And happily, it did make this trilogy make sense. Honestly, it's no worse than the prequels. Not better either, overall, even though The Force Awakens (2015) was awesome. I mean, I guess that does make it better than the prequels, since none of them were awesome, though I liked Revenge of the Sith (2005) enough to go see it three times.
Overall, I found this movie emotionally satisfying, and I'm good with that. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it, and I feel like that's a win.
Anyway. Um. Spoilage below, as I'm mostly just going to talk about the things I did like, and the one thing I loved.
OBVIOUSLY, the one thing I loved was Han Solo (Harrison Ford) appearing to his son in a... vision? Dream? Imagining? thing. That scene, I loved so much, I could see myself watching this movie again just for it. Everything there pleased me. Ben Solo (Adam Driver) echoing his words from the moment he killed his father in The Force Awakens, but meaning something totally different with it. Him not being able to tell his father he loved him, but Han saying, "I know," and we all know what he means by that. Ben flinging his lightsaber into the sea. (At which point, I was like, "CRAP! All of a sudden, I like him, and now he's gonna die. Phooey.")
Also, I really dug Ben Solo willingly, knowingly, deliberately spending himself to bring Rey (Daisy Ridley) back. It completed his redemption arc, and I'm pleased.
I like that Leia (Carrie Fisher) was an active part in bringing her son back to the light side. Her using all her life force to save Ben nicely foreshadowed him doing the same to save Rey. I like that sort of thing. And I reeeally liked the flashback of Leia training to be a Jedi with Luke when they were young. That was nifty.
Also, Poe (Oscar Isaac) was really hot in this. I don't remember him being this hot before. Yummy.
Finn (John Boyega) felt a little shunted off to the side at times, but him meeting up with other former Storm Troopers and bonding with them was excellent. And I love that he and Poe got to just hang out and have adventures together again. I missed that so much in The Last Jedi.
Honestly, I saw this before Christmas, well over a week ago, and my memories on it are fading. I went to see Midway again yesterday (twice!), and that's what most of my mind is focused on. But I promised a few people I'd write up my thoughts on this, so... now I have :-)
Glad you enjoyed it! I loved this movie, not quite as much (I don't think anyway) as I loved The Last Jedi--but still, it was really really really cool.
ReplyDeleteAnd I found Ben's redemption arc super convincing, WHICH IS QUITE A FEAT because I went into the movie determined not to be convinced by any attempts at redemption. Hahahahahahaaaaaaaaaa.
Also: Leia :'-( <3
Katie, yes, I did enjoy it. And yes, his redemption arc was very satisfying. I figured they'd try one for him, and I also figured it would be kinda lame, but it wasn't. Yay them.
DeleteAlso: Leia <3 :-( :-)
I was really pleased by this movie, but it took me forever to work out my thoughts, too. For me it doesn't beat the original, The Last Jedi, or Return of the Jedi, but being fourth on my list is pretty good! I'm going to see it again soon (hopefully!) in the theater and I have never seen a movie more than once on the big screen, so that's a big deal for me!! I absolutley loved seeing Han! <3 Before going to it, I thought that Ben might die saving Rey, and I was totally pumped to see that happen (because I love being right ;-) ), even though it was super sad.
ReplyDeleteMC, how cool that you're going to get another viewing on the big screen! Seeing a movie more than once in the movie theater is such a treat. I love doing that.
DeleteGlad you enjoyed it :-)
I just got back from watching it. I thought it wrapped everything up very well, perhaps only a few changes and it would be perfect as a plot, and it brushed out all that was terrible about the 2nd recent film. I thought it was by far the best of the most recent three. However, I didn't LIKE how everything was wrapped up, even though it was done well and even though what I wanted would've not been a proper ending. And I think the more I think about it, the more mad I'll be.
ReplyDeleteLivia, I don't know many people who are 100% cool with everything in this, so... you're not alone ;-)
DeleteYeah, apparently someone of our family friends was so mad at something, I'm guessing the Palpatine part because I think it had to do with "canon-ness", that he was trying to get his whole family to boycott it. I think at this point everything and nothing is "cannon" in Star Wars.
DeleteLivia, well... the Star Wars universe is so vast, with all the TV series, 11 movies, and sanctioned novels, that keeping it all straight is a literal full-time job (Hello, Keeper of the Holocron!) so... I kind of just figure it's canon enough if it's in one of the movies.
DeleteBut, as one reviewer said, was it so much to ask if they'd just let an actual Star Wars fan read the screenplays of these last two first, before filming started?
Yay! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. :) I wholeheartedly agree. I did really like this movie, but there was a lot going on and I had a few mixed emotions. (I just... didn't feel right about Kylo and Rey kissing. Ehhh. :/) (And the IDEA of them being in a relatioship if he had lived... yeah, weird.) But overall, YES!
ReplyDeleteOh, and by the way, I have actually started my own blog! :) (I keep forgetting to tell people. :P) You can find it here:
findingfreedomlivingloved.blogspot.com
You're welcome, Gabby! I know a lot of people who were bothered by the Ben/Rey kiss. It did feel an awful lot like "fan-service," but it didn't bug me cuz... clearly, he wasn't surviving, so it was almost like a kiss goodbye.
DeleteHooray for your own blog! I shall check it out forthwith.
I agree wasn't worse than the prequels. I'm one of the weird people who wasn't crazy about The Force Awakens and loved The Last Jedi. Han Solo's cameo was great. And Ben Solo's arc was everything!
ReplyDeleteSkye, I have a few friends who feel that way too, so... I'm glad we each got at least one movie out of this trilogy we liked!
Delete