The Last Hope.
147 Mins. Starring: Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Joonas Suotamo, Kelly Marie Tran, Naomi Ackie, Billie Lourd, Keri Russell, Richard E. Grant, Ian McDiarmid & Billy Dee Williams. Director: J.J Abrams.
Help me J.J. You're my only hope. What a time to be alive in hyperspace. Right now the generations-from big-screen cinema to home movie screenings on your mobile phone-can watch the final decades in the making, concluding sequel to the 'Star Wars' saga, 'The Rise Of Skywalker' and still get home in time to stream Fridays penultimate episode of a Star Wars story 'The Mandalorian' on Disney + (I remember up until the new millennium we "just" had a 'Godfather' of geeks like trilogy and then...erm pod racing and Ja Ja (me so sorry)). Unless you live outside the U.S. that is. But you know us, we'll Jeff Goldblum find a way anyway like wanting to watch his 'World According To' series on the Mickey Mouse streaming service that wants you to chill with 'The Irishman' and 'Marriage Story' Oscar contending Netflix. Oh wait...Chapter 7 was released two days early. Hey you get the idea. But how is it that even here in the U.K. you can't legally stream Mando, but yet you can part with your money this Christmas wish list for the walking meme spoiler and the cutest thing out of this planet this side of Disney and Marvel's 'Guardians Of The Galaxy' Baby Groot, Baby Yoda merchandise? Is that right? Is your Robin Hood watching in turn? Is Mickey having a white gloves hands over mouth laugh? I know Rian Johnson is. In a time were Adam Driver is receiving more Academy hype for a fall film with a recently controversy courting Scarlett Johansson (we love the 'Black Widow' who can even make a role in a movie out of a dead character regardless) than his iconic, dark sith lord of lore, the much maligned director of 'The Last Jedi' (confusing but still conceptually sound) has his 'Knives Out' with a 'Murder On The Orient Express' like mystery with James Bond playing Poirot. One that is choo-choo, all ensemble aboard heading like a runaway train to the Oscars at the same time the awakening force of 'Star Trek' energized reboot director J.J. Abrams is brought back to steady this Millennium Falcon ship that 'Looper' and the greatest and most heartbreaking LCD Soundsystem music video director (the outstanding 'Black Mirror' or 'Electric Dreams' like 'Oh Baby' with David Strathairn and Sissy Spacek) rocked. I guess your movie living well and better really is the best revenge...served as a Winter season dish cold. But "that's not a knife", you know the only thing that can cut quicker is a sword like jagged neon light saber. VROOM!
Is this the hype you are looking for in the final, epic conclusion to a half century of genre redefining moviemaking for the science fiction canon? Or like a Marvel movie like Scorsese said is this more like a theme park roller-coaster for your 'Galaxy Edge'? Is this all Rian's fault in more ways than one? Or is the chrome Gwendoline Christie like dome of 'The Mandalorian' taking away all the 'Skywalker' shine like that being jealous of the second child being thrown up and played with meme (maybe that's why the Disney A+ shows regular schedule programmed Friday like film release got changed. 'Skywalker' just didn't want that smoke)? This was always going to make that conglomerate Disney cash money, but will it just sort of be there this Christmas as a present distraction with nothing on the first formidable force like the cold front of 'Frozen 2' this fall? Or was it even always set up to be a feline flop like the cinema stage of a critically clawed 'Cats'...which honestly from the first trailer looked like the world's most terrifying movie...and this is a writer who never used to like scary movies? 'The Last Jedi' may have you wary for this last movie, but worry not Jedi. Safe hands this is in. You don't have to lackadaisically toss an iconic light saber over your shoulder and off a mountain to ruin one of the hood revealing biggest, literal cliffhangers in classic cinema history this time Luke. 'The Rise Of Skywalker' ascends like a soaring and swooping falcon (salute to new Captain America for Disney, Anthony Mackie) with 'Chucky' and The Joker himself Mark Hamill's iconic narrating foreboding over the terrific trailers. But will his spirit be a force awoken here like a beautiful remake of 'A New Hope'? Take one last look sir, as the 'This Christmas' credits turn into view from a galaxy far, far away...at your friends. You've never had any like them you scruffy nerd herder. Harrison, Mark and Carrie, almost like a sci-fi Beatles fab four. And now your new big three in Daisy, Oscar and John. Otherwise known as Finn, Poe and Rey.
