I know, ANOTHER thread about TLJ. Yes, calm down, I've been thinking about making this thread for some time and feel now is a good enough time. Also, I feel it belongs outside the OT because I want to focus the discussion exclusively on Luke Skywalker, not Canto Bight or Rose or Poe-Holdo or Rey or anything else, I just want to discuss Luke.
Now, with that out of the way, I (as I'm sure many others) can state that I was most excited to see TLJ because of one thing, LUKE FUCKING SKYWALKER. While I have my issues with TFA, I think JJ made the right call by keeping Luke out of the movie, the new cast needed time to shine in the spotlight and Han's relationship with Ren needed to be the central focus point regarding an OG character. So, with that movie out of the way, I was hyped beyond the moon at getting a look at an older, wiser, and more powerful Luke Skywalker. One whose been around the galaxy and back, whose faced insurmountable odds, whose tasted victory, and faced defeat. But, most importantly, one that would effectively pass the torch of the franchise on to the new characters.
LUKE SKYWALKER, THE HERO IN US ALL.
At this point, I feel I need to stop and backtrack a bit so we can understand how important Luke Skywalker is not just to me, but most fans and the Star Wars franchise in general. Luke in ANH is a fucking goofy nobody. He's a dirt farmer on a dirt planet that dreams of doing something important with his life. He plays with his model flight ship and bickers with his "parents" about the harvest. In ANH, Luke in every way represents us. Every kid who every dreamed of doing something with their life but felt trapped due to their circumstances whether it be familial commitments or other general responsibilities seemingly thrust on them. People often talk about how whiny Luke is in ANH, as if that's a bad thing, again he's supposed to be whiny because he is a kid. Luke is us. He's not the best at everything, in fact he's frequently made fun of and beat up. Yet, he believes in himself.
And, through seeming luck, this dork gets swept up on a grand adventure, discovers he might potentially have some hidden power, and helps save the galaxy from the clutches of the evil empire all the while making some cool friends along the way. Your classic Hero's Journey. Yet, as the series moves on Luke is confronted with some harsh inner truths. Yoda chides his childish recklessness and his inability to focus on the present instead of dreaming of the future (hmmm, the very thing that almost gets him captured at the end) when he expresses his desire to become a Jedi. By the end of Empire, he learns that things aren't as clear as they seem as the truth of Vader is revealed to him. And, he comes to understand that beating the Empire will no longer be the sweet victory he once believed. In other words, Luke grew up.
Finally, we get to ROTJ where Luke's mentors are all gone leaving him with the sole responsibility of The Last Jedi and tasked with defeating Vader. Yet, through it all, he stays true to his heart, resists The Dark Side, and saves his father. And, in dong so, the galaxy. His initial journey has reached its end and the whiny farmboy we were introduced to at the start has become a full Jedi Master with a future all his own to shape. He's become an adult.
ENTER THE LAST JEDI
Needless to say, I was disappointed with the Luke I got in TLJ. But, before you go typing up a response, understand that my disappointment is likely different than most everyone else and perhaps even yours. You see, I don't mind the majority of the creative direction Rian took with Luke Skywalker. In fact, I quite like the majority of them. I'm okay with Luke being a failed, miserable, recluse. I'm fine with him briefly contemplating killing his own nephew. And, I thought his final Force Projection movie was brilliant and EXACTLY the type of thing I wanted to see from an older Luke Skywalker. However, the problems for me come in two forms: A) The Execution and B) Luke's death.
I said before that I like TLJ, way more than TFA. But, for me the problem with Luke (and much of the movie) is that while I enjoy most of the concepts and themes, the execution is muddled. For example, the big first shock about Luke's character is that he's basically given up. He wants the Jedi to end and has completely cut himself off from The Force. This coming from the guy who saved the galaxy without resorting to killing his father, who never gave up. Conceptually it's quite interesting, but the actual execution in the movie basically resorts to Luke sitting in a cave and whining about how dumb the Jedi are until Yoda hits him on the head. Afterwards, he "gets up" at the very end and then dies...
You can't help but go, "that was it? What was the point of that?" It's not even Rey that really convinces Luke to do something, he has to have the ghost of an OG character show up to tell him he's an idiot. Hey Yoda, I've been sitting here alone for quite some time now, why didn't you tell me any of this shit before? Again, the execution is just muddled. We could've gotten more flashbacks to his academy to flesh out his feelings about the Jedi or he and Rey could have gone on some adventure on their own on the island that tied to Luke's desire to end the cycle of violence between the Sith and Jedi. After all, he specifically sought out the First Jedi Temple, surely there had to be something there he was interested in initially? Why not have him and Rey searching the Temple island chain for some truth or what have you?
