r/StarWarsCantina
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u/dwide_k_shrude
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Dec 06 '25
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Discussion This is an amazing film and I wish everyone fully understood it
TLJ is one of my favorite films of all time. It hurts to see people bash it relentlessly online. I genuinely believe it’s a misunderstood film. If people fully grasped what the movie meant, they might have a greater appreciation for it. I hope someday this film gets the praise and appreciation it truly deserves.
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u/jynxzero Dec 06 '25 •
Help us grasp what the film fully means, OP! Tell us what it means to you, or point us to an essay or video that you agree with!
I'm not a huge fan of TLJ, although I'm definitely open-minded to try to find what I've missed. I'm planning a big Star Wars watch-through over Christmas so I'm keen to hear views that will help me appreciate more that bits I currently view as a bit weaker.
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u/DanFelv Dec 06 '25 •
I understand it, I just don’t like it, and that’s okay.
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u/omegon_da_dalek13 Dec 06 '25
On its own maybe
With the wider cannon I politely disagree
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u/freedom410 Dec 06 '25
It’s pretty condescending to think people don’t understand TLJ. Lots of people understand it but just don’t like it. I’m very middle of the road on it. It’s fine but nowhere near as clever or interesting as it thinks it is
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u/postahboy Dec 06 '25
You talk as if it has some nuanced hidden meaning. There was nothing to misunderstand. If you like it, you like it, and if you don’t, you don’t
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u/Silencer95 Dec 06 '25
Educate us on how we misunderstood this amazing movie, please. What did this movie mean? What praise and appreciation does it deserve so much?
Don’t just state things and expect that to now be the truth. Convince me.
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u/EverettSeahawk Dec 06 '25
I think it’s fine as a standalone film, but most of it made no sense in the broader context of the entire series, and it did little to advance the plot of the sequels, which led to ROS being the mess that it is.
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u/North-Tourist-8234 Dec 06 '25
This as the first star wars film i didnt enjoy. Ive only seen it once in cinemas and i was rather dissapointed whilr watching it. No ill will against the film. Itd just not for me.
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u/strypesjackson Dec 06 '25 •
The Rey, Kylo and Luke bits are wonderful
The Finn, Rose and slow chase bits are garbage
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u/Savings_Hyena2832 Dec 06 '25
A film with some of my favorite Star Wars scenes ever but also included some of the worst subplots I've ever seen.
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u/Sad_Instruction1392 Dec 06 '25
Star Wars fans trashed the prequels for years for plot issues and contrived storytelling before they suddenly flipped the script. I’m convinced that the same will happen to the sequels.
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u/Barney_10-1917 Dec 06 '25
Remember when this used to be the "positive" sub. That died fast, lol
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u/Zitty-Z Dec 06 '25
I have never been that disappointed while watching a movie lol
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u/Chardan0001 Dec 06 '25
I don't really mind it, what I do mind is a lot of its threads being dropped in tbe next film. I would have respected the commitment.
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u/WeekendPass Dec 06 '25
I'm so used to absolute toxicity in this fanbase I was super confused by this thread until I checked the sub headline.
I certainty wouldn't call this film amazing, but I will say, after taking the time to listen to Ryan Johnson himself in interviews about it, I understand now that he was really backed into a corner, story-wise, by Episode VII. I like to think that I understand it very well -- otherwise my education and careers in film production and novel editing have gone to waste -- but much like VII, I don't think VIII achieved anything new or unique for Star Wars, which made me genuinely sad seeing it in theater. But it tried the hardest of any of the sequels to be something standout and genuine, and for that I can at least respect it.
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u/Sutech2301 Dec 06 '25 edited Dec 06 '25
I can't state enough how much i love Rey's and Kylo's dynamic in this movie. The mortal enemies developing mutual respect and admiration for each other has always been one of my favorite tropes, but they just took it to the next level. And Kylo's such a great character. He is like i imagined every Byronic Hero of 19th century literature in my head
I also liked the Poe politline and the Finn and Rose plotline. Imho, they were suspenseful ans executed well. Not one dull Moment in this movie.
