LogFAQs > #893344900

The movie runs too long and seems to have two endings. It's an issue because it messes with the sense of time, particularly during the casino side plot. Really, there's a lot of mess here. It's not bad, it's just messy. Like two or three movies stapled to one another, messy. A lot of people dislike this interpretation of Luke, but I really like the Luke and Rey bits. I find this development believable for Luke, and I think the appearance of Yoda at the end is a nice cap to this sequence. The whole sequence feels very cohesive, or would were we allowed to stay there.

Finn is a bit wasted as a character here. Despite having the most intimate experience with the First Order, and a backstory that should make him immediately sympathize with many aspects of this plot, he keeps getting relegated to comic relief. Frankly, I don't think Rose fairs any better. Also Rose should have let him make that kamikaze attack. What she does makes no plot sense.

The casino planet isn't the worst. Or it doesn't have to be, in theory. It just kind of was. I can't believe they get arrested for what is essentially a parking ticket. Also, the alien horse race is utter schlock and really needed to be cut entirely. I don't even know what to do with the "It was worth it," comment. I'm literally only watching this so we can get back to your friends saving the galaxy from galactic fascism. What the fuck are you talking about being 'worth it?' And what did any of the last fifteen minutes have to do with the prime plot. How did this survive the script editing? Can't you feel how long and drawn out this is in the film edit? It feels like fifteen minutes of Big Lipped Alligators. Cut it.

Poe is a dummy and spends 75% of the movie being a dummy because the plot demands it. When the switch is flipped and he's suddenly not a dummy anymore, it feels really sudden and undeserved. I don't get it. He was impulsive in TFA, but not a dummy. At times, he doesn't even feel like the same character.

Why is Holdo concealing the nature of her plan? The film doesn't misdirect us with a mole plot, which would have tied this up nicely and justified Poe's misguided attempt at mutiny. With 180 minutes runtime, you could totally juggle this, especially if you're going to keep the horse race. But just let's us ponder it for an hour while Poe acts on information he doesn't have to further complicate things. Really, neither of them are dumb, what's going on here? This screams plot convenience.

The film disagrees with J.J. Abrams interpretation of Hux as the competent one. Here he's largely comic relief. Not a criticism, just an observation.

There are so many questions and intrigues from the TFA that TLJ wants to hand wave and pretend they aren't a big deal. It gives so many non-answers for a franchise that's constantly pumping out lore. Look at the publishing machine surrounding this franchise. So many comics, shows, and novels, all devoted to expanding the universe. TLJ wanted to do it's own things and doesn't really expand the lore at all, or try and fit aspects of itself into what we assume we know. I'm not going to begrudge a film that. Directors need to be able to direct. But what is here, is less neat and less fun than the tapestry created and referenced by the surrounding Star Wars materials. And that seemed pretty intentional.

So many moments where I'm left shrugging my shoulders wondering why I've devoted so much energy into keeping up with all the lore if the film is just going to tell me it doesn't matter. It's baffling. I mean look at the franchise? Is Rian Johnson sure he wants to direct a Star Wars movie, because I legitimately don't know. This all mires itself in a very unsatisfying debate about the conflict between the creator and their fans, and there are frankly better pieces of media around which to stage such a conversation.

TLDR: I'm deeply conflicted about this film, and not for the reasons I want to be.
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Whatever happened to standards? Whatever happened to bare minimums?
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