Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
For those of you hating on The Last Jedi because it’s not a typical “Star Wars” film, well, the saga itself has a few things to say about that certain point of view.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is killing it at the box office. I enjoyed Episode VIII very much so. As with every movie, The Last Jedi has faults – risks that didn’t work out or pay off particularly well among some Star Wars fans. I’m still hopeful Rey is related to someone important. However, some of the criticism thrown at The Last Jedi is unfounded – worse yet, some of the criticisms have existed in Star Wars for as long as Star Wars has existed itself.
Sure, the time we spent on Canto Bight with those magic horse things (they’re called Fathiers, by the way) felt more Harry Potter than it did Star Wars. That’s why this list isn’t here to tell you there is nothing wrong with the latest installment in the Star Wars franchise.
It is, however, here to tell you that even Star Wars itself thinks you’re wrong about most of the things wrong with The Last Jedi. Without further ado here are three issues with The Last Jedi and why they’re not issues at all.
The opening sequence in The Last Jedi is intense. The Resistance is desperately trying to escape their base on D’Qar while the First Order arrives to blockade the planet. We can feel Lt. Connix’s heart sink when she sees First Order Star Destroyers exit hyperspace right above D’Qar, essentially trapping the Resistance.
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
“There Are Too Many Jokes”
Don’t fret! Poe Dameron is here to save the day… with a joke! What? That’s right, “holding for General Hux, the pasty white dude.” Ugh. This joke ruins the tension – the tension that the opening crawl, the music, Lt. Connix’s reaction, the First Order’s smugness have all worked so hard to build. Despite being surrounded and trapped just off the surface of D’Qar, the Resistance isn’t in any real danger – Poe Dameron, General Leia Organa, C-3PO, Finn surely won’t perish. I forgot about the fact that they would never kill all of these significant characters this early in the film – they actually felt like they were in danger – until Poe shattered the tension with a cheap joke.
*Knock Knock*
Who could that be? Oh, it’s Star Wars. It says if you have a problem with Poe’s jokes then you’ve got a problem with Star Wars. That’s right – we’re going there.
Remember when Luke Skywalker, disguised as a Stormtrooper, barrelled towards Cell 2187 to rescue Princess Leia Organa while Stormtroopers (who weren’t good guys in disguise) were rapidly converging on Detention Block AA-23 to capture (or kill) the intruders. In this moment of intense build-up, while we anxiously wait to see if the heroes can successfully rescue the Princess, Han Solo answers the Imperial telephone on the desk. When asked what’s going on, Han replies “we’re on a serious mission – don’t mess with us or we’ll have to hurt you!”
Wait… that’s not the line… Han humorously stumbles through a jumble of mumbo jumbo about weapons malfunctions and a reactor leak. He finishes the conversation: “we’re all fine here now, thank you. How are you?”
This moment on the Death Star gives the audience a small slice of humor to not only help us handle the tension but to remind us that Star Wars is supposed to be fun. Yes, it is a franchise that literally has “war” in the name, but, since A New Hope, it’s always been about fun, and jokes always have and still will have a place in these movies.
Funny that Han and Poe both like to crack their jokes from the other end of a telephone line…
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
“We Still Don’t Know Anything About Snoke”
Supreme Leader Snoke was supposed to be the Big Bad of the Sequel Trilogy. His mysterious presence in The Force Awakens fueled a seemingly infinite number of theories among fans trying to determine his true identity and motivation.
All this build up. All this mystery. I can’t wait for The Last Jedi to reveal more about Snoke! What?! He’s dead, just like that?! We didn’t even find out anything about him!
*Knock Knock*
Star Wars, here again, to shed some light on your Snoke dismay.
Remember that mysterious Big Bad in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi? He goes by Emperor Palpatine. Tell me everything you remember about him. And you’re only allowed to give me the information you got from The Empire Strikes Back or Return of the Jedi. Nope, don’t try telling me his name is Sheev Palpatine or that he started his illustrious career as a politician on Naboo. Nope, the fact that he tricked the Jedi Order and the entire Republic into trusting him with immense power because of his cunning as a Sith Lord is off limits too.
All of that backstory you just tried to tell me is entirely absent in The Empire Strikes Back when we first see The Emperor. And we don’t learn much more in Return of the Jedi, either. All we know about The Emperor in the Original Trilogy is that he’s in charge, he’s evil, and he wants to turn Luke Skywalker to the Dark Side.
All we know about Snoke in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi is that he’s in charge, he’s evil, and he wants to turn Rey to the Dark Side. See where Star Wars is going with this? That’s not to say I’m not still curious about Snoke’s backstory or if there’s any chance he could still be alive. But give Star Wars a chance to do what they’ve done before regarding the Big Bad.
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
“A Jedi Would Never Give Up And Go Into Hiding”
Luke Skywalker – savior of the galaxy, redeemer of Darth Vader, and most powerful Jedi to ever live – runs away from his problems and goes into exile on Ahch-To. Not only that, he made a huge mistake while training his nephew, Ben Solo, ultimately contributing to Ben’s turn to the Dark Side and a name change.
None of that would ever happen! Luke was a Jedi! Jedi don’t make mistakes that screw up the whole galaxy! Jedi don’t give up! Jedi don’t run away from their problems!
*Knock Knock*
Oh, it’s Star Wars. It says it regrets to inform you that you’re wrong again, pal. What’s that, Star Wars? Oh, it also says stop making the Jedi sound better than they were.
The Jedi had massive faults. They trained and contributed to the downfall of Anakin Skywalker. In fact, it was Qui-Gon Jinn’s stubbornness that led to the training of Anakin in the first place.
The Jedi stood by idly (albeit unknowingly, only further proving they suck) while Darth Sidious rose to Supreme Chancellor, seized control of the Republic, and created the FIRST GALACTIC EMPIIIIIIRE.
Photo Credit: Lucasfilm
If you look at their deeds, the Jedi way is nothing but failure…
But evidently, after all of these mistakes, Jedi legends like Mace Windu and Ki-Adi-Mundi tried their best to right their wrongs and save the galaxy…
*Knock Knock*
It’s Star Wars again… Oh, it has some bad news about the aforementioned Jedi legends… Okay, well surely Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi will save us!
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What?… Did they run away? Are they hiding somewhere? They didn’t even tell us where they went or when – sorry, if – they’ll be back?
How could they do this? They’ve doomed us all! Obi-Wan is the one who trained that Darth Vader in the first place! He even admitted he failed him.
Well, ya didn’t just fail him, Ben! What about us? What about Naboo? What about Endor, and Kashyyyk, and oh forget it…
Yeah… Jedi are notorious for running away and hiding when things get bad… Luke is merely following in the footsteps of the great Jedi who walked before him
At least Luke eventually shows up to face his problems. Well, he shows up from a certain point of view….
Next: Star Wars fans: Our galaxy’s saltiest bunch of nerds
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is currently playing in theatres, worldwide.