Star Wars: The Last Jedi (12A) - Movie Review

Here we return to long long ago, and the space world of Star Wars where the Empire and the Jedis are still fighting.  It’s more than forty years since we first encountered the young jedi twins, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia (now General Leia).
This is the eighth Star Wars film since 1977 and while it is faithful to the original storyline, sadly much of the Jedi and Empire world seems to have got lost in Hollywood over the years.  The original director, George Lucas sold on his interest in the Star Wars saga to Disney films in the past few years.  However Star Wars: The Last Jedi does have the required special effects that a Space Opera requires.   Also there is important conflict among the characters Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and young jedi Rey (Daisy Ridley) on Skellig Michael in Ireland, which doubles for an outpost in the farther regions of the galaxy.   Also Rey’s powerful encounter with new Darth Vader Kylo (Adam Driver), who has gone to the Dark Side, is an important part of the film.
The story sadly allows the action to tell too much of this episode of the saga, and not enough character conflict, and that has been a problem with the Star Wars movies (1999-2005).  However the final showdown featuring most of the main characters in The Last Jedi is worth sticking around for, writes David Flynn.
Also it’s sad to see Carrie Fisher in her final performance as Leia, poignant though that be, since the role she first played in 1977 set her on the road to her Hollywood journey.  Carrie died at Christmas 2016, just after wrapping The Last Jedi.   She gave good value for money as the Princess (now a General) fighting a major war across the galaxy.
Skellig Michael is worth seeing for its magnificence and rugged beauty, and it won’t do Irish tourism the least bit of harm.  Also speaking of Ireland, Domhnall Gleason as the wimpy, General Hux showed that the actor has talent that crosses many fields.

There is also an interesting appearance by 2018 Golden Globe winner Laura Dern as a rebel Admiral.  She won the Globe a few weeks back for the tv series, Little Big Lies.  There are also sightings of old favourites such as robots C3PO and R2D2, and the beloved Chewbacca, although it seems strange not to see his old familiar sidekick with him.
The movie is too long, but as said earlier, it’s worth sticking around.