It has been years since Rian Johnson released Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and honestly, the internet still hasn't moved on. You can't go into a Reddit thread about sci-fi without someone bringing up the "Holdo Maneuver" or the way Luke Skywalker handled his lightsaber. Some people think it’s a masterpiece that saved the franchise from being a nostalgia loop. Others think it’s the movie that broke the fandom forever.
The reality is way more complicated than just "good" or "bad."
When Star Wars: The Last Jedi hit theaters in late 2017, it carried the weight of a thousand expectations. J.J. Abrams had left a trail of "mystery boxes" in The Force Awakens. Who were Rey’s parents? Who was Snoke? Why did Luke leave? Johnson looked at those boxes and, basically, decided to subvert every single one of them. It was a bold move. Maybe too bold for some.
The Luke Skywalker Problem
The biggest sticking point for most fans is, without a doubt, Luke Skywalker. We expected the legendary Jedi Knight to come back as a powerhouse, maybe pull a Star Destroyer out of the sky or something. Instead, we got a guy who had cut himself off from the Force and was drinking green milk on a remote island.
It was a shock.
Mark Hamill himself famously told Rian Johnson, "I fundamentally disagree with every choice you’ve made for this character." He eventually walked that back a bit during the press tour, but that initial reaction from the actor who is Luke Skywalker fueled the fire for years. The movie argues that Luke’s failure with Ben Solo—that "moment of pure instinct" where he considered killing his nephew—is what makes him human. It’s a deconstruction. If you love the idea of heroes being flawed and messy, it works. If you wanted the mythic hero of the original trilogy to stay a hero, it feels like a betrayal.
There’s this specific scene where Luke tosses his father’s lightsaber over his shoulder. It’s played for a bit of a laugh, but it’s also a massive signal to the audience. The movie is telling you: "This isn't the story you think it is."
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Subverting the Mystery Boxes
Let's talk about Rey. For two years, the "Rey Kenobi" and "Rey Skywalker" theories dominated YouTube. Then, Kylo Ren drops the bombshell: "You’re nobody."
Honestly? That’s probably the most powerful thematic choice in the sequel trilogy. It says that the Force doesn't belong to a specific bloodline. You don't have to be a "Space Royal" to matter. Of course, The Rise of Skywalker eventually walked this back by making her a Palpatine, but in the context of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the message was clear. Anyone can be a hero. It democratized the Force in a way we hadn't seen since the original 1977 film.
Then there’s Snoke.
Everyone thought Snoke was Darth Plagueis or some ancient Sith entity. Johnson just killed him. Mid-movie. No backstory, no grand reveal. It was a narrative shock that forced Kylo Ren to step up as the actual antagonist rather than just being a henchman. It was risky. It left the third movie with a bit of a villain vacuum, which is likely why Palpatine had to be brought back via a Fortnite event and a line in the opening crawl.
The Canto Bight Side Quest
If there’s one part of Star Wars: The Last Jedi that even the fans of the movie struggle to defend, it’s the trip to Canto Bight. Finn and Rose Tico head to a casino planet to find a master codebreaker.
It feels long.
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The pacing takes a massive hit here. While the rest of the movie is a high-stakes, slow-motion space chase, we’re suddenly watching horse-goat creatures (Fathiers) run through a casino. The thematic point was to show Finn that the galaxy isn't just "Good Rebels vs. Bad Empire." It’s full of war profiteers selling weapons to both sides. It’s a cynical, "real-world" take on the Star Wars economy. While the message is interesting, the execution felt a bit like a Saturday morning cartoon dropped into a psychological drama.
However, Kelly Marie Tran’s performance as Rose was a bright spot, despite the horrific online harassment she faced afterward. It’s worth noting that the backlash to her character became a dark chapter in the history of the fandom, leading to a much smaller role for her in the final installment.
The Holdo Maneuver and "Star Wars Physics"
Visually, this movie is a 10/10. Cinematographer Steve Yedlin did things with light and color that most blockbusters wouldn't dare. The "Holdo Maneuver"—where Vice Admiral Holdo rams a ship at lightspeed—is one of the most beautiful things ever put on film.
But it broke the "rules" for a lot of people.
"If you can just ram ships at lightspeed, why didn't they do that to the Death Star?" was the cry heard across the internet. The film tries to frame it as a one-in-a-million shot, but it’s a classic example of "Cool Visuals vs. Established Lore." For casual viewers, it was a breathtaking moment of silence and light. For the hardcore fans who have read every technical manual, it was a massive plot hole.
Why it Still Matters Today
Despite the shouting matches, Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the most "authored" film in the franchise since George Lucas left. It has a specific point of view. It isn't just a product designed by a committee to sell toys; it’s a film about legacy, failure, and the burden of being a hero.
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It forced the audience to ask what Star Wars actually is. Is it just a collection of lightsabers and X-wings? Or is it a set of themes about growth and moving past the mistakes of your teachers?
The movie ends with a kid—"Broom Boy"—looking up at the stars and holding a broom like a lightsaber. It’s a return to the wonder of the very first movie. It’s about hope being a spark that lights the fire. Even if you hate the Canto Bight sequence or the way Snoke died, you have to admit that the film actually tried something. In an era of safe, predictable sequels, that’s rare.
How to Re-evaluate the Movie Now
If you haven't seen it since 2017, it’s worth a re-watch with some fresh perspective. Forget the theories. Forget the "mystery boxes."
- Watch the throne room fight again. The choreography between Rey and Kylo Ren against the Praetorian Guards is top-tier. Notice the lack of music at key moments; it’s all about the sound of the blades.
- Pay attention to Kylo Ren’s arc. Adam Driver carries this movie. His internal conflict is the emotional engine of the entire story.
- Look at the color red. From the dust on Crait to the walls of Snoke’s room, Johnson uses red to signal danger, passion, and change.
- Read the "Art of The Last Jedi" book. It explains the visual language and the intent behind the locations. It adds a lot of context to why the movie looks and feels so different from the others.
The conversation around Star Wars: The Last Jedi isn't going anywhere. It’s the "Empire Strikes Back" of its generation—not necessarily because everyone loves it yet, but because it challenged the status quo. Whether that challenge was a success or a disaster is still up for debate, but at least we're still talking about it.
To get the most out of your next viewing, try focusing on the theme of "failure as a teacher." Almost every character fails in this movie. Poe fails as a leader. Finn fails his mission. Luke fails his student. Rey fails to turn Kylo. The movie isn't about winning; it's about what you do after you lose. That's a pretty human message for a movie about space wizards.