Chieftain February 2018 | Page 8

New ‘Star Wars’ an Instant Classic Latest installment does not deserve criticism it’s getting By Jake Riem Chieftain Staff The Force is strong with the new- est installment in the Star Wars trilogy, “The Last Jedi.” To some, the movie was possibly the best of the previous seven, whereas others ranked it at the bottom. Of course, every movie has its fl aws, but nonetheless the most important movie franchise in history will forever be over- scrutinized by die-hard fans such as Bobby Kunz. I loved the movie. It was innovative and kept fans on the edge of their seats. Rian Johnson was truly not afraid to develop new ideas in his fi rst movie, while staying somewhat true to the past. The cinematography and screenplay were spectacular. It had some of the most beautiful and clear visuals in modern cin- ema and one of the best fi ght scenes since “Revenge of the Sith.” (Yes, I love the prequels.) Not to mention that amazing sequence with General Holdo. It felt like you were experiencing something greater than just a movie, it seemed like real life. Johnson placed his focus on the devel- opment of the character Kylo Ren. Ren has easily become a fan favorite with a unique past and a very interesting and confl icted personality. Mark Hamill delivered possibly his best acting performance ever, showing a totally different and darker side to his classic character, Luke Skywalker. The Jedi master shows true passion and care that has come with his exile since the destruction of his new Jedi order. Bringing back everyone’s little green friend, Yoda, automatically makes the movie a classic. And the surprise twist with Snoke was brilliant, something no one expected to see until maybe the ninth movie. And, to everyone’s surprise, there was just the right amount of Porgs. They were not overused, like the Ewoks in “Return of the Jedi.” Overall, this movie showed a much- needed side of the franchise. It’s not worthy of