First Viewing Impression

The Last Jedi tore me in half, like Kylo torn by light and darkness. An hour in I wondered when the film would begin. When it finally did, holy shiitake. So much to love. Fresh ideas. Empire sentiment. Blue milk. Arresting, poetic imagery. Some epic freaking mic drops. Porgs!

Kylo continues to be the most credibly conflicted, fascinating character. The internal wrestle is so fierce and vacillating, like a flame that keeps dying and igniting, and so on. The Rey/Luke dynamic also reveals some cool, mystical range for the Force we haven’t seen.

Hope studio hacks see the strength in Rian Johnson-like filmmakers. Bring more of this affecting, thrilling, avant-garde style to a wider audience. Johnson’s familiar blending of genres-and-styles signature is all over this film, too. Loved seeing his arthouse taste shine on the big screen.

The Last Jedi started with me feeling frustrated and conflicted — ended with me feeling wowed and elated. This is a good sign. I want to wrestle with it. Johnson’s films are always better on second viewing. And the humor of feeling like Kylo while leaving the theater just felt right.

Second Viewing Impression

Saw THE LAST JEDI again. Nearly everything that first bugged me ironed out on second viewing. This film is so strong. And it’s even stronger because of the cultural conversation surrounding it, which has helped extend my vision of things I simply missed the first time round.

I love how flawed and broken these characters are. How the heroes we love fail and let us down. How the nobodies get chances at heroism. How hidden goodness lies in evil people. How women get powerful, overdue representation. How Rian Johnson makes me rethink what Star Wars can be.

THE LAST JEDI is set up in every way to burn down my expectations, kill my idols, snuff out my hero worship. It’s designed to say “Let go!” It’s so jarring. But it’s also beautiful and unexpectedly hopeful. It means this universe is BIGGER than the hubris of my fixed images/theories.

It means the *spark* of the FORCE doesn’t have to be slavishly tied to lineage, blood lines, fan theories, or fixed role models. Profoundly ordinary and diverse people from all walks of life can nourish this gift. It means even I can build something new from the ashes of my heroes.

There’s something enlightening about hitting the reset button, starting over, throwing a lightsaber over your shoulder. Every generation must start again. I love how Johnson breathes new life into familiar spaces, then dares us to hope and see the light within ourselves.

I walked away feeling so much hope. 2017 has been such a shitty year on many levels. THE LAST JEDI gave me a glimmer of hope for humanity. I saw myself in each character. I saw goodness. I saw conflict. I saw things I need to let go of in my personal life. I saw things I need to embrace. I even saw Princess Leia floating through space like an astronaut and thought, “Holy shit! The Force is weird as hell but I’m game.” 

Can’t wait to see it again :)

Johnson Ranked