The Last Jedi is the second episode of what's to be a trilogy in the attempted reboot under now Disney's control. Unfortunately, Disney has more interest in creating things they can merchandise rather than craft a unique story that isn't riddled with issues.
The Last Jedi, written and thought of after the release of the first movie, takes on an adventure that feels almost worthy of a prequel comparison for the sheer lack of well-thought characters, and comical events that just don't add up to form a specific narrative.
Once again, we're greeted with a story of 'bad guys do bad things, hope, rebellion!' While former Star Wars films do the same thing with their stories, the episodes have a very strong goal; there's someone doing something to pursue and achieve something that genuinely benefits the end goal. There's little similar to this in The Last Jedi. The story follows characters on useless trails that don't amount to anything, but they miraculously win anyway in a rushed conclusion towards the end.
With the characters having actions that have no weight on the story, it feels incredibly loose and unsure of its direction, and far too often are there attempts at comedy that neither fit the occasion, nor do they successfully land. Any hints at a push for character development often feels like a dead-end, with the characters mentioning goals but never actually pushing towards them: Rey wants to know who her parents are, for a brief moment she tries to find out on the Sacred Island, but shortly gives up. I believe that example perfectly sums up a lot of the film, where nothing actually meets and ends. Events are just rolled in front of you and quickly back out of your view.
With that said, The Last Jedi does have some rewarding moments. Moments that successfully capture the Star Wars aesthetic. Few scenes hold enough weight to display the emotions behind the characters, and Daisy Ridley's portrayal of Rey displays that poor level of emotion in most scenes; very rarely does the character look emotionally tied in the dialogue, or the task at hand. Finn is similar, given he's mostly used for comedic effect in the film, and has no real use.
The most engaging character by far is Kylo Ren. While many of his actions in the film once again make little sense, his story is one that displays instability, uncertainty, and immense power as a result of his military position. As an individual, he's often out-skilled, but that's due to his lack of experience in combat against worthy opponents. Kylo Ren's moments felt more thought-out, and his lack of interest in both the dark side and the light shows an interesting take on the Force itself. It's a shame the story doesn't just remove the silliness and focus on him and the rebellion, properly.
The Last Jedi is all over the place. It suffers from pacing issues, narrative issues, character issues, and general writing issues, but at least it isn't the upcoming Solo film.
