STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI
Director: Rian Johnson
Cert: 12A. 152 mins
Star Wars: The Last Jedi (otherwise known as Episode VIII) is similar in tone to the Original Trilogy (Episodes IV–VI), but also throws in many startling plot twists.
Continuing on from the events in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Episode VII), the Resistance (led by General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher)) desperately tries to evade the villainous First Order.
The Force-sensitive Rey (Daisy Ridley) tries to get the now-reclusive Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to train her in the ways of the Force, but he’s changed significantly since the events that made him a legendary Jedi.
Family, identity, redemption
Former Stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega) goes on adventures with mechanic Rose (Kelly Marie Tran), while pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) butts heads with his superior officer Vice Admiral Holdo (Laura Dern).
In the First Order, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) compete for the approval of Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis). And adding some comic relief, Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) encounters Porgs, adorable new creatures with whom he has some entertaining non-verbal banter. The film is visually stunning, and explores themes such as good and evil, family, identity, legacy, redemption, what it means to be a leader, and holding on to hope.
At one point, a character says: ‘We don’t win by fighting what we hate. We win by saving what we love.’ It serves as an apt reminder that in the Christian life, rather than obsessing about sin, it’s more effective to be saturated with God’s grace.
