Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the eighth episode in the Star Wars saga and the second installment of the sequel trilogy. Directed by Rian Johnson, the film builds on the foundation of The Force Awakens, while taking the franchise in new and unexpected directions. Controversial in many ways, it has become a topic of intense debate among fans, but its bold choices and visual spectacle are hard to deny.
The movie starts with the Resistance, led by General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), fleeing the First Order after their base is discovered. A daring space battle ensues, with Resistance pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) launching a risky attack on a First Order Dreadnought. Although successful, the Resistance suffers heavy losses, setting the stage for tension between Poe and Leia.
Rey Meets Luke Skywalker
Meanwhile, Rey (Daisy Ridley) arrives on Ahch-To, seeking guidance from the legendary Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). Luke is reluctant to train Rey, having grown disillusioned with the Jedi Order and haunted by his past failure with Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). However, Rey’s persistence and growing power in the Force eventually lead Luke to agree, but his lessons are not what she expects. He teaches her about the flaws of the Jedi and the danger of the Force itself.
Kylo Ren’s Internal Struggle
Kylo Ren, still torn between the light and dark sides, establishes a mysterious Force connection with Rey. Through this connection, they communicate across vast distances, creating one of the film’s central dynamics. These encounters raise the question of whether Kylo can be redeemed, as Rey believes, or if he’s truly lost to the dark side.
The Resistance’s Desperate Escape
With the First Order relentlessly pursuing the Resistance, a tense standoff unfolds in space. Vice Admiral Holdo (Laura Dern) takes command after Leia is incapacitated. Poe, distrustful of Holdo’s plan to flee rather than fight, leads a mutiny. Meanwhile, Finn (John Boyega) and mechanic Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) embark on a side mission to Canto Bight, a wealthy city built on war profiteering, in a bid to find a codebreaker who can help them disable the First Order’s tracking system.
The Betrayal and the Battle of Crait
After discovering that Kylo Ren has no intention of returning to the light, Rey is captured and brought before Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis). In a surprising twist, Kylo kills Snoke, and he and Rey join forces to defeat Snoke’s guards. However, Kylo’s true ambition is revealed as he asks Rey to join him in ruling the galaxy. She refuses, and they part as enemies once again.
The Resistance is forced to make a final stand on the mineral planet Crait. In a visually stunning sequence, the Resistance faces overwhelming odds, but Luke Skywalker makes a heroic appearance, seemingly facing Kylo Ren and the entire First Order. In another twist, it’s revealed that Luke is projecting his image across the galaxy using the Force. This massive effort exhausts him, and he peacefully passes away, becoming one with the Force.
The Resistance escapes thanks to Luke’s sacrifice, while Rey embraces her role in the fight against the First Order. Kylo Ren is left as the Supreme Leader, having fully embraced the dark side. The movie ends on a hopeful note, showing that the legacy of the Jedi will live on, with Rey representing the new generation. A young boy on Canto Bight is seen using the Force, symbolizing that the spark of rebellion is still alive.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, The Last Jedi does not have any post-credits scenes. Star Wars films traditionally avoid post-credit sequences, opting to conclude their narratives without teasing future installments in this manner. Fans generally get their hints for future events through the films’ conclusions or marketing materials for the next episode.
Type of Movie
The Last Jedi is a space opera with elements of action, fantasy, and adventure. It is a classic Star Wars blend of large-scale space battles, deep exploration of the Force, and personal drama.
Cast
Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker
Carrie Fisher as Leia Organa
Daisy Ridley as Rey
Adam Driver as Kylo Ren
John Boyega as Finn
Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron
Andy Serkis as Supreme Leader Snoke
Laura Dern as Vice Admiral Holdo
Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico
Benicio del Toro as DJ
Film Music and Composer
The score for The Last Jedi was composed by John Williams, the legendary composer who has scored nearly every film in the Star Wars saga. His music continues to be a crucial part of the franchise, delivering emotional weight to key scenes, with memorable tracks like “The Spark” and “The Battle of Crait.”
Filming Locations
Skellig Michael, Ireland: The real-life island of Ahch-To, where Luke Skywalker lives in isolation, plays a central role in the film. The rugged, ancient environment symbolizes Luke’s withdrawal from the galaxy.
Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni: The salt flats of Bolivia were used to depict the mineral planet Crait. The white surface with red dust underneath creates a striking visual contrast during the final battle.
Dubrovnik, Croatia: The luxurious city of Canto Bight, with its opulent casino, was filmed in Dubrovnik. This location was meant to represent the wealth and corruption of war profiteers in the galaxy.
The Last Jedi was nominated for multiple awards, including four Academy Awards:
Best Original Score (John Williams)
Best Visual Effects
Best Sound Editing
Best Sound Mixing
It won several Saturn Awards and other technical accolades for its visual effects, sound design, and overall production quality.
Behind the Scenes Insights
Director Rian Johnson received considerable creative freedom from Lucasfilm, allowing him to take bold risks, like Luke’s controversial characterization.
Carrie Fisher’s scenes were completed before her passing, but her role in the film became even more poignant posthumously.
Mark Hamill initially expressed discomfort with Luke’s arc, famously saying, “I fundamentally disagree with what you’ve done with the character,” though he later embraced the vision after seeing the final product.
The climactic throne room fight scene was one of the most choreographically challenging sequences, involving months of practice by Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver.
Inspirations and References
Rian Johnson has cited Akira Kurosawa films, particularly The Hidden Fortress, as inspiration for The Last Jedi. The movie also explores themes of failure, redemption, and balance in the Force, which are common in Eastern philosophies and classic mythology.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
Several deleted scenes are available in the movie’s home release, including:
Extended moments on Canto Bight: Rose and Finn’s misadventures were trimmed to maintain pacing.
A longer scene of Luke mourning Han Solo, which added more emotional depth but was ultimately cut.
Book Adaptations and Differences
The novelization of The Last Jedi includes additional internal monologues from key characters, like Luke Skywalker and Leia, offering deeper insight into their thoughts and motivations. However, the core plot remains largely unchanged.
The Throne Room Battle: Kylo Ren and Rey team up against Snoke’s guards in a visually stunning fight sequence.
Holdo’s Hyperspace Attack: Vice Admiral Holdo sacrifices herself by ramming her ship into the First Order fleet at lightspeed, creating a breathtaking and silent visual spectacle.
Luke’s final stand on Crait: His Force projection confrontation with Kylo Ren is both epic and symbolic of his return as a hero.
Iconic Quotes
Luke Skywalker: “This is not going to go the way you think!”
Yoda: “The greatest teacher, failure is.”
Kylo Ren: “Let the past die. Kill it, if you have to.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
The number 1138—a reference to George Lucas’s THX 1138—appears on the Canto Bight police uniforms.
Luke’s green milk scene is a humorous callback to the blue milk first seen in A New Hope.
R2-D2’s hologram of Princess Leia from A New Hope is shown, which emotionally manipulates Luke into action.
Trivia
Mark Hamill voices the character of Dobbu Scay, the tiny alien who tries to put coins into BB-8.
The Last Jedi is the longest Star Wars film, clocking in at 152 minutes.
This film marks Carrie Fisher’s final on-screen performance.
Why Watch?
The Last Jedi offers a fresh, bold take on the Star Wars saga. Whether you love it or are conflicted by its choices, it’s a film that challenges expectations, visually stuns, and delivers memorable performances. It’s a must-watch for anyone looking to see where Star Wars can go when it’s not afraid to take risks.
