Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)

Man, this one's all over the place. I get what Rian Johnson was trying to do - shake up the formula, subvert expectations, kill some sacred cows. The Luke stuff hit me hard in a way I wasn't expecting. Seeing him as this broken, bitter hermit was tough to watch, but it actually worked for me once I got over the initial shock. The throne room fight with Rey and Kylo teaming up? Absolutely sick. That whole sequence is peak Star Wars.

But holy hell, this thing is long and some of those side plots just drag. The casino planet stuff felt like padding, and don't get me started on that slow-speed chase that takes up half the movie. I'm usually fine with longer runtimes when it's sci-fi, but this needed some editing. The Porg stuff was whatever - clearly there for the kids and toy sales.

Here's the thing though - even with its problems, it swings for the fences in ways that feel bold for a Star Wars movie. The visuals are stunning, the Luke/Rey/Kylo triangle actually has some real emotional weight, and when the action hits, it really hits. I know a lot of fans absolutely hated this one, but I had a pretty good time with it despite the pacing issues.

It's a messy, ambitious Star Wars movie that I respect more than I love.