Bret's 10 Favorite Things of 201710 of 10
Rian Johnson's Directorial and Writing Choices in Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Taking on the reins of a Star Wars movie is no ordinary directing job. Among other challenges, the responsibility includes shouldering the hopes and fears of an entire globe of fanatics, all of whom have impossibly unrealistic expectations. But Rian Johnson accomplished something of an extraordinary feat with Episode VIII, managing to find meaningful choices for each new and returning character, in addition to connecting the legacy and new trilogies in a meaningful and not-insulting-to-Star-Wars-geeks way. He made some tough but smart choices, helping to propel the Skywalker saga forward for future chapters. I won't bother with any critic's review of TLJ. For me, the movie was thrilling. It scratched every itch any diehard has about where the story has evolved and finds new, exciting contours to lean into. And I can't remember the last time I did so much yelling, woah-ing, fist-pumping, and laughing in a movie theater. It's no wonder Lucasfilm has entrusted the future trilogy with Johnson. He has the creative vision, the requisite appreciation of the fanbase and the franchise's tradition, and the stones to pull it off.
Taking on the reins of a Star Wars movie is no ordinary directing job. Among other challenges, the responsibility includes shouldering the hopes and fears of an entire globe of fanatics, all of whom have impossibly unrealistic expectations. But Rian Johnson accomplished something of an extraordinary feat with Episode VIII, managing to find meaningful choices for each new and returning character, in addition to connecting the legacy and new trilogies in a meaningful and not-insulting-to-Star-Wars-geeks way. He made some tough but smart choices, helping to propel the Skywalker saga forward for future chapters. I won't bother with any critic's review of TLJ. For me, the movie was thrilling. It scratched every itch any diehard has about where the story has evolved and finds new, exciting contours to lean into. And I can't remember the last time I did so much yelling, woah-ing, fist-pumping, and laughing in a movie theater. It's no wonder Lucasfilm has entrusted the future trilogy with Johnson. He has the creative vision, the requisite appreciation of the fanbase and the franchise's tradition, and the stones to pull it off.
PeopleCarrie Fisher, Rian Johnson
Photo by David James - © 2017 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.