It’s been nearly three weeks since Star Wars: The Last Jedi hit theaters, and in that time, the divisiveness of the Rian Johnson-directed film has only grown stronger. However, while there are certainly legitimate nits to pick (as there are with any movie), a great deal of the hate The Last Jedi is receiving is entirely unwarranted.
Instead of spending our time trying to tear this film apart, let’s spend it addressing the biggest fan complaints from Star Wars: The Last Jedi:
The Humor
The Last Jedi admittedly packs more humor than most other films in the franchise, but this is a trend that isn’t just limited to Star Wars – it’s a common factor in many modern Hollywood blockbusters. In fact, even if you discount what other film franchises are doing, people still seem to forget that The Force Awakens, and even Rogue One, made an effort to inject a dose of comedy into the Star Wars universe. Poe’s banter with Kylo Ren at the start of TFA is actually a great example of this, which actually makes it ironic that some fans are criticizing his “Holding for Hux” shtick in The Last Jedi. And let’s not pretend that K-2SO’s role in Rogue One was anything other than comic relief.
Too much humor in a Star Wars film becomes problematic when the jokes don’t land, or if they undercut the drama. However, in The Last Jedi, not only do the jokes hit their mark but they also help complement the heavier thematic elements of the narrative. As a result, we end up with a film that’s well-balanced and able to appeal to all ends of the emotional spectrum.
Leia Floating Through Space
There’s no denying the fact that Leia floating through the cold vacuum of space with one hand outstretched like Mary Poppins is a cringe-worthy sight. Nevertheless, the moment is supposed to convey how adept Leia actually is in the ways of the Force, and when you think about it, what would have been a good alternative? Should she have had both arms extended like Superman?
The fact of the matter is, the scene accomplishes what it set out to do, and even if it isn’t quite as visually profound as Rian Johnson intended, it’s no more offensive than some of the changes George Lucas made to the original trilogy when he first discovered CGI.
Rian Johnson’s Handling Of What J.J. Abrams Set Up In The Force Awakens
In The Force Awakens, J.J. Abrams employed his quintessential “mystery box” style of storytelling to set up several plot threads he knew full well he wouldn’t be the one to follow up on in Episode VIII. Most notably among them were Luke’s reaction to Rey and his old lightsaber, Rey’s parents, and the identity of Supreme Leader Snoke. However, with multiple hands guiding the direction of the sequel trilogy and no single vision for each film, it was up to Rian Johnson to decide how to follow up on these existing threads, and he admirably chose to give fans answers they truly didn’t expect.
In all honesty, does anyone actually believe Johnson could have come up with anything that would have satisfied everyone, especially when countless fans had spent the last two years deciding exactly what they wanted to see? Of course not, and the fact that Johnson was cognizant of this and decided to subvert expectations is a bold move.
The Canto Bight Subplot
A pretty common complaint about The Last Jedi is that Finn and Rose’s mission to Canto Bight is completely pointless. Why, though? Because they didn’t accomplish anything? Well, that actually falls in line with the film’s theme of the heroes failing in their endeavors, so it works in that respect.
Furthermore, it’s this sequence that affords Finn and Rose (and to a lesser extent, ‘DJ’) the time for some much-needed character development, which can sometimes be a struggle when dealing with an ensemble cast. And while ‘DJ’ is a character who doesn’t do a whole heck of a lot, it’s through him that we’re reminded that one man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist, as evidenced by his discovery that the war profiteers on Canto Bight are selling weapons to both the First Order and the Resistance.
Luke Skywalker’s Characterization
When The Force Awakens ended on a cliffhanger that promised to the set the stage for a Luke Skywalker-centric Episode VIII, fans naturally expected big things from their childhood hero. In fact, Mark Hamill’s aging Jedi Master even makes a meta reference to this when he asks Rey if she expected him to single-handedly take on the First Order with his “laser sword,” and for some, this cynical, disillusioned version of Luke simply rubbed them the wrong way.
However, it was hardly a secret that Luke went into a self-imposed exile after he was betrayed by Ben Solo/Kylo Ren. What’s more, he certainly isn’t the first Jedi to go into hiding after suffering a major setback, as both Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi did the same after the Great Jedi Purge.
The Luke we get in The Last Jedi definitely isn’t the same Luke from the original trilogy, but after 30-plus years and everything he went through following Return of the Jedi, should we really have expected him to be?