Released in 2017, “The Last Jedi” is the eighth film in the Star Wars franchise and the second movie in the Star Wars reboot. It is set 30 years after the events in the original, much loved, Star Wars films. It follows on from the highly successful 2015 film “The Force Awakens”, which introduced audiences to the New Republic and its opponents, the First Order. Several characters return, most notably Rey (a scavenger sensitive to the force), Finn (a renegade stormtrooper), Kylo Ren (none other than Han and Leia’s son), and a droid by the name of BB-8, alongside the ever popular Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa.
Production Background
“The Force Awakens” relaunched the Star Wars franchise to good effect and “The Last Jedi” has built on this. Written and directed by relative newcomer Rian Johnson, “The Last Jedi” features a solid plot and lots of action sequences, many featuring the now expected spectacular visual effects, and, of course, the iconic John Williams’ soundtrack. However, it is the talented cast that bring the story to life, with Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Mark Hamill putting in some fine acting performances. The film is dedicated to the memory of Carrie Fisher, who unfortunately passed away back in 2016.
The Story
In “The Force Awakens” audiences discovered that the Galactic Civil War had ended, a New Republic, opposed by the First Order, had been established, and the Resistance force remained. That movie ended with the death of Han Solo at the hands of his son, and force-sensitive Rey finding an exiled Luke Skywalker. “The Last Jedi” follows the story of Rey being trained by Luke in the ways of the Jedi, while Leia, Finn and others in the last of the Resistance fleet fight off a First Order attack which, with Luke and Rey’s help, is eventually successful, setting the stage for a final showdown between Resistance and First Order.
