Many times I felt like this was made by someone who hates Star Wars. There is no reason I should have enjoyed what I saw, what I was put through, but somehow I did. There’s a moment in this movie where a starcruiser warps through star destroyers. It’s probably my favorite shot of the movie. Dead silent, the ripple cracking space and the ships, then - *bang* - the explosion. That’s the best way to describe what Rian Johnson has done to Star Wars with this movie. I try not to get too spoilery.

Rian takes all of your preconceived notions about Star Wars, all of your ideas about what a Star Wars film should be, how it should go - the formula of Star Wars - and shatters them. Any expectations you have should be chucked into the 3D glasses recycling bin before you sit down to watch The Last Jedi. 

There are some things that happened that I absolutely did not agree with. But for the most part, I loved what was done. New ideas about the Force and new abilities never before explored in Star Wars are introduced. There’s an absolutely beautiful Leia moment that a lot of people will hate, but I think it’s absolutely angelic.

 Mark Hamill is so good as Luke of course and I think got put through Rian’s ringer the most out of all the characters in the film. I still hate Kylo Ren, but Adam Driver really goes for it here. Unfortunately, I don’t have much praise for Daisy Ridley as Rey. Not her fault, but there’s not much development for her here. John Boyega’s Finn is sidelined, his arc uncompelling and his one really interesting scene is ruined by an out of place romantic moment. Speaking of sidelining, it works great in Oscar Isaac’s favor as Poe Dameron and to see him go up against Laura Dern’s Admiral Holdo is really great. Also spending a lot of time wondering where her allegiances lie. 

Overall, it’s exactly not what I thought it would be, but it has moments that I’d hoped for, albeit somewhat different than my vision. I left emotionally drained and crying like a baby. This is a real tearjerker. And for the first time, I don’t have an immediate desire to run out and see a Star Wars movie again.