I have not written about The Last Jedi due to not wanting to repeat what most have already said, while I do not agree with the abusive hate directed towards the film's actors, I am at the least a bit irritated with Rian Johnson. I was extremely psyched to hear he would be helming this picture, I loved his early works like Looper and Brick. So I was ready for a much darker take on the Galaxy Far Far Away. What I got was something I did not expect, a film that said screw the storytelling beats that came before it. I do not expect answers to all questions, but what we got was something very strange, and it is something that I think most people are downplaying when talking about the issues with this film, it is not just a few bad scenes in a casino, it is not Rose being a bad actress or the person being bad in any way. The real issue is that the film does not work as a trilogy because of its lack of respect for the story that we started to follow in Episode VII.
Which is why Episode IX is shaping up the be Damage Control The Movie. We did not need every question answered, we did not need a film that followed all the fan theories, all that should have been expected was for the film to continue the story. Simple as that, however what The Last Jedi does is perhaps the height of arrogance. Rian Johnson got the keys to the biggest franchise in history, and instead of taking that responsibility as an honor, he saw it as a chance to defy all conventions, ideals and create a film that is Rian Johnson's Star Wars, not Star Wars. This would not be a problem if the story was truly amazing, but most of the story beats seem to be in place just to do the opposite of what is expected.
I understand that going against the grain is not a bad thing, hell a lot of great films are made that way, the issue is that this is not a stand-alone story, this the middle part to a trilogy that is meant to begin to bring all the pieces together. Because the final act is always how everything comes together as a whole, which is why questions being answered is not always important. Yet, this film does not simply leave out some questions, it seems to answer them in a way that would be least expected. Yes, we do need to subvert expectations, yet there is an issue when instead of merely doing something original and exciting, you do something just because it's the opposite of expectations. The issue is that it often results in poor storytelling, and bad filmmaking.
For example, setting up Rey to fall for Kylo Ren is an issue because of a key scene in The Force Awakens, Kylo torturing Rey by forcefully entering her mind, may not make her hate him, but trust him? Falling in love with him? Even if this is realistic in some fashion I can not think of, it is a strange move for a strong, independent, female warrior. Even more so when you consider all the scenes alluding to her and Finn falling for each other, yet that is not the big one, that is not the major reason her feelings for Kylo are contradictory at best, and problematic at worst. Kylo betrays and murders his father, Rey at this point in the story's only father or hell even parental figure in general. This was her Obi Wan, yes Luke forgives Vader, but remember that took place in the last film, after developing the characters and their relationship further, giving him a good reason for wanting to trust his "Father".
What is Rey's reason, I shit you not, I am sorry this bugs me, this brought the film into Twilight Land... He takes his shirt off, and next thing you know she's all in love with him. Ok, it is played with more subtlety than Twilight, but still that is what happens, she really falls for him after seeing him shirtless, I am not making that up, I kinda am laughing as I am writing this though, seriously who thought this was a good idea for a Star Wars film?
My problems with The Last Jedi are not the one's that most have, my problems are rooted in the fact that we could have had a better film, if Rian Johnson was focused on making a great film period, not his version of Star Wars. Let me also make this very clear, Rose is not a good character, but that has nothing to do with Kelly Marie Tran, she is an actress and simply did what Rian told her to do. So if you have an issue with the film, please do not direct it at people who for all we know, could have said to him, hey this doesn't make much sense, or made suggestions to do it in a different way. What we got was his film, while I am sure he was not the only one with ideas, he was given great control over the story, so it is foolish to blame anyone but him and Kathleen Kennedy whom have the utmost control of the film's development and story.
All the issues that are being directed towards the film's cast, are misdirected in a big way, it is a shame that so many do not understand the actors have little say in the storytelling process. While it differs from film to film, it is clear by Mark Hamil's statements, that Rian was only interested in his vision, and Kathleen Kennedy fully supported and endorsed this. So take your issues up with them, otherwise your just attacking someone for doing their job. The sad problem is that Episode IX is not shaping up much better, though it really has very little to work with.
The next film has to answer the bizarre questions this film raised, like floating Leia... Come on, no one that has watched this film, saw that and went yea, this makes total sense, this is the best way this scene could have been done. Regardless this all means that Episode IX will surely treat VIII's story beats in a similar manner to how VII's was treated. This is clear by the announcement that not only will Luke make a return, but so will Lando and gasp Leia with unseen footage shot for VII & VIII? Did no one think it odd, that JJ will be using footage from VII in IX, instead of footage shot just for VIII. It is clear that he like a lot of us, was underwhelmed by VIII and choose to continue his story and bring it to some sort of conclusion by using what footage he has.
