Bare with me here Aggressors, I’m still trying to come to some kind of emotional normality terms after seeing Star Wars: The Last Jedi.  I will NOT spoil the experience for you, so I’m not going to offer anything in the way of true spoilers (big plot reveals, who lives, who dies, that kind of thing).  This review will go with the normal rule that you’ve probably seen the trailers and posters for the film, and that’s it.

If you HAVEN’T seen any of the trailers for Episode VIII, then you’ll probably want to go find something else to read/watch because I’m using those as my baseline for spoilers.  Maybe read the amazing Vanity Fair piece with the incredible photos by Annie Leibovitz, because it’s really worth your time if you haven’t.

Here’s the trailer:

TLJ picks up after the events of The Force Awakens, following the destruction of the Starkiller Base and subsequent retaliation of the First Order against the Republic. Rey has gone to find Luke and bring him back to his Princess General sister in her hour of need, Finn is out of action in a medic pod, Poe and BB8 are doing their best to….do their best, R2 is still giving 3P0 the silent treatment, Kylo is raging, Hux is commanding, and Snoke is….whatever he is.

Writer and director Rian Johnson did what I didn’t think was possible, rekindling my hope for the Star Wars saga after the personal disappointment with The Force Awakens.  Sorry, it just didn’t do anything for me.  It’s a safe bet that whatever this new trilogy in the Star Wars universe is that Johnson is heading, it’ll be good.  His take on humor and hope swirled in space with familiar lore, old and new friends, and more than a little love, I have faith that the Skywalker free future of the galaxy far far away is in good hands.

SCORE: 4 out of 5, viewed in Dolby Atmos non 3D, will see again

If you read my reviews regularly, you know this is where I get into the “good” and “bad” segment where I’ll go into details about a film.  But, because I’m sticking to the code of not spoiling the film, I’m not gonna.

There are two new planets, new ships, new animals and creatures, amazing costumes and makeups, and some brand new ship fighting tactics that lead me to believe that maybe Rian is a Battlestar Galactica fan.  You’ll understand once you’ve seen it, trust me.

The new kids are back; Daisy Ridley as Rey, John Boyega as Finn, Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, Domhnaill Gleeson as General Armatage Hux, Gwendoline Christie as Captain Phasma, Billie Lourd as Lieutenant Connix, and Andy Serkis as Supreme Leader Snoke. We get some new new faces too, like Laura Dern as Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo, Benicio del Toro as DJ, and Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico (whose reaction at seeing someone cosplaying her for the first time during TLJ premiere on Saturday was AMAZING).

Obviously we know from the trailers that Mark Hamill is back as Luke and our dearly departed Carrie Fisher in her last turn as Leia. I will say without preamble- you will not be prepared.  I wasn’t prepared, I wasn’t ready, and I spent a majority of the film in quiet sobs and tears. I’m not going to tell you why or how, because that’d break the nice little spoiler free window we’ve got going here.  Just take my word for it, and bring kleenex.

BRING. SO. MUCH. KLEENEX.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi opens worldwide on Friday December 15th, 2017.   Expect more reviews from Aggressive Comix around then, and may the Force be with you.