Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the highly-anticipated continuation of the Star Wars saga. Written and directed by Rian Johnson, it picks up right where The Force Awakens left off.

The Last Jedi is an ambitious and risky movie with many thought-provoking conflicts. Like most Star Wars films, it contains multiple storylines and each varies in quality. The main story follows Rey in her training with Luke on a remote planet far from the other action. This story is by far the most compelling and enjoyable to watch.

Meanwhile, former stormtrooper Finn and newcomer Rose set off on an adventure that involves a casino planet and an attempt to recruit a new ally. This storyline overstays its welcome, padding an already-lengthy runtime.

The film tackles some heavy themes, including facing your failures and the pull between good and evil. These themes make The Last Jedi the most thought-provoking Star Wars films to date.

The whole cast gives excellent performances. Mark Hamill shines as a broken, disillusioned Luke Skywalker.

Daisy Ridley returns as Rey and captures both her naiveté and strength. The movie is at its best when Hamill and Ridley are on screen.

Adam Driver returns as Kylo Ren, bringing real depth and raw emotion to his character. His internal conflict is engaging and believable.

The cinematography is beautiful and Johnson’s use of color, especially red, is visually striking. The special effects in the large-scale battles are tremendous, but occasionally there are some noticeable green screen backgrounds. The CGI creature effects are also very commendable, especially for Andy Serkis’s Snoke.

The Last Jedi is very good, but not perfect. It has some disposable side plots, a few moments of cheesy dialogue, and some tonal inconsistencies. However, the performances, core story, action sequences, and compelling themes make this the best Star Wars movie since Empire Strikes Back.

Score 8/10