The first reactions to Star Wars: The Last Jedi are in, and the response is overwhelmingly positive. Phew! The film, which is Episode VIII in the phenomenally successful franchise, premiered in LA at the weekend and was dedicated to the late Carrie Fisher, who died last December at the age of 60.
Fisher, of course, played Leia in the franchise and finished her work on The Last Jedi before her untimely passing. Director Rian Johnson introduced the film at the screening, and led the tribute to the much-loved — and much-missed — actress, encouraging fans to “have a blast… for Carrie.” He also said, “I want to dedicate tonight to Carrie, who is up there right now flipping me the bird, saying: ‘Damn it, Rian — don’t you dare make this night a solemn tribute'”.
Here are some of the best reactions to the film from the people who’ve seen it:
#StarWars: The Last Jedi is so beautifully human, populist, funny, and surprising. I cried when one POC heroine got her moment because films like these leave their mark on entire generations — and representation matters
— jen yamato (@jenyamato) December 10, 2017
#TheLastJedi is absolutely fantastic – gripping, touching, funny and powerful w/ gorgeous shots and the most badass battles. When it gets going, holy crap does it get going. Hands down the best #StarWars movie since Empire pic.twitter.com/nWWAhlNMJo
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) December 10, 2017
There’s a scene in #StarWars #TheLastJedi that I keep playing over and over in my head, that is so stunning and unexpected that I don’t want to forget how I felt seeing it for the first time. This movie feels unlike any other Star Wars movie in all the ways I hoped. pic.twitter.com/zlDW4yOjp2
— Terri Schwartz (@Terri_Schwartz) December 10, 2017
There aren’t enough words to express how much I LOVED #StarWars #TheLastJedi! It is mind-blowing! I’m in geek heaven! pic.twitter.com/unXfYMkIle
— Jenna Busch-Henderson (@JennaBusch) December 10, 2017
You all have no idea what you're about to see. The saga has truly changed forever #TheLastJedi
— The ForceCast (@ForcecastNet) December 10, 2017
Guys. @rianjohnson has made the most epic, emotionally powerful @starwars film ever. Hands down. My strong advice is to be very wary of spoilers. The less you know about #TheLastJedi, the better. Bravo, bravo, bravo.
— Clayton Sandell (@Clayton_Sandell) December 10, 2017
#TheLastJedi is incredibly satisfying and hands down Mark Hamill's best performance as Luke Skywalker
— Aaron Couch (@AaronCouch) December 10, 2017
Some well-known names chipped in to offer their two-penn’orth, including Alan Tudyk who played droid K-2SO in Rogue One and just had to Tweet a spoiler…
And Black Panther himself, Chadwick Boseman, who shared his succinct response:
The Force is strong with this movie. #StarWars #TheLastJedi pic.twitter.com/l3pNvhQ0H1
— Chadwick Boseman (@chadwickboseman) December 10, 2017
Chewbacca actor Peter Mayhew posed with composer John Williams and praised the film’s music:
Wonderful hearing the master at work again.#TheLastJedi #SWSRedCarpet pic.twitter.com/iTb1RiEJab
— Peter Mayhew Foundation (@TheWookieeRoars) December 10, 2017
While A Wrinkle in Time director Ava DuVernay called the film a “total joy-ride”:
And Logan director James Mangold labelled it “dazzling”, “spectacular” and “unpredictable”:
Massive congrats to my friend @rianjohnson for the dazzling writing and directing work he shared tonight! Yes, a great chapter of a blockbuster franchise, spectacular and unpredictable, but also his own voice shining through… kudos!
— Mangold (@mang0ld) December 10, 2017
Star Wars veteran Warwick Davis, meanwhile, praised its “humour”, “action” and “starwarsiness”:
What an amazing night the World Premiere of @StarWars #TheLastJedi. The fans were fantastic, seeing old friends was lovely, and the movie was incredible! The humour, the action and the overall ‘starwarsiness’ was outstanding. The Force is strong with @rianjohnson. Bravo! #Porg pic.twitter.com/rmN3um2t4o
— Warwick Davis (@WarwickADavis) December 10, 2017
And in the interests of balance — and The Last Jedi is all about balance, or so we’re led to believe — these posts are slightly less enthusiastic in their praise:
Part VIII of the epic space saga sees Carrie Fisher bow out as the iconic General Leia and picks up the story of former-stormtrooper-turned-good-guy, Finn, and the Force-sensitive hero from Episode VII, Rey — who was last seen atop a mountain having tracked down an elusive Luke Skywalker. Here’s the official synopsis:
In Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi, 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.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi hits screens in the UK on December 14 and in the US on December 15.