticipated and heavily touted Porgs, chirruping little chipmunk/puss-in-boots-cute-eyes/puffin things that are adorable and amusing
• The Caretakers on the planet of Ahch-To
• Crystal Foxes called Vulptices which live near the rebel base

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Star Wars The Last Jedi – The Team

Star Wars The Last Jedi:

• A Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures of Lucasfilm production.
• Produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Ram Bergman.
• Executive producers: J.J. Abrams, Tom Karnowski, Jason McGatlin.
• Director, writer: Rian Johnson, based on characters created by George Lucas.
• Camera (widescreen, color): Steve Yedlin.
• Editor: Bob Ducsay.
• Music: John Williams.

Actors & Actresses

• • Adam Driver – Kylo Ren
  • Andy Serkis – CGI Supreme Leader Snoke
  • Anthony Daniels – CP30
  • Benicio Del Toro – DJ
  • Carrie Fisher – Leia
  • Daisy Ridley – Rey
  • Domhnall Gleeson – General Hux
  • Gwendoline Christie – Captain Phasma
  • John Boyega – Finn
  • Kelly Marie Tran – Rose
  • Laura Dern – Vice Admiral Amilyn
  • Lupit Nyong’o – Max Kanata
  • Mark Hamill – Luke Skywalker
  • Oscar Isaac – Poe Dameron
  • Tom Hardy – Stormtrooper