Regardless, even worse than Luke sitting in a cave spouting nonsense is the fact that he doesn't actually train Rey. He gives her only one lesson that could be considered valuable and the rest are just garbage blabberings about the Jedi needing to end that the film specifically tells us should be rejected. Why are we forced to listen to him blather on about things we know the film doesn't want us to believe? This especially hurts Rey who arguably didn't learn a single thing from Luke. The most important character in Star Wars, a symbol of everything good and right, has basically nothing wise to say for the entire film. It's all cynical nonsense. It's one thing if his ideas were an interesting counter-point, that maybe sometimes it's better to do nothing than charge head first into a situation with a sword drawn. That perhaps not fighting is sometimes the best option. But again, the film does not reinforce any of Luke's ideas, we're specifically told they are mostly wrong. That heroes and legends are needed as are The Jedi, however imperfect they may be. So much for The Wise Luke Skywalker.
But, the REAL kicker, and why I made this thread about him deserving better, is Luke's death? WHY DID THAT NEED TO HAPPEN? What purpose did it serve? Remember, I'm not criticizing his final Force Projection move, that was brilliant. I'm talking specifically his death a second later. You see, I could almost accept everything done with his character in TLJ assuming we got "proper" wise Luke in the final movie. But, Rian just up and kills Luke without any real reason as to why. I find his death problematic for several reasons:
A) It deflates his final move. Luke's Force Projection is an amazing feat that has everyone clapping in the audience once it is revealed. Yet, in the two times I've seen the movie, everyone in the audience just feels confused and deflated when Luke just "disappears." The lingering question in the air is WHY? And, huh? First, the initial reveal tricks the audience into believing Luke is okay. Everyone was primed for an Obi-Wan moment when Ren ran at him. Yet, we were amazed to see him alright. At which point Luke tells Ben, "see you around, kid." The implication is clear, Luke just pulled the wool over the entire First Order, saved the day, and all without risking his life. And then he dies...
If the Force Projection was such a lethal move, then functionally what difference is there between Luke showing up in person and Luke projecting himself? The risk is the same, and the fact that everyone believed that Luke could stand up to TFO alone means that he likely could have done all that physically. So, why not just have him physically there to fight Ben and then die Obi-Wan style? What purpose is there to the Force Projection if he dies any way. It turns what is an amazing feat and cool trick into something confusing and pointless.
B) HAN SOLO GOT THE BETTER DEATH. And, this is the one that really gets me. Remember, Luke Skywalker was the hero for an entire generation of people. He was us. Han Solo, as cool as he can be, is NOT Luke Skywalker. He is not us. He's a male fantasy. There is a reason the smooth charming, womanizing, rogue isn't the main character of the OT meanwhile the whiny, farm hick is. Yet, Han Solo was given the best exit between the two characters. He got to take on the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi, he met the whole new cast, went on a whole adventure with them, got to mentor them and give them valuable life advice, and then died sacrificing himself to try and save the galaxy and his family. It's the perfect send off to an OG character.
And then comes Luke in TLJ, the most beloved character. He sits on an island the whole movie, only interacts with Rey, and then dies at the end after briefly saying hello to Leia and Threepio. WHAT?! Luke doesn't get to meet Finn, doesn't get to berate Poe, barely has a conversation with Chewie, doesn't get to have some weird droid humor with BB-8, nothing. He just gets to die, alone. And, that's the key part I want to harp on. Luke Skywalker died alone. He didn't even get to die with his apprentice by his side or within view of his friends, he died completely alone. That's just wrong. As it stands, Han Solo had a greater impact on the lives of this new set of characters than Luke Skywalker, The Last Jedi.
Now, I know what some will say. Hey man, we'll likely get more Luke in Episode IX, we'll likely get to see him mentor Rey in that. But, you people are missing the reality. Luke Skywalker is dead, whatever form he may exist in the next episode doesn't change this fact. His days of adventuring are over, he's not going to be sitting around the whole movie in the presence of the new cast giving advice and cracking jokes. He's dead. And, somehow I doubt he'll be showing up as a Force Ghost to non-Jedi characters. I could be wrong, in fact I hope I am, but I doubt it.
