‘Star Wars’ Fans Think 1 Movie in the Sequel Trilogy Is ‘a Love Letter to the Spirit’ of the Saga
The Star Wars sequel trilogy was eagerly awaited for years. And when it finally came, it was a huge success in theaters. But it’s also been the target of criticism from many fans. One of the Star Wars sequel trilogy movies in particular drew a lot of heat. However, some fans think the movie is pretty special.
The backlash to ‘The Last Jedi’ was loud and surprising
There have been few movies in the history of cinema that were as highly anticipated as the Star Wars sequel trilogy. According to Screen Rant, the reaction to the first film in the series, The Force Awakens, was largely positive from fans and critics alike.
That made it even more surprising when the second installment, The Last Jedi, was released, and the response was quick and negative. While many critics thought this movie was well-executed, many fans of the franchise flooded the internet with negative reviews.
Although Star Wars fans are notoriously opinionated, the intense reaction was still a surprise to many. What was behind the backlash?
What caused the negative response?
Although many fans who objected to The Last Jedi were reacting to perceived holes in the plot or inconsistencies in the characters, there was also another group that had a different set of problems with it. For some of them, the movie showed a change in who held power in the Star Wars universe that made them unhappy.
Episodes VII and IX director J.J. Abrams addressed these objections, pointing out that many people didn’t appreciate the racial and gender diversity of the cast. “Their problem isn’t Star Wars, their problem is being threatened,” Abrams told IndieWire.
Abrams went on to say: “If you are someone who feels threatened by women and needs to lash out against them, you can probably find an enemy in Star Wars. … Anyone who wants to find a problem with anything can find the problem. The internet seems to be made for that.”
Obviously, not all fans feel threatened, even among those who still don’t like The Last Jedi. Some fans think it’s not only a good movie, but it also might be the best one of the trilogy. And they are happy to explain why.
Some fans say ‘The Last Jedi’ is ‘a love letter’
On Reddit, people got into a discussion about what makes The Last Jedi good — and possibly even the best.
“The second half of this movie is my favourite of any Star Wars ever,” one person said. “Luke’s big moment confronting Ben, embracing himself as a legend but doing it in a truly spectacular Jedi fashion, all of the symbolism of the calmness of the light and the anger of the darkside, it’s truly an amazing scene. Like to me THIS is Star Wars.”
Another person said: “I still believe TLJ will rise above TFA and TRoS as a love letter to the spirit of Star Wars, and one of the most compelling entires in any media for this universe. While it began with a nihilist attitude, it ended with a strong message of hope and prevailing over impossible odds. And, if that isn’t a Star Wars Story, then I don’t know what is.”
Another agreed, saying: “I have loved this saga all my life, and TLJ made me weep. It was a love letter to Star Wars and the lessons it taught. It reminded us that heroism isn’t something given to you, or promised because of your blood or “destiny”, it is something you choose. It’s always something you can choose, even when you fail. Light can and will always prevail. It’s my favorite Star Wars film, and quite frankly I’m ready to fight in the parking lot about it.”
Art, by nature, is subjective, and people won’t ever agree universally on it, especially when it represents something they care about. But for some Star Wars fans, The Last Jedi is a shining example of what the franchise is all about.
[Correction: An earlier version mistakenly said J.J. Abrams directed The Last Jedi.]
