The Fisher Queen.
152 Mins. Starring: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Lupita Nyong'o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Billie Lourd, Laura Dern & Benicio Del Toro. Director: Rian Johnson.
This isn't the sequel you are looking for. Search your feelings, you know it to be true. Or then again is 'The Last Jedi' all just a messy trip, mind trick? As the 'Star Wars' saga continues for a long time in a galaxy far away. Decades following George Lucas' original and quite possibly the greatest trilogy of all-time (sorry 'Godfather') that not only changed the science fiction, gravity defying genre, but also the movie world as a whole, the new milleniuum came with young Anakin, pod racing and Ja Ja f###### Binks (he so sorry). Sure the prequel trilogy that looked as promising as Darth Maul's dual revealing saber and the light battle that ensued (but now...or should we say "WOW" will never be the same thanks to Owen Wilson) was a different sort of menace. But it had it's moments (Obi Wan and Django duelling like the old west in the rain anyone?) and if it wasn't for the limbless failure Lucasfilm learnt from we wouldn't have this brand new trilogy and solo stories that bring the rolling credits right back to us. 'Star Trek' Bad Robot reboot director J.J. Abrams of all filmakers gave the next generation 'A New Hope' truly in his cheers and tears evoking fun and fantastic epic 'The Force Awakens'. And after this trilogy took a year break for the blueprint of the equally entertaining 'Rogue One', 'Star Wars Story' band of resistance brothers. Lead by another Rey of light with an even funnier droid that played like one of those perfect Playstation 'Star Wars' zapping games. It now returns like the Jedi for the last one (or should we say part two?) as this force of a franchise looks to do what 'The Hobbit' did each Christmas a few years ago and be the Smaug like fire that burns the box office down. Because apparantly even the 'Justice League' trinity of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman can't. But when it comes to this lord of the films in a Marvel superhero age how does this saga as old as Mark Hamill's Lucas beard keep up at a hyperspace pace with their Mickey Mouse Disney brother? Well with Abrams now A.W.O.L. to the trilogy conclusion at least it's time for the director of the most original and outstanding sci-fi in years ('Looper' complete with a Joesph Gordon-Levitt vocal cameo here alongside Stormtrooping Daniel Craig like ones from 'Inception' co-star Tom Hardy and two royals as you should never be afraid to dream a little bigger darling), Rian Johnson to lead the Resistance to a first class film against the First Order.
Energize...oops sorry, wrong movie! Yet still warp driven or not this sophomore sequel still has that Rian looping energy even with J.J. gone 'Into Darkness' for this follow up. Episode 8 and part two begins yet again with another Academy acting Oscar Isaac and his and our new favourite droid BB-8 (the best beach volleyball since Tom Hanks' 'Cast Away' Wilson) having the most fun of his compelling career, this time firmly in the cockpit of his beloved X-Wing, console charging through cinematic classic carnage. Reminding us of what it would have been like if Al Pacino never turned down that Solo part and thankfully being present and oh so correct throughout in a new jacket even cooler than the one he gave to his bromance jacket brother Finn. John Boyega (no spoiler because you've seen the almost show it all trailer) is back after having a jagged light saber stripped through his spine. And moving us like Motown the 'Detroit' Oscar worthy is better than ever attacking the block like dealing with aliens and chrome dome Stormtroopers ('Game Of Thrones' and 'Top Of The Lake' standout Gwendoline Christie again in limited time in the spotlight again more than literally shines) is nothing new. And amongst all the rock face drama between the biggest cliffhanger in 'Star Wars' history and 'Murder On The Orient Express' actor Daisy Ridley who again kills it as Rey the hero this new world looking for light deserves after all the dark and cute robin/hamster like hybrids the Porgs (which are so cash cow cute you'll probably find them on the top aswell as underneath your tree this Christmas) there is so much more to this force. Visually Johnson's vivid imagination is on a machine-level scale like no other and this whole movie is canvassed in stark scarlet. From the blood red herrings of the trailers and mosaic posters to the salt of a storming desert warfare scene to dust to dust. Even the chess piece like Imperial Guards surrounding the red room of Supreme Leader Snoke are a samurai army of rouge. And as for what comes to a hilt in there...DAMN! Now no longer in huge hologram form we finally see Snoke for who he is. And the Ceasar of mo-cap acting Andy Serkis (who deserves his own motion capture category Academy and Oscar for his new 'Planet Of The Apes' trilogy work of real emotion and devotion) is supreme as Snoke, even if the leader looks like Gollum grew up, developed a skin condition and was left one of Hugh Hefner's bathrobes. The February forthcoming T'Challa villain joined by fellow 'Black Panther' star Lupita Nyong'o in a motion capture cameo that begs for more from the '12 Years A Slave' Oscar winner. Snoke wants to turn the guilt ridden Kylo Ren to a snake that will never slither from the Dark Side. And after showing these scars 'Paterson' and 'Logan Lucky' underrated star Adam Driver drives this home with such a force that the only thing disappointing about his whole angst-apprentice thing is that he destroys that Darth Vader idolizing mask everyone loved so much they put their hands over their mouth like Bane to idol impersonate themselves. Come on Ben...finish what you started.
