So I have seen this movie once, and am about to see it again. Here is my take on the movie and why I like the new trilogy as much as the other two before it...
Consistency among symbolism in today's culture. The last two trilogies have had themes that relate to the past society climates. I won't go into them, you can look them up. In a nut shell, the original trilogy related to things in the 70's while the late 90's and early millennium ones did the same. Force Awakens and now The Last Jedi reflect today's culture.
Reboots and Remakes of old films. These two films have many scenes of deja-vu from the original trilogy spilled throughout the entire film. Especially those from Empire and Return in The Last Jedi while Force Awakens was almost a copy of A New Hope. I won't go into the exact ones. You need to watch the originals then see these two to know which scenes. But they are in their entirety, showing how new movies are made or remade in our culture.
Underlying human emotions. The prequel trilogies to me have a dark feeling among them which reflect Anikan Skywalker and his ascension to becoming Lord Vader. They also have sense of love, hate and anger. All human emotions and those of Anikan Skywalker. The original trilogy has human feelings of hope, joy, friendship. All human emotions and those of Luke Skywalker. These new films have human emotions of confusion, mystery, sense of not belonging. All emotions we feel as people, but also those of Rey (do I dare say Skywalker...more on that later).
Timeline issues and why people might be even more upset...
Had Episodes one, two and three been released first. We would of been introduced to a young Obi Won without seeing him in A New Hope. We meet this powerful young Jedi and his master Qui Gon. We also meet a powerful Yoda and see what he can do in Episodes two and three. Anikan, we just figure for a young rebelious kid who is conflicted, and even more so when his mother dies. He becomes Vader obviously, but if watching for the first time in this order, we have a new found respect for Obi Won and think he's the greatest thing in the Universe and want to see more of him and Yoda kick ass against this new dark Lord.
Fast forward to episode 4. The intro starts off good, Vader mad as ever. Hell, you could even throw Rogue One in there for more Vader power. You're like, FUCK, I want to see Obi Won and Yoda double work together to stop him! Well, we see the droids land on Tatooine, and sold to this young farmer Luke. We are like, uh, where is this film going? Sound familiar? Well, turns out Luke knows "old Ben" and things start rolling from there. Ben turns out to be this old hermit, wtf we just saw him plummet Vader into lava and now he is old? FUCK?!?! Ok, so they move on to try and shut down this Death Star. Vader and Obi Won meet again. Sweet! Mess him up like in revenge of the sith old man! But wait, he dies?!?! SHIT!
Onto Episode 5 Luke gets advice from a ghost Obi Won to seek Yoda, the Jedi Master. FUCK YES, Yoda! He'll kick Vader's ass! So Luke goes out there to find this Jedi master. Luke crashes and finds this old goblin looking dude. He's hitting R2 with his cane, getting into Lukes shit, and making us laugh non-stop. Sound familiar yet? We are like, how the fuck is this little goblin guy going to kick the shit out of Vader like he did Dooku?? He's an old fart with jokes now. Well, he trains Luke about the Force. Wait, this is getting really familiar!!
Well, fast forward to Rey. She comes from a planet that is much like Tatooine and in the same region I'm guessing with all the slaves and traders. Much like Anikan and Luke. She doens't remember her parents, let alone tell you anything about her father. Hmm..much like Luke and Anikan. She obtains a droid with hidden information much like the R2 unit Luke obtained. She even finds Anikan's and Luke's first light saber. And has visions like Luke, but instead, hers are of the Knights of Ren, all of them. Yes, there is more then Kylo.
Key note, in the Force Awakens, Han dies. Wait, just like Obi Won did in part 4. Major character takes a dive. Well, at least they are keeping consistency. Also, Qui Gon dies in Episode 1. Someone had to go...
