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****
Dir: Rian Johnson (12A 130 mins)
The Force Awakens shook up the Star Wars universe under JJ Abrams’ reverential direction. After the disappointments of the sci-fi prequels, Episode VII truly delivered for Star Wars and non-Star Wars fans. Now Rian Johnson, the director of classy nourish films like Brick and Looper has been handed the keys to the Millennium Falcon, will this next instalment be the new trilogy’s Empire Strikes Back – darker in tone – or something else entirely? Luke Skywalker (in the shape of a now-grizzled Mark Hamill) will be taking a more pivotal role as Rey (Daisy Ridley) goes on a journey to discover her own abilities about her own. Is she the Last Jedi of the title? All the other cast members are returning, with Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) possibly seeking redemption, Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) flying more X-Wings and Finn (John Boyega) wielding his own lightsabre. Hopefully this will have the same crowd pleasing mix of new and old, with droids BB-8, C-3PO and R2-D2 siting confidently alongside each other as Chewbacca gains a cuddly small sidekick aimed at the Christmas market in the shape of a creature called a Porg. It will of course be Carrie Fisher’s last outing as Princess Leia and for that reason alone is unmissable. The Force will be strong in this one.
Opens December 13