Starring: Daisy Ridley. Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Carrie Fisher, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels and Gwendoline Christie, dir. Rian Johnson (Brick, Looper)
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the eighth installment of the Star Wars franchise and follows Rey (Daisy Ridley) as she develops her newly discovered powers of the Force while the First Order does battle with the Resistance. The film stars Adam Driver, Mark Hamill, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Carrie Fisher, Andy Serkis, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern and Benicio del Toro and is directed by Rian Johnson (Brick, Looper).
When it was initially announced that director Rian Johnson would helm a new Star Wars trilogy before Episode VIII released, excitement and hesitation simultaneously settled in for me. Clearly, Lucasfilm and Kathleen Kennedy herself adored what Johnson did with The Last Jedi which translated to them entrusting a brand new trilogy to him, however the uncertainty arose because I thought, “man what if I hate what he does with Last Jedi?!” I’m in the camp that firmly believes the more, the merrier – If I hear they want to release 3 new Star Wars flicks a year I say hey, that’s great! Would we possibly get some films set during the KOTOR era? The one goddamn era every single fan has been pining for since the release of those legendary video games….
Coming out of my screening of The Last Jedi, I am ecstatic to say I officially cannot wait to see what Johnson brings to a new trilogy because I absolutely adored Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
From its stellar opening sequence to its final moments, I was hooked throughout. I appreciated the fact that there were actual space battles occurring utilizing some of the best digital effects the industry has to offer. Although the usage of the beloved lightsaber is used sparingly, it is depicted effectively. When the humming of the saber penetrated my ear holes, I felt it. I savoured it. There are certain instances where characters are using the sabers and I wanted to slow down time to properly ingest everything I was witnessing. It’s one of those instances where, as you’re watching it, you make an addition to your internal checklist saying “remember to check YouTube every single day to see if someone upload this scene on there.”
The implementation of the humour was actually one of my favourite aspects of the film. What is commonly seen in the additions to the MCU (Thor: Ragnarok being the latest), many of the jokes featured in their superhero story fall flat during the more dramatic moments of the films which undercut the emotional impact certain scenes have. The Last Jedi features a number of comedic beats inserted throughout that I felt worked effectively in the scene. I found there being a perfect balance (wink, balance) between the humour and dramatic moments particularly during one instance where we’re introduced to a crew of Judgmental Fish Nuns who are basically the embodiment of myself.
There isn’t really anything critical I can say about the rest of the stellar cast – Oscar Isaac as Poe DAMNeron will forever be my favourite thing ever. John Boyega‘s Finn matures exponentially in Last Jedi and I just love seeing it. An issue I originally had with The Force Awakens was Adam Driver as Kylo Ren and I wondered how he would do as he grew more comfortable in the role 2 years later. He is definitely better in Last Jedi particularly toward the beginning of the third act but, again, I wasn’t too much of a fan of his portrayal during the first two acts. Domhnall Gleeson AKA The-Guy-Who-Is-Starring-In-Everything returns as the ambitious General Hux and I very much enjoyed watching him gleefully express both his joyful moments and immense frustrations when dealing with the Resistance. Kelly Marie Tran makes her debut as Rose Tico who was a charming addition although certain components of her relationship with a character felt a bit forced. Laura Dern also made a fantastic addition to the Star Wars crew as Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo. She can honestly have amazing chemistry with a potted plant so I thoroughly enjoyed every time she was on screen and I adored the lore of her character. I took issue with a particular decision Holdo makes that could’ve easily been avoided, although I understand why she felt the need to make it. Overall I felt the relationships developed between certain characters were executed well.
Johnson knows how to film the sweeping, epic shots that make an impact watching it on the big screen. The Snoke room and everything that happens in that red room of terror is absolutely marvelous. I enjoyed the inclusion of the music much more in Last Jedi than I did Force Awakens; a brief, fleeting moment involving just Rey as her Theme plays in the background is one of my absolute favourite moments of the entire film. There’s also a fantastically killer sequence involving her and another character toward the end of the film that I cannot say more about for fear of spoiling! There is also a disgustingly wonderful tracking shot inspired by the very first Academy Award winner for Best Picture, Wings (1927) that made me way too giddy when I initially noticed it.
As we all know, The Last Jedi‘s divisive has been known in the online world and I am in the camp who thoroughly enjoyed where the story went and how they chose to develop these characters. While it isn’t without flaws, the ultimate enjoyment and pure satisfaction I felt coming out of the theatre and writing about it now makes me ecstatic for Episode IX and the Johnson-helmed trilogy.
Side note that doesn’t really pertain to the film: Can we PLEASE though, real talk, f’real be blessed with a “Duel Of The Fates“-esque pulsating, orgasmic-inducing song for at least one of the upcoming Star Wars? While I hold a genuine disdain for a number of components of the Prequels, every human on Earth can agree that that song is one of the best things to have come out of it. You’re welcome for my great suggestion, Disney.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi receives 4.5/5 Matt Damon heads.