As it stands, Luke Skywalker was killed off without any real reason having interacted with less than a quarter of the new characters. His last send off wasn't the graceful passing of the torch to the new generation but a begrudging exit. Which is why I say that, Luke Skywalker deserved better.
Thoughts?
Now, with that out of the way, I (as I'm sure many others) can state that I was most excited to see TLJ because of one thing, LUKE FUCKING SKYWALKER. While I have my issues with TFA, I think JJ made the right call by keeping Luke out of the movie, the new cast needed time to shine in the spotlight and Han's relationship with Ren needed to be the central focus point regarding an OG character. So, with that movie out of the way, I was hyped beyond the moon at getting a look at an older, wiser, and more powerful Luke Skywalker. One whose been around the galaxy and back, whose faced insurmountable odds, whose tasted victory, and faced defeat. But, most importantly, one that would effectively pass the torch of the franchise on to the new characters.
LUKE SKYWALKER, THE HERO IN US ALL.
At this point, I feel I need to stop and backtrack a bit so we can understand how important Luke Skywalker is not just to me, but most fans and the Star Wars franchise in general. Luke in ANH is a fucking goofy nobody. He's a dirt farmer on a dirt planet that dreams of doing something important with his life. He plays with his model flight ship and bickers with his "parents" about the harvest. In ANH, Luke in every way represents us. Every kid who every dreamed of doing something with their life but felt trapped due to their circumstances whether it be familial commitments or other general responsibilities seemingly thrust on them. People often talk about how whiny Luke is in ANH, as if that's a bad thing, again he's supposed to be whiny because he is a kid. Luke is us. He's not the best at everything, in fact he's frequently made fun of and beat up. Yet, he believes in himself.
And, through seeming luck, this dork gets swept up on a grand adventure, discovers he might potentially have some hidden power, and helps save the galaxy from the clutches of the evil empire all the while making some cool friends along the way. Your classic Hero's Journey. Yet, as the series moves on Luke is confronted with some harsh inner truths. Yoda chides his childish recklessness and his inability to focus on the present instead of dreaming of the future (hmmm, the very thing that almost gets him captured at the end) when he expresses his desire to become a Jedi. By the end of Empire, he learns that things aren't as clear as they seem as the truth of Vader is revealed to him. And, he comes to understand that beating the Empire will no longer be the sweet victory he once believed. In other words, Luke grew up.
Finally, we get to ROTJ where Luke's mentors are all gone leaving him with the sole responsibility of The Last Jedi and tasked with defeating Vader. Yet, through it all, he stays true to his heart, resists The Dark Side, and saves his father. And, in dong so, the galaxy. His initial journey has reached its end and the whiny farmboy we were introduced to at the start has become a full Jedi Master with a future all his own to shape. He's become an adult.
ENTER THE LAST JEDI
Needless to say, I was disappointed with the Luke I got in TLJ. But, before you go typing up a response, understand that my disappointment is likely different than most everyone else and perhaps even yours. You see, I don't mind the majority of the creative direction Rian took with Luke Skywalker. In fact, I quite like the majority of them. I'm okay with Luke being a failed, miserable, recluse. I'm fine with him briefly contemplating killing his own nephew. And, I thought his final Force Projection movie was brilliant and EXACTLY the type of thing I wanted to see from an older Luke Skywalker. However, the problems for me come in two forms: A) The Execution and B) Luke's death.
I said before that I like TLJ, way more than TFA. But, for me the problem with Luke (and much of the movie) is that while I enjoy most of the concepts and themes, the execution is muddled. For example, the big first shock about Luke's character is that he's basically given up. He wants the Jedi to end and has completely cut himself off from The Force. This coming from the guy who saved the galaxy without resorting to killing his father, who never gave up. Conceptually it's quite interesting, but the actual execution in the movie basically resorts to Luke sitting in a cave and whining about how dumb the Jedi are until Yoda hits him on the head. Afterwards, he "gets up" at the very end and then dies...
You can't help but go, "that was it? What was the point of that?" It's not even Rey that really convinces Luke to do something, he has to have the ghost of an OG character show up to tell him he's an idiot. Hey Yoda, I've been sitting here alone for quite some time now, why didn't you tell me any of this shit before? Again, the execution is just muddled. We could've gotten more flashbacks to his academy to flesh out his feelings about the Jedi or he and Rey could have gone on some adventure on their own on the island that tied to Luke's desire to end the cycle of violence between the Sith and Jedi. After all, he specifically sought out the First Jedi Temple, surely there had to be something there he was interested in initially? Why not have him and Rey searching the Temple island chain for some truth or what have you?