The Last Jedi
Rey meets up with Old Luke who nearly got killed by the emperor, likely pretty weak after taking a force lightning beating and doing jedi things afterwards with his new temple, not to mention the beating Kylo may have put on him. He's old, grumpy, and quite funny. Hmm. Sounds like....YODA! He trains her just like yoda did him. Homage to Empire really.
Rey goes through the story conflicted about her belonging somewhere, not sure her place in all things. Kinda like we are about the plot.
Finn and Poe are her friends, just like Luke had friends during his journey. Sure, their plots seem meaningless to some, but they are new characters just trying to find their place also in a new trilogy of movies. They are resistance fighters, and play the parts that people grew to love with the rebellion during Rogue One. Go figure. So they do outplay their parts more as opposed to following Rey around 100 percent of the time like they did Luke or Anikan and Obi Won.
As for Kylo, he's the grandson of Vader. What more could people want? Sure not the best actor. And hope he puts his helmet back on as Snoak is dead. His legacy continues with even more Dark Jedi at his disposal than just an apprentice. Rey is going to need a bigger weapon to deal with them all.
As for Lukes disappearing act. No different from Yoda. Yoda was tired and ready to go. After the Force Projection (ability was said to be a myth to most...I jumped out of my seat when I found out during the Kylo fight) that Luke pulls, he is indeed ready to go also. He knows he needed to sacrifice much like Obi Won did for him, for the greater good. Luke had the same out as both Obi Won and Yoda put together. Sure, we wanted a badass Saber/Force dual, but Kylo isn't his fight. His series ended with Return of the Jedi. It's Rey's turn here. And to me, is already stronger than Luke or Anikan was. Especially with the ability to pick up larger objects like Yoda, and already dual with a saber in her first film. Luke didn't even fight with a saber in A New Hope. The Force as taught from Obi Won on the Falcon, it can guide you. So no surprise she was able to dual Kylo.
At the end, we are left with only Chewy, 3PO and R2 from the original films. While Rey, Finn, Poe, Kylo Ren and BB8 round out this class for it's trilogy. Hmm. R2 might join Rey like he did Anikan and Luke?!?! In either case though, the old characters are out. Most of them anyhow. The sidekicks are left to join the new guys. As they have been in the previous two trilogy of movies.
There is more than meets the eye in this trilogy of films, and I do appreciate all the underlying groundwork that Abrams and Rian have lied underneath it all. The force is in the balance with this film, and going forward. Small slip and it could be a disaster as many see it already. I can go either way. The next film will determine whether this film was great, or a wreck like everyone says it is. For now, I am taking it as it is, and will wait for the next film. At the conclusion of Episode 2, we all knew what was to happen. Anikan was to become Vader. At the end of Empire, we all had known Luke was to come back stronger and put an end to the Empire of Sidious and Vader. At the and of The Last Jedi, there is still much mystery and will be a whole new film here as we don't know what to expect. I think the biggest question is, who really is Rey? Or is she a nobody like Kylo says. I don't trust him.
There is only one solution for me, Rey must be a Skywalker somehow. Luke had a love interest in the cannon Extended Universe. This is possible. My theory is Anikan, as a force ghost, created her from Mediclorians to make up for what he did with all his destruction as Vader. So Rey has a mother, and Anikan, may be...her father... **Mind Blown**
Could it be that when Yoda says, "there is another" and when Vader says, "sister", could be a forshadow of Rey. Yes, we would all know it is Leia who they cut to right after in both of those scenes or auto assume it's her. Sure, I could be wrong. And we all go peacefully, quietly. But if I am right? I could of saved the lives of millions of registered voters. Lol. Okay, I had to put a quote from my favorite movie in here somewhere! Or, this is just another symbolic form of rags to riches story like in today's culture with so many of these stories, why not in the Star Wars Universe right? Not the most ideal story, but not far off either.
In all, people need to give Rey a chance here in Episode IX
Please comment below on your thoughts of the Saga and/or The Last Jedi. SPOILERS WELCOMED IN THIS THREAD!