Resolution will have its day here in a film that deals with more family drama then Dr. Phil and still has enough in the budget for a big, gaudy casino country scene that's just as bat s### crazy as some of the creature characters that reside here. And like all the animals that stampede through here sometimes it's all too messy for every fans liking. And as Disney strict kept to the script that all this Star Wars story that ties in to every book and game ever released with that iconic logo (whether even comic-book or playing cards) is sometimes 'The Last Jedi' feels like it's all being made up as it goes along in what has already become the most divisive 'Star Wars' movie yet. And to those saying it's the second best of all-time, it's more like the original trilogy in podium order, then the last two years two tied for fourth, this and then the prequel trilogy, headed by the 'Phantom Menace'. All this and thank goodness for the good ole likes of Chewie, R2 and Anthony Daniels C3-P0 who has finally given Iron Man his arm back. But give credit where directing credits are due because after the flat feeling of this film that albeit is all too noticable, Johnson saves the day with some amazing action and defining drama to make up for some mistakes that make us yearn for the man who regarded Henry and then was bold enough to blast a saber right through Harrison Ford's Han Solo. One legendary light fight and duel in particular will seperate whats dark from all that's bright until everyone runs crimson. So in this movie for every metaphorical Binks there's a Bobba (and no don't worry or rejoice that wasn't an Easter Egg...they aren't here). For every hammed up general acting from a much better Domhnall Gleeson there is a new actress showing us how good she is in the introduced Kelly Marie Tran who got so emotional about earning her first big break here. Even though she had to lie to her family and friends for this shrouded in secrecy sequel and say she was shooting an indie flick in Canada. As a matter of fact there's so much new hope in the form of some veteran help here. 'Jurassic Park' legend Laura Dern, complete with purple rinse looks like she could carry on after Carrie with all due respect in honour. Whilst a stuttering 'Sicario' saga star Benicio Del Toro grubbly steals the show like he collects infinity stones in the Marvel Universe for this war. But you can't beat the old dogs and original big-three, even without Ford's Solo. Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker is finally back and hilariously not just glaring at his glow stick sword for half a minute, lifting his Jedi cloak hood up with his Terminator fingers after all this time. He's not the baby faced whiner anymore. These decades and days he resembles someone who truly looks like a father figure and it's here on these highlands where this former student becomes the master and mentors his new apprentice. All whilst learning much more about his path and how to trim, if albeit not to shave. Hamill is hallmark here however and the only honoured homage that pays better tribute to this movie and all the Jedi franchises that have come before it is that of the Princess. Now generally speaking more like a queen as Carrie Fisher is a formidable force here in her final movie that she fittingly sees through to the end in a conclusion that will leave you no longer thinking, but knowing that this muse and her movie gave their everything they had to each other until the final fade out. And after some soaring scenes that draw even more smiles across faces than that C.G. 'New Hope' beginning, 'Rogue One' end cameo who will carry the light in her rest? Well who else but another great young actress with powerful potential and that hair do to match? Who else but an actress whose appearance here is more acclaimed than just an actual tribute cameo? Who else but the brilliant Billie Lourd? Who else but Carrie Fisher's daughter? After all this franchise was always about one thing stronger than the force...family. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Star Wars-The Force Awakens', 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story', 'Star Trek-Beyond'.
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