Regardless, even worse than Luke sitting in a cave spouting nonsense is the fact that he doesn't actually train Rey. He gives her only one lesson that could be considered valuable and the rest are just garbage blabberings about the Jedi needing to end that the film specifically tells us should be rejected. Why are we forced to listen to him blather on about things we know the film doesn't want us to believe? This especially hurts Rey who arguably didn't learn a single thing from Luke. The most important character in Star Wars, a symbol of everything good and right, has basically nothing wise to say for the entire film. It's all cynical nonsense. It's one thing if his ideas were an interesting counter-point, that maybe sometimes it's better to do nothing than charge head first into a situation with a sword drawn. That perhaps not fighting is sometimes the best option. But again, the film does not reinforce any of Luke's ideas, we're specifically told they are mostly wrong. That heroes and legends are needed as are The Jedi, however imperfect they may be. So much for The Wise Luke Skywalker.
But, the REAL kicker, and why I made this thread about him deserving better, is Luke's death? WHY DID THAT NEED TO HAPPEN? What purpose did it serve? Remember, I'm not criticizing his final Force Projection move, that was brilliant. I'm talking specifically his death a second later. You see, I could almost accept everything done with his character in TLJ assuming we got "proper" wise Luke in the final movie. But, Rian just up and kills Luke without any real reason as to why. I find his death problematic for several reasons:
A) It deflates his final move. Luke's Force Projection is an amazing feat that has everyone clapping in the audience once it is revealed. Yet, in the two times I've seen the movie, everyone in the audience just feels confused and deflated when Luke just "disappears." The lingering question in the air is WHY? And, huh? First, the initial reveal tricks the audience into believing Luke is okay. Everyone was primed for an Obi-Wan moment when Ren ran at him. Yet, we were amazed to see him alright. At which point Luke tells Ben, "see you around, kid." The implication is clear, Luke just pulled the wool over the entire First Order, saved the day, and all without risking his life. And then he dies...
If the Force Projection was such a lethal move, then functionally what difference is there between Luke showing up in person and Luke projecting himself? The risk is the same, and the fact that everyone believed that Luke could stand up to TFO alone means that he likely could have done all that physically. So, why not just have him physically there to fight Ben and then die Obi-Wan style? What purpose is there to the Force Projection if he dies any way. It turns what is an amazing feat and cool trick into something confusing and pointless.
B) HAN SOLO GOT THE BETTER DEATH. And, this is the one that really gets me. Remember, Luke Skywalker was the hero for an entire generation of people. He was us. Han Solo, as cool as he can be, is NOT Luke Skywalker. He is not us. He's a male fantasy. There is a reason the smooth charming, womanizing, rogue isn't the main character of the OT meanwhile the whiny, farm hick is. Yet, Han Solo was given the best exit between the two characters. He got to take on the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi, he met the whole new cast, went on a whole adventure with them, got to mentor them and give them valuable life advice, and then died sacrificing himself to try and save the galaxy and his family. It's the perfect send off to an OG character.
And then comes Luke in TLJ, the most beloved character. He sits on an island the whole movie, only interacts with Rey, and then dies at the end after briefly saying hello to Leia and Threepio. WHAT?! Luke doesn't get to meet Finn, doesn't get to berate Poe, barely has a conversation with Chewie, doesn't get to have some weird droid humor with BB-8, nothing. He just gets to die, alone. And, that's the key part I want to harp on. Luke Skywalker died alone. He didn't even get to die with his apprentice by his side or within view of his friends, he died completely alone. That's just wrong. As it stands, Han Solo had a greater impact on the lives of this new set of characters than Luke Skywalker, The Last Jedi.
Now, I know what some will say. Hey man, we'll likely get more Luke in Episode IX, we'll likely get to see him mentor Rey in that. But, you people are missing the reality. Luke Skywalker is dead, whatever form he may exist in the next episode doesn't change this fact. His days of adventuring are over, he's not going to be sitting around the whole movie in the presence of the new cast giving advice and cracking jokes. He's dead. And, somehow I doubt he'll be showing up as a Force Ghost to non-Jedi characters. I could be wrong, in fact I hope I am, but I doubt it.
As it stands, Luke Skywalker was killed off without any real reason having interacted with less than a quarter of the new characters. His last send off wasn't the graceful passing of the torch to the new generation but a begrudging exit. Which is why I say that, Luke Skywalker deserved better.
Thoughts?
