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Star Wars 8: The Last Jedi review round-up - live updates: Spoiler-free verdicts praise 'best film yet'

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How does the latest tale from the long-running space sage measure up?  

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The Independent Culture

Key Points

The Independent's verdict on the brand new sequel is in

Initial verdicts of the film flooded in on Twitter over the weekend

Director Rian Johnson will oversee a brand new trilogy following the release of Episode IX

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is a matter of days away with the first-look reviews dropping today at 5pm GMT.

The follow-up to JJ Abrams' 2015 sequel The Force Awakens reunites Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega and Oscar Isaac for a film that also sees the return of Luke Skywalker and General Leia Organa in what will be Carrie Fisher's final appearance following her death in December 2016.

UPDATE: Read The Independent's review here.

Initial verdicts of the film - directed by Rian Johnson - flooded in on Twitter over the weekend with some deeming it the best Star Wars films since The Empire Strikes Back. 

In any case, Disney and Lucasfilm seem to be happy with the outcome - it was revealed last month that Johnson will oversee a brand new trilogy of films after the release of Episode IX set in “...a corner of the galaxy that Star Wars lore has never explored.”

Below are the reviews of Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Live Updates

The review embargo has dropped! Read The Independent verdict here.

Reviews for The Last Jedi drop at 5pm GMT

The first reactions to Star Wars: The Last Jedi are in

Here are some of the first social media reactions plus what our critics thought of the movie. The embargo for reviews drops at 5pm, at which time we will post snippets from publications around the world.

Rian Johnson dedicates Star Wars: Last Jedi premiere to Carrie Fisher

Rian Johnson dedicated the LA premiere to Carrie Fisher, who played the iconic Princess/General Leia

How The Last Jedi's chandelier-inspired crystal foxes, crucial to the plot, were made

Three minutes until reviewgeddon.

Our critic Christopher Hooton writes: "If The Force Awakens was an homage and Rogue One was a bonus chapter, The Last Jedi is definitely a new proposition. Between getting about as philosophical as its possible to in a kids film about the nature of the Force and examining the notion of the hero and the crises of masculinity tied in to this, it wants to break the idea of Star Warsapart, inspect it and then put it back together in a different and more nuanced way. In this sense, it's easy to see why Disney has entrusted Johnson with developing an entire new trilogy."
Robbie Colin for The Telegraph writes in his five-star review: “The confrontations aren’t just thrilling and beautifully staged, but have an eeriness and loneliness that reminded me of Ralph McQuarrie’s unearthly Star Wars concept art from 1975.

“Lucas was able to use and develop much of what McQuarrie envisioned, but there was little space for those minor-key qualities amid the bustle of the first three films. The Last Jedi leans into them. It’s less Star Wars as you’ve never seen it than Star Wars as you’ve never felt it.”
Total Film conclude in their five-star review: "An excellent middle chapter bursting with wit, wisdom, emotion, shocks, old-fashioned derring-do, state-of-the-art tech, and stonking set-pieces."
The Guardian say in their four-star review: "The Last Jedi gives you an explosive sugar rush of spectacle. It’s a film that buzzes with belief in itself and its own mythic universe – a euphoric certainty that I think no other movie franchise has. And there is no provisional hesitation or energy dip of the sort that might have been expected between episodes seven and nine. What there is, admittedly, is an anticlimactic narrative muddle in the military story, but this is not much of a flaw considering the tidal wave of energy and emotion that crashes out of the screen in the final five minutes. It’s impossible not to be swept away."
Todd McCarthy for The Hollywood Reporter: "Maybe the film is a tad too long. Most of the new characters could use more heft, purpose and edge to their personalities, and they have a tendency to turn up hither and yon without much of a clue how they got there; drawing a geographical map of their movements would create an impenetrable network of lines. But there's a pervasive freshness and enthusiasm to Johnson's approach that keeps the film, and with it the franchise, alive, and that is no doubt what matters most."
Radio Times' write: "The end result is a bold, ballsy take on the Star Wars saga that is genuinely quite unlike anything I’ve seen before – but it’s bound to divide fans. Some people who’ve seen the film are enraged by the film’s treatment of certain characters and story arcs, and the routes director Rian Johnson has taken won’t appeal to everybody.