Emilia Clarke is no stranger when it comes to projects that require her to stay quiet about virtually every single detail. In fact, her role as Daenerys Targaryen in the HBO series Game Of Thrones has fully prepared the Mother of Dragons for how to dodge questions about her mysterious female lead in the upcoming Han Solo anthology film.
For both Star Wars and Game of Thrones, remaining tight-lipped about every aspect is a requirement for cast and crew. Both have become known for their ‘spoiler free’ approach in order to please fans. Well, for anyone wondering which ridiculously anticipated project is the most intimidating to talk about during interviews, Clarke has the answer for you.
In an interview with The Independent, Clarke revealed what she’s allowed to tell the press:
“I genuinely can’t tell you anything other than Alden [Ehrenreich, who plays Han Solo] is magnificent, and it’s a delight to do something on that level with really cool actors and nice people. But it’s even scarier talking about that than Game of Thrones.”
As a seasoned veteran of keeping secrets about the biggest series on television, this is incredibly telling of just how much Disney wants to keep details under wraps. Unlike what she experiences with Game of Thrones and the latest season, Clarke read the screenplay for the film, which means she technically knew more about what will happen to Han Solo than many Game of Thrones characters.
According to the actress, the creative team on the TV series strives to keep everyone – including the actors – in the dark about what will occur during the upcoming seasons. Funnily enough, this makes it easier for her to avoid Game of Thrones spoilers because she has genuinely no idea what will happen next:
“No one knows anything. No one is told anything. It’s all crazy. It’s a secret from the cast. We generally can’t be trusted. They pretty much have told us so.”
As is with every upcoming Star Wars property, if anyone even contemplates uttering a detail they will probably be silenced by a skilled bounty hunter. The film is still referred to as the Untitled Han Solo Star Wars Anthology Film, but there are rumblings that a fan favorite Jedi named Drysdon Vos may appear.
What we definitely know is that the film will cover a six-year time period, taking the beloved character from 18 to 24. We will learn how Han befriends a Wookiee named Chewbacca and see the game where he wins the Millennium Falcon from a young Lando Calrissian, portrayed by Donald Glover.
The Untitled Han Solo Star Wars Anthology Film stars Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Joonas Suotamo and hits theaters on May 25th, 2018.
While we wait for the return of Han Solo on the big screen, you can see Emilia Clarke reprise her role as Daenerys Targaryen in season 7 of Game of Thrones which currently airs Sundays on HBO.
Now this is hype-worthy.
Disney’s biennial D23 Expo gives fans a sneak peek into the upcoming film slate that is housed over at the Monstrous Mouse House. Disney is known for its unbelievably tight hold on their properties and when your company generates over a ~gazillion dollars a year with the various franchises it has under its belt, you’re truly not going to trust anyone with your financially lucrative babies except for a selected few.
This year’s event had a ton of news within the animated realm including directing duties for Toy Story 4, possible titles for the sequel to my absolute favourite Frozen 2 (no shame, guys) and FINALLY SOME KIND OF WORD ON THE INCREDIBLES 2 – It’s only been like 15 years, no rush or anything! Of course, while other Disney properties are all well and nice (like your various Marvel films et al), the franchise everyone is ridiculously anticipating is the upcoming addition to the Star Wars saga, The Last Jedi.
Similarly to the tight grip held for last year’s The Force Awakens, plot details surrounding the installment are kept within the grasp of those included in its production and the movie Gods up above. As someone attempting to avoid any spoilers like it’s a Romulan-created plague, the good Disney folks released a featurette for individuals like myself which gives a behind-the-scenes look at Episode VIII. This installment seems to take a similar tone as everyone’s favourite sequel, The Empire Strikes Back, with emphasis being placed on how game-changing its story will affect the entire Star Wars universe. Daisy Ridley (Rey) states that despite The Last Jedi being the second in its trilogy, it “feels like its own thing” which is arguably one of the most vital components the film can have. This component indicates that TLJ will stand on its own with its respective merits rather than relying solely on nostalgic callbacks, an issue many had with TFA. There are also glimpses of the late, oh so great Carrie Fisher in full General Leia-garb concluding the featurette with what she believed made the film so powerful- family. *Cue the ugly sobbing tears from legions of humans*
Check Out The Featurette Below:
Along with the brilliant featurette, a handful of character posters were released. The posters feature key characters of the upcoming Episode and intriguingly neglects to include the eyes of the characters. There is probably some deeper meaning for this decision, however we’ll save that for when I have my tinfoil hat on.
Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi stars Daisy Ridley, Mark Hamill, John Boyega, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Gwendoline Christie, Oscar Isaac and is directed by Rian Johnson. The Last Jedi will release on December 15th, 2017.
Baze Malbus: Good luck!
Chirrut Îmwe: I don’t need luck! I have you!
Starring: Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso, Diego Luna as Cassian Andor, Donnie Yen as Chirrut Imwe, Ben Menselsohn as Orson Krennic, Riz Ahmed as Bodhi Rook, Alan Tudyk as K-2SO and Mads Mikkelsen as Galen Erso, dir. Gareth Edwards.