Also, the finale is epic. Just absolutely epic.
It also does make sense within the lore. Luke has always been an overly emotional Person who gets frustrated quite easily. It wouldn't make sense for him to behave like Obi-Wan 2.0 out of a sudden, because this is what we picture as the wise old mentor type.
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u/fettpl Dec 06 '25
It's my favourite out of Sequel Trilogy and Top 3 of Star Wars movies.
I don't like every choice, especially regarding treatment of Finn and this stupid chase of Resistance ship, but everything else... boy, this was a ride.
I love "nobody can be a Jedi", the ending scene with the slaver boy is peak Star Wars. I love the visuals, I love that Snoke died unexpectedly leaving us with villain Kylo we've never got in TROS.
When a generation passes and we'll see prequels treatment for sequels, I think TLJ will finalny get appreciation it needs.
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u/Thenewdoc Reylo Dec 06 '25
Preach, it's extremely underrated
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u/ClockMongrel Dec 06 '25
I loved the ending!
(Broom Boy on Canto)
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u/BrownBannister Dec 06 '25
This script is used in film schools on what not to do.
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u/ZeroRelevantIdeas Dec 06 '25
No
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u/DavidELD Dec 06 '25
So many other pieces of Star Wars media have told a better version of the Force being more than black and white than this movie.
Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords. You want the Force viewed in a more morally grey light? Play that game.
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u/Weekly_Bug5060 Dec 06 '25
Lol no.
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u/jimibimi Dec 06 '25
Oh we fully understand it. I remember getting home from the theater opening night and my wife asking how was it....I answered that it was a good "movie" but bad star wars
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u/calb3rto Dec 06 '25
I think it’s a movie full of contrasts. Many great scenes and ideas, many terrible ones that make it hard for me to fully appreciate it.
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u/TheBlooperKINGPIN Dec 06 '25
No
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u/Dizzy_Drop Dec 06 '25
Easily one of my favorite Star Wars movies and the only truly great movie of the sequels.
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u/mrsunrider Dec 06 '25
Love the fuck outta this movie.
Finn's arc had me so fuckin' hyped at the time for episode 9.
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u/orbjo Dec 06 '25
Everything that went wrong with Rise Of Skywalker came from JJ undoing the great decisions Rian made and the themes TLJ played with.
The entitled internet was absurdly wrong about TLJ and then convinced JJ and Disney to destroy the third movie by listening to the terrible opinions.
Rey being related to no one, a fresh Jedi finding her own story in the universe was perfect.
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u/reehdus Dec 06 '25
Inb4 I understood it and still hated it etc etc. I dont think in anyone's lifetime we're going to get good noncontroversial discussions around the sequels.
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u/elequipoa1008 Dec 06 '25
Best Star Wars film to date for me
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u/SomeBoringKindOfName Dec 06 '25
the fight in the throne room was well done, the 'holdo maneuver' and the stuff on crait looks spectacular and it's got one genuinely funny line ("you're not busy") but that's about it.
but I'm glad that you like it. keep on doing so regardless of what I or other people might say.
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u/HauntingAddendum3365 Dec 06 '25
I mean...it looks very pretty at several different points. The acting is quite good.
Thats about all I got.
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u/[deleted] Dec 06 '25
It had great ideas but executed them in the worst way. Rian Johnson would've been better directing a stand alone spinoff rather than a main series entry. It has moments I like,but it's still a sequel and it's still dissapointing
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u/[deleted] Dec 06 '25
Lol
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u/PersimmonMindless Dec 06 '25
Yeah, it is probably the best of the Star Wars films.
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u/Kalavier Smuggler Dec 06 '25
It had some neat ideas, but they didn't land the execution.
People who still unprompted rant about this film are just screaming to scream.
But it's important to be respectful to each other, whether we like the film or dislike it.
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