Writer/director Rian Johnson brought purpose and direction to this new Star Wars trilogy, and I’m suddenly eager to see what comes next. Where The Force Awakens felt at times like it was fan-service that had been subjected to far too many focus groups, The Last Jedi feels like a movie told by someone with a clear story they wanted to tell. Not only is it a better film than The Force Awakens in almost every way, its boldness and daring alongside its very clear artistic vision have renewed my enthusiasm for this new trilogy. So when I say The Last Jedi has brought me peace with regards to the new movies, I mean that as a huge compliment. (On the other hand, I 100% love Rogue One, even if its characters aren’t nearly as strong as those in The Force Awakens.) I understand why they did it, but The Force Awakens did not justify these new uncharted waters they were sailing. Most of all, it bothered me that they were continuing the main series of films without George Lucas, and in fact intentionally disregarding any plans he might have had for them. It also was far too much of a remake of A New Hope, which is not a huge deal for me the way it is for other people but which felt kind of lazy. It occasionally felt too much like fan fiction (and I don’t mean that as a compliment), and it tried too hard to try to distance itself from the prequels. I felt its tone was inconsistent and its humor occasionally felt forced or like it didn’t fit stylistically within the greater Star Wars saga. At the same time, there were a number of things in The Force Awakens that did not sit well with me, which ultimately served as distractions from the experience. I enjoyed seeing the old favorites back, I appreciated the way it tried to honor the films that came before, and generally found it to be both a fun ride and an emotional experience.

I thought the new cast of characters were all compelling, particularly Rey and Finn. There was a lot that I loved about The Force Awakens two years ago.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the film that finally allowed me to be at peace with the new trilogy of Star Wars movies.

Free Star Wars Ep. VIII: The Last Jedi