20 Best Movies Of 2017
2. Star Wars: The Last Jedi
The most recent film on this list, with The Last Jedi just squeezing in after a December 14 release in the UK, and one of the most divisive. Some Star Wars fans may not be happy with Rian Johnson's Episode VIII, but every decision made in the film brilliantly serves its characters and themes, crafting something recognisably Star Wars while taking the galaxy in bold new directions.
The movie is an exhilarating ride and one that, even as the longest Star Wars movie ever, is expertly paced. Within that time it finds a perfect balance; it's funny (and yet, repeat viewing will highlight there's not actually as much humour as some are making out) but also highly emotional, full of exciting action but character-driven; there's darkness and light.
It looks beautiful and evocative, with the use of red especially creating locales that leave an indelible image upon the viewer, and is superbly acted, with Adam Driver's Kylo Ren and Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker delivering particularly great, complex work. It pushes the characters and the saga in unexpected and delightful ways, with Johnson showing and realising a staggering amount of ambition, and it ties into the franchise's core themes of sacrifice and hope, destiny and the myth of the hero's journey, power and the Force.
The movie defies expectations of threads setup by J.J. Abrams in jaw-dropping fashion, and it's exciting to think about where things might go next after this. If The Force Awakens was raw, untrained power, then The Last Jedi is something truly special.