SPOILERS AGAIN. SPOILERS AGAIN. SPOILERS AGAIN. SPOILERS AGAIN. SPOILERS AGAIN. SPOILERS AGAIN. SPOILERS AGAIN. SPOILERS AGAIN. SPOILERS AGAIN. SPOILERS AGAIN. SPOILERS AGAIN. SPOILERS AGAIN. SPOILERS AGAIN. SPOILERS AGAIN. SPOILERS AGAIN. SPOILERS AGAIN.

I wrote a blog post about My Thoughts on Star Wars: The Last Jedi on December 21st after my first viewing of it. In it, I said that I liked a lot about the movie, didn’t like several small-ish bits about it, and was surprised, and still digesting, some of the unexpected turns in the plot.

It was so much to take in, on first viewing. So many new things and surprise plot points. I was, therefore, eager to see it a second time and see how that would affect my feelings. I didn’t get a chance over Christmas until January 7th, to go back to the cinema. Here are my thoughts.

The more I thought about the film the more I was ok with the ‘shocks’. And some of them were pretty unexpected. But I do like the way Rian Johnson has taken it. I understand the reasons and I’m totally fine with it all.

The aspect I really didn’t like in the first viewing was all of the humour, but I had a hunch that I might be more ok with it on a second viewing due to being more attuned to it and ready for it. Thankfully I was right. I was totally fine with the humour this time. I didn’t find it as jarring, and very much enjoyed it in places. There’s a line between Rey and Chewie that made me laugh out loud both times.

In my last blog post my list of ‘bad points’ was quite long. This time it’s hugely reduced. I’m surprised and glad at how reduced it is.

BAD POINTS
I’m ok with Luke dying, but I still think they did it in a weird way. He is exhausted after his hologram session and looks like he is about to die or go unconscious, but then he regains himself and manages to sit back up on the rock. It made me feel that he was ok again and had recovered, so for him to THEN die/transcend just felt a bit too unexpected in terms of the way it happened. I know the music kind of flags it but I just think it was slightly strange.
I still think Hux is played for laughs slightly too much.
The Casino bit wasn’t as bad second time round but it does just have a bit of a prequels vibe to it, particularly that alien complaining about the parking. Was it a CG alien? Even if they were all practical effects the whole place had a very CG feel to it which is strange. It could have been so much better. But fair play I guess for not just making another grimy cantina or bar because people would have probably criticised that.
I forgot to mention in my first blog post that there is a bit where Luke and Rey walk out onto the cliffside and the green screen is shocking. It’s worse than anything in the prequels. I’m shocked by how that shot got approved. If anything it stood out to me even more on second viewing.

GOOD POINTS
I totally stand by all the good points I listed. I think I respect this film even more for its bravery and cleverness. I really do think it’s a very interesting take on the whole notion of good and evil and the history of the Jedi. I don’t think it’s quite as action packed and exciting as some other Star Wars films but I still really love it.

So if you weren’t sure about it on your first viewing, as a lot of fans have stated, then I would urge you to give it another chance. Who knows, you might find it more palatable the second time round.

Currently I would have my Star Wars movie ranking as follows…

1. Ep 4: A New Hope
2. Ep 6: Return of the Jedi
3. Ep 5: The Empire Strikes Back
4. Ep 8: The Last Jedi
5. Ep 7: The Force Awakens
6. Ep 3: Revenge of the Sith
7. Rogue One
8. Ep 2: Attack of the Clones
9. Ep 1: The Phantom Menace