"This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though. The Last Jedi will incense some but absolutely enthral others, and the end result will be passionate feeling on both sides that’s in stark contrast to the wider but shallower mass appeal of The Force Awakens (which I still really like, by the way – it’s just made to perform a different function to The Last Jedi)."
Another five-star review, this time from Digital Spy: At two and a half hours, the film is lengthy, but events move at such a pace that it doesn't drag or threaten to outstay its welcome. Johnson has created a movie that is both quintessentially Star Wars and richer than anything that has come before. Abrams has his work cut out if he wants to match this quality for Episode IX. It's either that or give up and drown in Ewoks.
Dissent from Variety, which claims that "Johnson’s effort is ultimately a disappointment."

"Ultimately, there’s only so much wiggle room Johnson has to play with a property that seems destined to generate a new installment/spinoff every year until we die — which means that however many Death Stars or Sith Lords the Resistance manages to defeat, there will always be more, and no matter how few Jedi remain, there can never be none."

 

Domhnall Gleeson, Laura Dern, Benicio del Toro and Kelly Marie Tran also star. The film is released in the UK on 14 December.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown

Star Wars: The Last Jedi trailer - shot-by-shot breakdown

  • 1/46

    Here we are, the new Star Wars trailer! Kicking things off is Kylo Ren looking over something being built by the First Order. Look closely and you can just about spot some AT-STs lurking around. Over the top we hear Snoke: “When I found you…

  • 2/46

    Some of the new-look AT-ATs, now known as AT-M6. Seeing as the original initials stood for “All Terrain Armoured Transport”, these new beasts known as the “All Terrain MegaCaliber Six”. Not quite as catchy but sure to sell a few more toys. Above them is Kylo’s Upsilon-class command shuttle. Anyway, we’re on Crait, a mineral planet which once housed the Rebel Alliance base during the Galactic Civil War. We later see Leia here, the General having decided to bring the Resistance to the planet. We’re sure to see a large battle here, perhaps like the opening of Empire Strikes Back? Snoke, who we presume is talking about Kylo, continues: “I saw raw…

  • 3/46

    “Untamed power.” Snoke’s grizzled voice echoes out as Kylo marches into battle. Thanks to the red, we presume the villain is still on Crait.

  • 4/46

    “… and beyond that…”

  • 5/46

    “…something truly special” Where exactly this shot fits into the timeline remains unclear. We’re also not sure where this ominous red-room is. Twin Peaks? More likely Snoke’s throne room, considering there are two of his Elite Praetorian Guards behind the lightsaber. Seeing as Snoke’s talking about why he chose Kylo as an apprentice, could this be a flashback?

  • 6/46

    Just as Snoke finishes saying “special” we suddenly cut to Rey on Ahch-To, wielding Luke’s weapon. Could Snoke have actually been speaking to her?

  • 7/46

    The handing of the baton. Turns out Luke did take the lightsaber at the end of The Force Awakens! Rey says: “Something inside of me has always been there…”

  • 8/46

    Luke’s in unhappy shock. Angry? Annoyed? What Luke?!?!

  • 9/46

    Rey approaches a haunted looking tree. Now, we’ve actually seen this before, but not on film. During Marvel’s tie-in comic called Shattered Empire — which takes place moments after Return of the Jedi — we see Poe Dameron’s mother rescue a Force-sensitive tree. She takes one part of the tree while Luke takes the other. Turns out, that tree has something of a big part to play.

  • 10/46

    “…but not it’s awake.” The Force has truly awoken inside of Rey, after being hidden there for some time. Inside the tree, we see a book, possibly the Journal of the Whills. Originally created by George Lucas as a plot device, the journal was intended to contain all of the Jedi adventures. Come the novelisation of The Force Awakens and the journal was made canon. The question is, what’s Luke doing with it? Learning about the ways of the Jedi? Has Luke decided their should be no Jedi because whenever the Jedi exist, so do the Sith?

  • 11/46

    Some stunning shots of Rey trailing on Ahch-To. Rey continues: “… and I need help.”

  • 12/46

    Cinematographer Steve Yedlin, who previously worked with Rian Johnson on Looper, has done a amazing job.

  • 13/46

    Luke looks highly concerned as Rey begins tearing apart the island with the Force. Again, another similarity to Empire: we’re seeing Luke fulfil the Yoda role, training Rey. However, this time, there’s fear in Luke’s heart.

  • 14/46

    Another great shot, previously seen in the first trailer, showing off Rey’s strength.

  • 15/46

    “I’ve seen this raw strength only once before…” Luke is completely shaken by Rey’s strength.

