It seems that many of the fans of Star Wars are disappointed by choices that were made in this middle installment of the latest trilogy.
So, while the professional film critics have been overwhelmingly positive in their reviews, many fans have not.
So here goes.
Non-spoilery opening
Just saw The Last Jedi. Whoa what a good flick! Kudos to director Rian ("Looper") Johnson for delivering a funny, thrilling, and emotional whopper of an entry in this long running series. (Note: I saw it again last night. My wife Joan came too as she really wanted to see it and was angry with me for going without her. She loved it!)
Beautiful cinematic eulogy for Luke and Leia Skywalker featuring career-best performances from Mark Hamill and the late Carrie Fisher.
Loved the porgs!
Now stay clear of what follows if you haven't seen TLJ yet...
Actor Mark (Luke Skywalker) Hamill has famously spoken about his differences with director Rian Johnson over the interpretation of his character.
Hamill has said, This is NOT my (or George Lucas') Luke Skywalker.
Some have said that this movie is NOT a Star Wars film.
What is this all about?
Remember that the Powers That Be hired Rian Johnson to helm this outing. Think back to his time travel movie Looper (which I loved) and even earlier his film Brick. This guy is not your average filmmaker. As an admirer of his work, I knew that he was going to deliver something different both in ideas and in visuals.
For example, his ideas about The Force and Rey's background.
If Rey is strong with The Force, and she is a nobody, where does that leave us?
What is The Force?
"The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together."
This statement about The Force comes from the very first Star Wars film back in 1977.
Forty years later, writer and director Rian Johnson has asked the question implied by Kenobi: Only the Jedi?
If it is created (and felt) by all living things, then non-Jedi should be able to have access to it.
This is an exciting development for the franchise. It means that a nobody like Rey, and the little kid in the final scene, can be the future heroes of Star Wars.
As Obi-Wan once said:
"You'll find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view."
Terrence Seamon loves movies! Follow him on twitter @tseamon
