So much has been written about the latest installment of Star Wars movie franchise including why it was predicted to dominate box office charts around the globe. And seeing long queues at major cinemas in the metro easily makes us understand why.
While almost everyone, including those who are not diehard fans, thinks The Last Jedi is the best installment yet, those who haven’t seen the film are asking: “Does it serve as the ending or just the beginning of a new era of Jedi Masters?
Of course, the answer is a resounding “no” as The Last Jedi is just the second film in the sequel trilogy and the yet to be named third installment will still hit the big screen in 2019. And this movie franchise, with more than $40 billion in total revenue as of 2016, wouldn’t end just like that.
More than a movie, Star Wars is a cultural icon and a business jewel for merchandise makers. The vast world of Star Wars and its appealing characters have been made into toys, clothing, bags, coffee mugs, and even toilet seats. The possibility is endless, so to speak.
In Manila, before Star Wars captured both the hearts of its longtime fans and its new generation of followers, SM Cinema brought the eighth installment of The Last Jedi by mounting a life-size replica of the X-Wing, the Rebel Alliance’s Starfighter that’s designed for long missions and intense battle, in its malls.
Only diehard fans would really understand how immersive it is to experience this full-scale installation first hand because although the craft has been merchandised as a variety of toys, it’s the first time that they could get to see, touch and take pictures of an X-Wing this size. It’s like a physical reunion with your best friend, whom you only see on Facebook because he’s been away for a long time.
And taking about size, there’s no better way to watch the latest Star Wars episode than in an IMAX format as you get to appreciate its immersive universe, visual storytelling style, and special visual effects.
In the movie, the Skywalker saga continues as the heroes of The Force Awakens join the galactic legends in an epic adventure that unlocks age-old mysteries of the Force and shocking revelations of the past.
The film continues to add strong female character with Daisy Ridley’s character of Rey playing the central hero while the Resistance is in trouble and on the verge of being defeated. However, the main highlight of the film still lies on the epic battle between Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) that left the audience rather surprised and curious.
It was revealed that Luke had never actually left the island where he put himself in exile, rather, he was just using the Force to project a manifestation of himself on the salt fields of the planet Crait, the site of the Resistance’s stand-off with the First Order, to trick (or battle) Kylo Ren.
What’s more interesting about The Last Jedi is not just the most talked about battle between Skywalker and his nemesis as it also continues the trend of delivering messages about hope and courage, and the theme of growing up where a hero’s journey begins, which hints the transition for the next film. And that simply makes The Last Jedi one of the most anticipated films this year.