Skip to main content

REVIEW: "Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi"

Genre: Drama; Sci-fi; Action
Directed by: Rian Johnson
Written by: Rian Johnson and George Lucas (based on characters created by)
Starring: Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Andy Serkis, Laura Dern, Domhnall Gleeson and Kelly Marie Tran
In Theaters: December 13, 2017  (wide)
Runtime: 155 minutes
Two years ago, The Force Awakens proved Star Wars franchise was not dead and there were a lot of stories to tell. Now, The Last Jedi surprises audiences by going against most of the geek theories and it feels fresh because of it! The last instalment of the Star Wars saga doesn't try to please its faithful fans: it is a movie with its own soul, heart and story and that's why it works so beautifully (unlike the last season of Game of Thrones TV series). 
Rian Johnson knows what he's doing here. From the action-packed scenes, to inspiring moments of bravery and emotionally nuanced performances, he was able to show the world this is a product of "cinematic passion". Surprising plot twists and a reflection about the balance between light and darkness, The Last Jedi is a fantastic sequel. Some might recall there are a few awkward moments like [SPOLER] a flying Leia Organa [END OF SPOILER], but cinematic light is much stronger than cinematic darkness in this one. 
High praise for Mark Hamill, who delivers the best performance of his career as a Luke Skywalker who lost all his hope, and to both Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver, who get enough room to develop their characters and assume their leading woman and leading man status in this franchise - they're both light and darkness, good and evil, and their chemistry is strong. A note of praise for Boyega, since we don't have many black actors presented with such a commanding role in a big franchise. And, of course, a standing ovation for Carrie Fisher! 
Visual effects are stellar and production design is fantastic - and both build a fantastic world that embrace audiences. But the major technical achievment here is the original score: amazing and award-worthy! 
Fan theories won't find love in The Last Jedi, but the lastest Star Wars movie will please most audiences and not-so-die-hard-fans easily. This movie has a purpose and a message: the force can be with everyone! The Star Wars saga lives!


RATING: 4 / 5


Oscar potential categories:
  • Best Picture
  • Best Supporting Actor (Mark Hamill)
  • Best Cinematography
  • Best Production Design
  • Best Original Score
  • Best Sound Editing
  • Best Sound Mixing
  • Best Visual Effects

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

TOP 35 Actors and Actresses Under 35 Working Today - 2017

The almost annual TOP 35 Actors and Actresses Under 35 Working Today is out, with me considering the performers' performances of 2016 also. We have a few changes since last year's list, with Greta Gerwig toping the list thanks to her last 3 great performances in Mistress America , Maggie's Plan and the Oscar buzzy acting turn in 20th Century Women . Scarlett Johansson comes second with her latest distinguished performance being in 2014 ( Under the Skin ), but she managed to be at the spotligh this year thanks to her fine turns in critically acclaimed movies: Hail, Caesar! , Captain America: Civil War , The Jungle Book (voice) and Sing (voice). Emily Blunt adds another great performance to her resume in The Girl on the Train and she comes third, while Elle Fanning 's turning into one of the finest actresses and she's getting to play more adult and complex parts like The Neon Demon  and 20th Century Women 's (her two best performances since Super 8 ). Finall
1 comment
Read more

TOP 10 Most Promising Movie Actors (under 30)

Today I discussed about how awful some "teen icons" are and then we talked about some exceptions. So, I decided to make a little list, a TOP 10, with the male actors that I think that will become music in an ocean of noise somewhere in the future (I did one list before, but it was a little bit pathetic and I didn't justify my choices). Let's start... 1 - Ryan Gosling He may not have a huge list of movies in his body of work, but the few times he makes something, all the time he almost carries the movie. In fact, Gosling is a proof that talent does exist and that you don't need excentrical characters to receive raves. He rose to fame after the big screen adaptation of The Notebook (2004) and then received lots of critical praise for his performances in movies like Half Nelson (that gave him an Oscar, a SAG Award and other major awards nominations), Lars and the Real Girl (that gave him a Golden Globe, a SAG Award and other major awards nominations) and Fractur
Post a Comment
Read more

TOP 35 Actors and Actresses with or under 35 years old: 2018

I think it was my TOP 35 under 35 list I've ever done since I remember: so many great performers emerged last year with distinguished performances that elevated their previous works (I'm talking about Elizabeth Olsen , Lucas Hedges , Robert Pattinson , Gaspard Ulliel , Tessa Thompson or Jamie Bell , for example). I'm kinda sad I felt "forced" at letting Jonah Hill ( Moneyball and The Wolf of Wall Street ) and Emma Watson ( The Perks of Being a Wallflower , The Bling Ring and 2017's Beauty and the Beast ) out of the list. Congratulations to Kirsten Dunst , who turned 35 last year so she can not be included in this year's list - such an amazing child actress turned movie star, who delivered memorable performances in Interview with the Vampire (1994), The Virgin Suicides (1999), The Cat's Meow (2002) or Melancholia (2011). This year, Saoirse Ronan tops the list thanks to two great performances: On Chesil Beach and an iconic acting turn in Lad
Post a Comment
Read more