This is not ideal for any filmmaker and creates problems. The real issue being that this film will become the Saga of Damage control. It will retell story ideas brought up in VIII, it will also surely subvert most of Rian's ideas, and bring the ones JJ started in VII back into focus. If anything this should be a lesson to filmmakers that creating a Trilogy, without at the least a roadmap is a bad idea. What you get is a muddled story that simply does not film like the films are parts of one larger story, but pieces that just barely fit together. This Trilogy is written like unplanned sequels, which normally is not a problem except these are numbered films, and the first ended on such a cliffhanger, that it clearly sets the films up as one story, separated by three parts. To me these are the glaring issues with The Last Jedi, not the cast, poor direction and a lack of story continuity is the issue. The film can be enjoyable, yet if you have an issue with it, that is understandable from an objective storytelling perspective.
A film does not have to give answers, but a film that chooses to give answers, or bring new story ideas to the table is open to scrutiny. Even more so, when those answers either make little sense or even seem to be a "Fuck You" to certain story beats. He clearly did not want to follow the story set up in the first part, he clearly wanted to make his own story, and leave his mark on the franchise. This is arrogance, because his ego clouded his judgment in a big way. The issues with the film are only there, because of his agenda, which is not a political one, but one of his own ego. If he was forced to do certain things by Kathleen, he should grow a pair and speak up. Meddling producers are a major factor in the creation of lackluster films, he could easily speak up especially given the failure of Solo. Hell that would be good PR for the damage control campaign Disney seems to be running.
Yet he has only defended his film, and one only defends their work if they are insecure, or extremely arrogant. His enjoyment at fans displeasure, the joy you see on his face defending this film, to people who are not all angry bitter fanboys, but people who care a great deal about this franchise, who are merely saddened by the lack respect for the story. It shows extreme arrogance on his part, the proof is in the fact that regardless of how Lucas played with the first three films, and the mistakes made in the prequel trilogy, he never came out in defense of his choices like this, he never fed the trolls and hate. Fans bashed him regularly, put the films down constantly, found issues to bring up and he never once acted like Rian has. The reason is clear, he had confidence in his vision, he knew it was bringing joy to a lot of fans so he let the art speak for itself.
Rian is arrogant and I say this as a fan of his work, because he clearly understands the film is lacking, but does not care and will defend how great it is, and how wrong fans are till the day his career is over. I will gain a lot of respect back for him if I am wrong, and I hope I am wrong. A person who one is happy with their creation, and two cares for the fans will not feed the flames. They will do what they think is best for their art, but that is where it ends. My problem is not so much with The Last Jedi as the person who made it, I think to make petitions over the film is totally silly. It will do nothing and only splits the fandom, also if you have an issue with the film attacking the actors with such hate is ridiculous.
If you are that passionate, surely you can focus that anger into what is truly the matter with the film. If you hate the film, try to understand what is wrong with it. Though hating a film is strange, I can understand being annoyed with a movie, or even irritation, but the level of hate is strange. Like if you hate it so much, why care. I am only this detailed simply out of a passion for film and storytelling, if film is that passion for you cool, learn about it. Because the people hating Rose, for example are not saying anything reasonable about what is wrong with her character, thinking Finn and Rose's story arc makes little sense because of what we know about Finn from the last film is not wrong. Those are not fan expectations, when a film invests time in developing certain elements and is a part of a three-film arc, it makes perfect sense to think the story should go down a certain road. Because if the car takes a random turn, just to be subversive it becomes disorienting and tends to make little sense in the end. Like the way I just worded that, just to be disorienting and pretentious.
Then you're forced to make a film not to end a story, but to put a story back on track in hopes of finding a decent conclusion. This is worth discussing if you're a fan of cinema, it is interesting to see such a huge franchise come off the rails in such spectacular fashion. However buying figures to destroy them, or directing obscene hate towards an actor, is fucking abhorrent and does no damn good. It is the reason I choose not to write anything, I choose to stay silent until I had something worth saying, something that is not talked about in regards to the film's issues. I also wanted to put a spotlight on the only real problem with the film, Rian Johnson although it is important to remember what Star Wars is, this is the biggest film franchise in history, any filmmaker given those keys will surely be forced to deal with the responsibility of that kind of power, and how it affects you and your vision.
I think it makes sense that an independent filmmaker who always had to fight for his films, would be slightly consumed by the power and weight of what he has been asked to do. I think that level of flattery and the oh my god, I am making a Star Wars film would be a very tempting and possibility tainting experience.
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