Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Rey develops her newly discovered abilities with the guidance of Luke Skywalker, who is unsettled by the strength of her powers. Meanwhile, the Resistance prepares to do battle with the First Order.
The Last Jedi is visually stunning with some of the most arresting imagery in the franchise — the Holdo hyperspace maneuver and the salt-flat finale are cinematographic highlights. Rian Johnson subverts expectations in interesting ways, giving the film a distinctive voice within the saga. However, the plot is structurally uneven, particularly the Canto Bight subplot which feels largely extraneous, and the film's pacing suffers from a drawn-out middle act. Acting is solid across the board with standout work from Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver, though some characters are underserved. The ending, while visually compelling in places, leaves the sequel trilogy in an awkward narrative position and resolves certain arcs (Snoke, Luke) in ways that divided audiences and felt abrupt rather than earned.