  • 16/46

    “…It didn’t scare me enough then…” An extended version of the flashback seen during The Force Awakens when Rey touches the lightsaber for the first time. Luke’s seen Kylo Ren, then Ben Solo, destroy an entire Jedi order before. Seeing someone with those abilities once more can only mean something bad’s going to happen.

  • 17/46

    “…It does now.” Another scene from the flashback.

  • 18/46

    Just to make sure we know who Luke’s referring to, a shot of Kylo Ren looking very Darth Vader.

  • 19/46

    A new look at Kylo’s scare, caused by Rey during Episode VII’s final battle. “Let the past diem” the messed up young man says while smashing a wall.

  • 20/46

    Kylo’s flying off into battle. Could he be aiming to literally kill the past off and murder another parent?

  • 21/46

    The kid obviously has his grandfather’s piloting skills. He’s driving the newly tweaked TIE silencer towards Leia’s main ship. Has the battle on Crait already happened and they’ve had to leave? Or have they landed on the planet because of the aerial attack? We hear Kylo say “Kill it if you have to”, aimed at his mother?

  • 22/46

    A few shots of the late Carrie Fisher as Leia.

  • 23/46

    From the intertwining shots of Leia and Kylo, there’s a connection between the two, perhaps even some sort of communication?

  • 24/46

    “That’s the only way you will become what you meant to be,” says Kylo as his ship locks onto, then fires, at Leia. The General can’t die, surely? They wouldn’t spoil that in the trailer? The question here, really, is who is Kylo talking to? Presumably, considering the final moments of the trailer, Rey. By saying “kill the past”, can we assume Kylo’s telling Rey to kill her new mentor and join the Dark side?

  • 25/46

    Here comes the Millenium Falcon. Are we on Crait once more? Has Chewy gone to help the Resistance?

  • 26/46

    Ah, the Porgs. The most GIFable moment from the trailer. Toy shops are stocking up now as these are bound to become best sellers.

  • 27/46

    Poe Dameron’s back and under fire. He looks almost surprised at the attack.

  • 28/46

    We have to assume he’s heading out to meet Kylo and defend General Leia from the oncoming attack. “We have a spark, that will light the fire, that will burn the First Order down,” says Poe. What’s the spark, though? Defeating someone in battle? Finding Luke?

  • 29/46

    Meanwhile, Captain Phasma’s also back…

  • 30/46

    And battling Finn.

  • 31/46

    These shots are amazing.

  • 32/46

    Wow. Hopefully Phasma will actually have something interesting to do this time around.

  • 33/46

    BB-8! But the guy has been hit. Poor BB-8.

  • 34/46

    Luke looks terrified once more, as if struck down by someone. Has Rey turned on the mentor? Or has Kylo arrived and beaten Luke? We’re still on Ach-To, so can we presume Kylo finds a way to find the Skywalker(s)? “This is not going to go the way you think,” the fallen Jedi says. Referring to Rey or Kylo? Likely the latter, who turned to the dark side, but who knows.

  • 35/46

    Another new creature, sure to sell a few toys. Back on Criat again.

  • 36/46

    Big door, mysterious character.

  • 37/46

    It’s Leia, looking remarkably sad. Has Kylo finally come for her? She looks like an upset mother, for sure.

  • 38/46

    Rey’s let her hair down, styling her new Jedi look. She seems to be chasing Luke as he runs away. Or perhaps just more training. Or running away from Kylo? We have a lot of questions…

  • 39/46

    A shot of Finn, captured by the First Order. What fate awaits the former Storm Trooper?

  • 40/46

    Another look at the First Order, looking ready to great a powerful figure, likely Snoke.

  • 41/46

    The battle of Crait will surely be another brilliant Star Wars set piece.

  • 42/46

    Now, here’s something really interesting: a first look at Supreme Leader Snoke, who is nether a giant nor a hologram. The character is even wearing a golden outfit.

  • 43/46

    What’s this! He’s torturing Rey! Has she been captured by Kylo?! Does that mean Luke has fallen?! “Fulfil your destiny,” the Dark Lord says, likely trying to persuade Rey to accept her fate as a powerful warrior for evil, rather than good. Will she turn to the Dark side?!

  • 44/46

    Rey: “I need someone to show me my place in all this.”

  • 45/46

    Kylo.

  • 46/46

    An outstretched hand. Kylo asking Rey to join the evil cause? Are we going to see Rey turn evil? Or perhaps become the first Grey Jedi, one who balances good and evil? Whatever the case, we’re hugely excited for the film, which touches down 15 December.

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