Retiring to Skywalker ranch the legacy making three belong with the legends now. Daisy Ridley's Rey is the Emma Watson Hermione of this ray gun instead of wand fantasy franchise. She's that role model legendary. Like homaging both Cary Grant in 'North By Northwest' and Heath Ledger's "HIT ME" Joker in 'The Dark Knight' in a run more iconic than top gun Tom Cruise's. This is her moment in a bond that transcends literal space with an amazing Adam Driver. Sith going to more 'Marriage Story' war with his Knight of Ren classic chess pieces and yet another perfect performance of power were in the same month he becomes a blockbuster legend and an Academy one for the biggest franchise and Oscar movie of the year without flipping a page of the calendar. Oh...and the guy with a fetish for Darth Vader's helmet (steady) has fixed his own cult one for that iconic voice, finishing what he started with not so subtle symbolism. But ever since he passed the lightsaber after one cut a jagged edge down his back, John Boyega has never let anyone break his. Standing by our heroes side with his own heroism and that Palpatine palpable energy that's been on display ever since the 'Attack The Block' cult hero went viral to his also Cruise sofa jumping reaction to the very first trailer to his very first 'Star Wars' trailer. And what Finn FN-2187 shares with rookie of the year franchise newcomer Naomi Ackie takes a much more deeper and subliminal shot at service from these armour looking droids that you should never underestimate with R2 and BB8's new Wall-E like show stealing friend (oh and on that note a best in nine Anthony Daniels' C-3PO gets all the best android lines here like a 'Rogue One'). Don't misunderstood what people took as a shot at Kelly Marie Tran who is back and better than ever with him and a whole fandom behind her. And let's hear it for 'Inside Llewyn Davis' indie best actor Oscar Isaac still in the Academy of chasing DiCaprio's blockbuster crown, as a Han hot shot pilot trying to romance the stone like the gold visor of a scene stealing 'The Americans' star Keri Russell suited and booted up in the best costume of this film...get Hall H ready for the cosplay. But who needs ex X-Wing pilot Poe flying the falcon when Finnish 'Wookie Of The Year' Basketball star Joonas Suotamo honouring the late Peter Mayhew's Chewbacca roar has an old friend at home riding shotgun? No not him, but someone close to Han...betrayal or not. We haven't seen him since '83 and now 83, Billy Dee is back as swagger, canary drip cool as Childish Gambino, Donald Glover's 'Solo' tribute act as Lando. Everything...you've heard about him...is true. All of it Han. Add a legendary laugh of Ian McDiarmid's evil Palpatine in need of even more sunscreen (side note I've never really cared for the villain with worse skin than Bryan Adams and me) and almost everyone is back in this cockpit to throne one last flight like the voice of 'Black Panther' star Lupita Nyong'o. I KNOW!
Sadly it's just a shame like Mayhew our dear, late, great Carrie Fisher Queen can't be. Although not exactly, as footage left over from 'The Last Jedi' with 'Fast and Furious' Paul Walker honouring precision allows us to see the last of this icon and conclude her story the honest and respectful way that serves both story and star. Her daughter Billie Lourd back and coming of age and stage must be so proud, like Carrie looking down at her own will be in return. This yet again a beautiful tribute and testament to a franchise that's underlining force is all about family. Its not just fan service, but the honouring of anyone who ever gave their heart and soul to this war of the out of this worlds saga of stars. From every light saber stream crossed like an X-Wing, lightning struck in the hard rain like a Django duel, or flipped open like a walking stick...old Darth Maul would be peanut butter and jelly (but I'm sorry the only cameo you get of him is communicated through the critically and criminally underrated 'Solo', as good as another Joker 'Fallen Order' starring video game like 'Rogue One'), this is the reason you munch on popcorn during the power of movies. As soon as John Williams iconic score comes into conductor wand dropped play a force like warmth surges through your body until all your hair stands on end in unison to the ovation of the opening credits climb...even in Kanji. Even in the subtitled Japanese cinema this writer watched this force formidable finale in, the women crying next me even in some of the smaller moments showed this saga after all this time and all its been through around the world could never be lost in translation or space in its cinematic time continuum. With a monumental task of not only fixing 'The Last Jedi's' confused clusterf### (he also fixed his own problem by bringing the true thespian out of Domhnall Gleeson's over acting. Brought back down to the natural talents earth here alongside the 'Can You Ever Forgive Me', Academy Award nominated legend Richard E. Grant), but also concluding the story of a saga a century in the making, J.J. Abrams has reawoken a force. An entertaining, emotional, engaging, epic end to this space opera. Part by part it was always going to be the second best trilogy of this ninth wonder. No Jedi mind trick or more reason to have a bad feeling about this. May the force finally be with you...always. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens', 'The Mandalorian', 'Star Trek (2009)'.
No comments:
Post a Comment