By Monica Solano
The force is strong with this one. The latest entailment in the epic space saga, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, takes audience members on yet another exciting and emotional journey to restore hope in the universe.
After joining the Resistance and in search of her identity, Rey sets out to the island of Ahch-To in search of Jedi Master Luke Skywalker to convince him to come out of hiding and stand up against Kylo Ren and the First Order.
Meanwhile, the Resistance continues to fight against the dark side as Poe, Finn, BB-8 and mechanic Rose Tico embark on a secret plan to disable the First Order fleet’s tracking device in order to escape their wrath.
Although believing the way of the Jedi should ultimately come to an end, Luke eventually agrees to train the eager young girl. Rey slowly begins to develop her newly discovered abilities, however, Luke remains unsettled by the strength of her powers and fears a great darkness within the Force may arise.
While the film pays much tribute to the original trilogy with many Easter eggs thrown in here and there, it also does a great job telling a new story with a fresh take on a beloved tale while expanding an ever growing universe.
It is a perfect balance of nostalgia while moving the saga forward.
The acting was a major standout in this film. Each actor did a fantastic job portraying their characters and made the audience really feel the struggles they were enduring. 
Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver as Rey and Kylo Ren gave amazing performances showcasing their inner struggle when it came to doing the right thing as well as exploring this unusual bond that seems to connect them through the Force.
Mark Hamill was great at reprising his role as Luke Skywalker. His character had become an old grumpy hermit but was able to still find the light within himself and learn to get back up again.
Kelly Marie Tran as Rose was also a wonderful addition to the story as her character was not only at times brave and spunky but also kindhearted and dorky that many can relate to.
There is also a good lesson tied into the film that demonstrates how failure does not define a person, but rather it can be used as a way of learning and moving on from the past while also moving forward.
However, like every sequel, the movie does have its flaws. With unnecessary scenes, at times lack of plot and exposition, along with few forgettable and throwaway characters, it does feel as though it drags on at times.
Nevertheless, some of these flaws can be overlooked thanks to the stunning visuals and world-building, epic battle sequences, surprise twists, character development and one very special cameo that will have fans happily clapping in their seats.
And for those wondering if the cute little Porgs overstayed their welcome in the film, they don’t. Thankfully these creatures are adorable enough to where they do not become annoying (I’m looking at you Minions).
Overall, The Last Jedi is an enjoyably entertaining and fun film that has something for everybody to enjoy.
Overall Score: 8.5/10
