Star Wars: The Last Jedi Review - 8 Ups And 1 Down

2. Luke Skywalker

The Force Awakens may have brought Luke Skywalker back to the big screen for the first time in over 30 years, but it's The Last Jedi where he properly returns, and it's something very special indeed.

As was suggested in the marketing, this isn't the same Luke Skywalker fans grew up with. The idealistic young farm boy is gone, replaced by an old man filled with regret over past mistakes and fear of repeating them. It gives the character a much greater depth by exploring some of his off-screen history and pairing him up with the hopeful Rey: he could feel too much like Yoda, but Hamill keeps it different. He's grizzled and scarred, but also full of big philosophical musings about the nature of the Force beyond the Jedi Order.

He's come a long way from bulls-eyeing womp rats in his T-16 Skyhopper, and that's as true for Hamill as it is Skywalker. His acting in the original trilogy is often criticised, but he shows how much he's developed since then, and perfectly fits this new Luke while still allowing a recognisable glimmer of the man he once was to flicker occasionally. He can still be an inspiration and a beacon of hope, and it's Hamill's best performance in the role by a mile.