Watching a new "Star Wars" movie is always a pleasure; there are always so many new worlds to zip through in high-speed chase sequences, bizarre characters to be swindled by, and that always fantastic musical score by legend John Williams. The newest entry in the series, "The Last Jedi," hits a lot of the right notes, but it gets bogged down by an overwhelming sense of listlessness. Sure, there are tons of explosions, spaceship chases, and blaster battles, but it plays like a "best hits" of the franchise. I didn't even walk out of the theater remembering one new piece of music. I couldn't recall a single new character, or piece of dialogue. What happened?
Perhaps writer-director Rian Johnson got caught up in the chance to spearhead an entry in the biggest space series of all time, deciding that if nostalgia worked in the last entry "The Force Awakens," then that must be all people want. It is three entries since Disney bought LucasFilms and we still have old faces walk around the Millennium Falcon (scenes like these probably look good in commercials). We are still referencing Darth Vader- despite dying in Episode 6! The lightsabers and still-living cast members should be enough! There is a difference between homage and nostalgia, and here we all pure nostalgia.
Johnson's script contains a lot of humor, but never for the better. Sure, Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron is a wise-cracking Han Solo for a new generation, however, there is no reason other than Disney's "Marvel-ization" of the franchise for many of the gags here. Take the scene when Rey (Daisy Ridley) hands Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) the lightsaber, right where the last movie left off. He, eyes open and mouth gaping, takes the saber, then just tosses it over his shoulder. Who let Stan Lee in the writer's room?
Carrie Fisher, who lamentably passed away last year, has a lot of screen time here, and she is such a joy to see in costume. It is natural to get emotional whenever her familiar voice echoes throughout the theater, but that's the only emotion that pulls through in the plot. There are deaths, near-deaths, and revelations, but nothing that comes close to punch when Darth Vader killed Darth Sidious in Episode 6, or even when Anakin's mother died in his arms in Episode 2. I know, that's saying something.
The mostly-plucky case from the first film in the "Nostalgia Trilogy" returns, but they're given so little to do. The plot is too bulky, with small groups of new and old characters flying in all different directions, and every point is a recycle of old ideas. Finn (John Boyega) and Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) try to infiltrate the First Orders' ship, Rey goes to train with Luke Skywalker, and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) struggles with conflict the glimmer of light in his dark inside. Too many ideas a repurposed from earlier entries- you get a new version of the Ewok in Porgs (the force is telling me their toy will be popular this Christmas), you have a new Mos Eisley with the casino on Canto Bight, and you have Luke Skywalker going all Obi Wan Kenobi at the end (spoilers?).
There are plenty of other new and old minor characters here as well, but they just steal screentime and development from the major cast. But Adam Driver suffers the most, remaining every bit as disinteresting as Hayden Christensen did in the prequel trilogy; a whiny punk who is bafflingly cast and written. He lacks chemistry with the spunky Daisy Ridley and the elder cast mates, and his biggest character development is a promising one that ends in groaning retread. This isn't to say Mark Hamill was ever the strongest actor, but Driver plays Kylo as if he is auditioning for "Pretty Little Liars." If his character had died in this entry, then I'd give "The Last Jedi" a recommendation.
Had the action been outstanding, then we'd be seeing a greater number of stars at the top of the page. Yet the pedestrian set pieces are interrupted by bland jokes and stoic conversations of unimportance- we see the Millennium Falcon fly.... cool. I could have saved the cost of admission watching one of the other films on TV. Oh, a lightsaber battle? Wait, that's the only duel? Excuse me while I pull up on YouTube that Darth Maul battle from Episode 1.
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