FLY CASUAL W/ 'STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI' AKA 'STAR WARS VII'

Why not make use of the little big cards given out for fanatics who bought the earliest tickets available YEAR: 2017

Since J.J. Abrams' THE FORCE AWAKENS (albeit criticized for being too unoriginal) introduced a band of endearing, worthwhile characters, writer/director Rian Johnson obviously knew he had to make the second new STAR WARS get right down to business and, although the first fifteen minutes halts more than flows, there's a point where things open up nicely...

LastJediScore: ***

Like THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (and obvious in the commercials), the grounded training of a new hopeful Jedi combines with space-set action and adventure, only here the proverbial asteroid belt is... well: Since this writeup is mostly spoiler-free, details are left for the viewer and the viewer alone...

Let's just say the problem with THE LAST JEDI, other than trying too hard for quick-wit humor (another film suffering from Tony Starkasm), is also what makes you exit the theater with a "grouchy Luke Skywalker finally snaps out of it and comes around" smile....

The third act is such a fulfilling visual treat, combining yesteryear's daring-do heroics with pre MATRIX era slow-mo combative fights, you'll soon forget (or not want to think about) the many scenes that wind up bland, pointless, unrealized: For example, so many times, so much happens at once, batted about from a handful of characters, that Johnson never stays in one place/perspective long enough for it to really matter on its own: What's made to work for the audience often robs from the characters. Like running towards an obstacle and then, the next moment, winding up on the other side — it's the middle-ground that keeps being denied: Though neatly replaced by enough cool twists and turns to make THE LAST JEDI walk... no, run... a fine line between pretty good and good enough.

Why not make use of the little big cards given out for fanatics who bought the earliest tickets available YEAR: 2017