When it comes to the beautiful monster that is the Star Wars universe, spoilers or anything that could even be remotely construed as a spoiler are a big no-no. John Boyega has seemingly learned this the hard way following a brief Twitter freakout over an innocuous tweet that didn’t have anything to do with the galaxy far, far away.
Boyega, who portrays Finn in the newest Star Wars trilogy, tweeted out an intriguing prospect involving himself stepping into the shoes of an unnamed villain in what could be a reference to an upcoming mysterious yet unnamed film:
Some believed the above post was a startling revelation made about his character for The Last Jedi. Certain fans believed this was the official introduction of “Finn Ren,” while others implored that the tweet was in no way related to Finn:
Boyega then assured fans that the tweet certainly was not Star Wars related because, let’s face it, every single person who knows anything about the upcoming films will keep their lips sealed for fear of facing the wrath of Disney. Even Game Of Thrones star and spoiler-keeping veteran Emilia Clarke, who is set to star in the untitled Han Solo anthology film, revealed she’s more nervous talking about Star Wars than her ridiculously popular HBO series.
Mark Hamill’s response to the brief hysteria is truly the cherry on top of this bizarre situation, with Luke Skywalker’s alter ego teasing fans with a potential Finn/Luke relationship:
… And thus, we’re all left to utilize our best dog GIFs to properly express our feelings on the matter. Yep, you can always count on Mark Hamill to deliver a witty quip for whatever occasion arises.
Although Boyega has been in the thick of all things Star Wars for a few years now, he may still be adjusting to the fanatical side that seems to plague many fandoms, this one in particular. Fans have been waiting impatiently to see Boyega reprise his role in The Last Jedi, set for release on December 15. Until then, he has been attached to a number of projects since The Force Awakens, including this year’s The Circle starring Emma Watson and Tom Hanks, the Netflix original Imperial Dreams, and the upcoming sequel Pacific Rim: Uprising.
You can catch Boyega next in Kathryn Bigelow’s Detroit, co-starring Will Poulter, Samira Wiley, Jacob Latimore and Anthony Mackie, set for release on August 4. Check out the trailer below!
What would you do to get your hands on some Star Wars spoilers? Let me know in the comments below!
This year’s Star Wars Celebration has been a whirlwind of emotion for fans of the galaxy far, far away. There were plenty of tears shed for the iconic Carrie Fisher, a trailer released for arguably the highest anticipated film of the year in The Last Jedi and the beginning of the end for the beloved Rebels series. The Celebration transcended generations and legions of fans, young and old, attended the event to witness the incredible Star Wars cosplay and be the first to revel in the announcements made.
Thankfully for those who were unable to attend, many posted their glorious Celebration experience on social media because that is the interconnected world we’re living in today. Here are a collection of various twitter and instagram posts from the lucky attendees.
https://twitter.com/TheyCallMeTXT/status/853383288081326080
It simply wouldn’t be a proper picture taken with Deadpool if he didn’t flip off the camera. This fan went the whole nine yards with his take on Deadpool’s costume, complete with a bad ass utility belt and katana blade!
The official Star Wars twitter account was so impressed by this fan’s cosplay of Ahsoka, they tweeted the photo out to their over 3 million followers. When you manage to spend the whole day in orange and white body paint, you deserve all the glory.
This little fan’s adorable take on Rey includes the trademark hair and stern look as she attempts to conquer a Star Wars pinball machine celebrating 40 years since the release of A New Hope.
This user attempts to mask her love for this beloved fictionalized animated character, however we all know Kallus (voiced by David Oyelowo) is looking good. In the immortal words of the Borg, resistance is futile – and yes, I’m aware of how blasphemous it is to make a Star Trek reference in a Star Wars article.
The man who portrays Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) also starred in a ridiculously popular SNL spoof called Matt The Radar Technician. In the above photo, a Kylo Ren cosplayer is surrounded by six Matt The Radar Technicians all pulling off that trademark thumbs up.
Nothing screams “fun” like being in the same vicinity of Jabba the Hutt, Boba Fett and the incredibly talented Cantina band that excel in playing that one song!
After many instances of Josh Gad (Beauty and The Beast) attempting to pry The Last Jedi spoilers out of Daisy Ridley – including enlisting the help of dame Judi Dench – Gad took to Instagram to post a few kind words for the beloved actress.
How brilliant is this Charlie’s Angels-inspired pose by three of these fantastic heroines? They are dressed to cosplay perfection and hopefully they continue to express their badassness at future Celebrations.
And with that comes the end of Star Wars Celebration 2017. Unfortunately we’re not going to have a Celebration next year, however 2019 sees the concluding chapter of this new trilogy in Episode IX.
The next installment of the Star Wars franchise is The Last Jedi which releases in theaters on December 15th, 2017.
Check out the teaser trailer shown at Celebration below:
What was your favorite aspect of Star Wars Celebration 2017? Let me know in the comments below!
