But that's not why I have always loved the original Star Wars movies, and the last one, The Force Awakens, the first of the "modern era". For me it has always been about the characters. I have always loved Luke and Leia and Han and Chewbacca and the funny little droids. We lost Han in the last movie, but finally Luke and Leia reunite, if just briefly.
However, this movie is about establishing a new order. The old characters are aging, and in fact, in real life we have lost Leia, Carrie Fisher. New characters are arising, characters we can care about. The era of the Jedi is over.
I left the movie with tears streaming down my face. I don't expect young people to get why I have reacted so emotionally, but here's why.
I am one of those old characters in the scheme of things. My time is passing on. The young people, my kids and grand kids and their cohorts, are the ones building their lives and influencing their world. They are the inheritors of the life force we have handed down to them.
Out with the old, in with the new, is a phrase we say at New Years, but not so fast. Like Leia and Luke in this film, I am still a force to be reckoned with.
We got a glimpse in the film of the youth that will be the new order, or perhaps I should say, the new Resistance. They will be wonderful, and we can count of Star Wars movies into the future.
It's hard to say goodbye to old friends. Luke and Leia will be gone, but their power lives on. And for those of us old characters still around, we will still radiate our power in the lives of those we are close to. The Force is with us.
Happy New Year. May the Resistance live on in 2018.
Oddly I felt the same way at the end of the movie. I loved the old characters and their relationships, but a lot of that was nostalgia for what we knew as younger adults. It was the best of the sequels, I thought.
ReplyDeleteOkay, now I will go see it, since I've gotten so many different takes on the movie. This one resonates with me, Linda. Thank you for showing me how to appreciate it. :-)
ReplyDeletegood take on star wars and youth and us perennials that keep trying to bloom and be an influence for good until that day....
ReplyDeleteHAPPY NEW YEAR, LINDA! ALOHA FROM HAWAII.
ReplyDeleteI loved it too, and thanks for sharing your insights into it. Happy New Year, Linda and Tom.
ReplyDeleteI’m moving into sea otter mode for this time in my life, kick back, relax, and enjoy the swim. I’m looking forward to watching the ‘youngers’ assuming leadership roles.
ReplyDeleteHappy new Year! I think I saw the first Star Wars movie...sci fi is not my thing:)
ReplyDeleteI have only seen the first Star Wars but I completely understand your review in its touching significance.
ReplyDeleteI saw the first one and the Ewok one (they were so cute) but I am not sure I want to see the aging of those early heroes. Might make me cry also.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year.
Neat way to wish us a happy new year.
ReplyDeleteGreat movie, great thoughts about it! May the Force be with you.
ReplyDeleteI loved this movie as well and for most of the same reasons you listed! And as you said - we are still a force to be reckoned with!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Oh wow! I've never been a big Star Wars fan, but understand and appreciate how you feel.
ReplyDeleteGoodbye old friends. Must go see the movie.
ReplyDeleteI loved the movie. And I love what you wrote about it. Thank you and Happy 2018!
ReplyDeleteOh doggone it! I just wrote a long comment and it disappeared. I should have been doing this on my desktop instead of the laptop which jumps all over the place. I'll be back.
ReplyDeleteOK... I'm back.
ReplyDeleteI'd heard that critics loved The Last Jedi more than audiences did and yet all my friends and relatives who have seen it really liked it so I wasn't sure what to think. Art has been badgering me to check and see if you liked it. I've been so wrapped up in finishing stuff around here that I haven't been able to get back to checking up to see what everybody has been up to. Anyway, he'll love what you wrote, as I did. I guess the title The Last Jedi infers that Luke is going to be gone like Han and Leia. Sigh... I see where I'm going to be in tears too. Thank you so much for this post, Linda. We're going to see the movie in the next few days to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Happy New Year!