The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu.

Hyperdrive Action That Never Lets Up

Jon Favreau approaches this film like a kid finally being handed every single Star Wars toy imaginable and being told to go nuts with them on the biggest canvas possible. The result is a full-throttle adventure serial that barely pauses to catch its breath.

From a jaw-dropping opening battle on a frozen ice world involving towering AT-AT walkers, to grimy underworld escapades in the swamps of Nal Hutta, to brutal gladiatorial combat in the fighting pits of Shakari, this movie moves with the speed of a blaster bolt. Every set piece escalates the danger, the spectacle, and the sense of pure cinematic wonder.

And the best part? Favreau knows exactly what kind of movie he’s making.

This isn’t brooding sci-fi. This is popcorn cinema in its purest form. It’s adventurous, funny, heartfelt, and constantly swinging for the fences. You can feel the influence of classic matinee serials pulsing through every frame, while the IMAX presentation gives the whole experience an overwhelming sense of scale. Ships roar overhead, blaster fire shakes the room, and hyperspace jumps hit with breathtaking intensity.

This is the kind of movie that’ll have kids gripping their armrests while dads sit there grinning like they’re ten years old again.

The Heart Of The Story Belongs To Din And Grogu

As explosive as the action is, The Mandalorian and Grogu works because Favreau never loses sight of the emotional core at the centre of the chaos.

What makes this chapter especially compelling is how the relationship between Din and Grogu evolves. Audiences are used to seeing Din as the stoic protector, but here Favreau shifts the perspective slightly, allowing Grogu’s connection to his guardian to take on new emotional meaning. There’s a genuine tenderness to their dynamic, and the film leans heavily into themes of fatherhood, responsibility, and legacy without ever becoming overly sentimental.

That emotional exploration is mirrored through the introduction of Rotta the Hutt, played by Jeremy Allen White, the long-lost son of Jabba the Hutt. A former gladiator carrying his own emotional scars, Rotta becomes a fascinating counterpoint to Din and Grogu’s relationship, adding surprising depth to the story while giving the film one of its most intriguing new characters.

And yes, for fans worried about Grogu levels — don’t be. This is PEAK Grogu.

The little guy is adorable, chaotic, hilarious, and heroic all at once, and the audience in my screening absolutely ate it up.

Old-School Movie Magic Meets Modern Blockbuster Spectacle

One of the film’s greatest strengths is how beautifully it blends classic filmmaking techniques with cutting-edge blockbuster technology. Favreau and his creative team continue the visual language established in The Mandalorian, combining practical effects, puppetry, creature work, miniatures, and richly textured worldbuilding with state-of-the-art digital effects and lighting technology.

The result feels tangible in a way that so many modern blockbusters struggle to achieve.

Alien worlds feel lived-in. Creatures feel physical. Starships have weight and grit to them. There’s a tactile quality to everything that channels the spirit of George Lucas’ original trilogy while still embracing the massive cinematic scale modern audiences expect.

And honestly? That blend of old and new is where the magic happens.

Final Verdict: A Wild Ride For Every Generation Of Star Wars Fan

Whether you’re a lifelong devotee who grew up with the original trilogy, a dad introducing your kids to Star Wars for the first time, or a younger fan whose gateway into the galaxy was The Mandalorian, this movie absolutely delivers the goods.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is pure blockbuster escapism done right — exciting, emotional, funny, and packed with enough awe and spectacle to leave audiences completely exhilarated. It understands that Star Wars should feel adventurous. It should feel emotional. And above all else, it should make you feel like a kid again. So buckle up, punch the coordinates into hyperspace, and prepare for one hell of a ride.

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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Landing nationwide from April 27, the flame-grilled heavyweight is rolling out a limited-time menu inspired by The Mandalorian and everyone’s favourite Force-wielding foundling, Grogu — all in the lead-up to the duo’s big-screen debut this May.

This isn’t just a cheeky tie-in. It’s a full-blown, sauce-dripping, collectable-stacked event.

Built around bold flavours and big-screen energy, the Mandalorian-inspired lineup is pure fast-food escapism. The headline act? The Mandalorian WHOPPER Meal — because of course it is — alongside a Mandalorian Chicken Burger Meal, both packing enough punch to satisfy even the most battle-hardened bounty hunter.

But here’s where it gets dangerous for your wallet (and your shelf space): each adult meal comes with a limited-edition ceramic mug featuring Mando and Grogu. Yes — collectable. Yes — while stocks last. Yes — people will absolutely be hunting these down.

For the next generation of Jedi (or chaos agents, depending on sugar intake), the Mandalorian King Jr. Meal drops with eight collectable figurines — one per meal. It’s classic fast-food toy madness, now dipped in Beskar steel aesthetics.

And naturally, everything arrives wrapped in themed packaging designed to crank the immersion up to eleven. Think less “quick lunch stop,” more “pit stop on a smuggler’s run.”

This campaign isn’t playing small. It’s part of a global push tied to the cinematic rollout of The Mandalorian and Grogu, blending exclusive content, in-store takeovers, and a merch lineup that knows exactly what fans want.

There’s a clear play here: turn your local BK into a mini Star Wars outpost — minus the sand, plus fries.

Burger King isn’t just cashing in on nostalgia — it’s leaning all the way into the spectacle. Big flavours, collectable gear, and just enough theatrical flair to make your next drive-thru feel like a scene out of a galaxy far, far away.

Whether you’re in it for the burgers, the mugs, or the pure novelty of it all, one thing’s clear: This is the way.

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Check out the brand new trailer for Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu below:

The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu.

Here’s the official synopsis:

The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu.

Packed full of energetic moments, and promising a host of fantastic new action set pieces, along with Pedro Pascal delivering plenty of cool moments as the now iconic outlaw Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin, Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu brings together the storytelling talents of talented filmmakers Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, delivering an experience that will be utterly cinematic and take you on an adrenaline charged superdrive across a galaxy far, far away.

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Ready yourself for the magic, mystery and magnetism of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu when it arrives in cinemas on May 21.

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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Watch the brand new trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu below:

Here’s the official synopsis:

The evil Empire has fallen, and Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they have enlisted the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his young apprentice Grogu.

This new look teaser trailer gives audiences a peek into what awaits, and it includes plenty of action, a whole new scope to the Star Wars, plenty of fresh characters, and Baby Yoda, I mean Grogu, taking centre stage.

This teaser gives audiences a taste of what is to come, and filmmaker Jon Favreau is really leaning into the classic serial-style adventure that inspired George Lucas’ imagination all those years ago, and you see this both in the action and rhythm of the trailer, alongside the new look poster for the film, which promises ‘if you’re searching for new adventure…. THIS IS THE WAY.’

 

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The teaser trailer also hints at several important new characters to the franchise, including Sigourney Weaver as Ward, A colonel and leader of the New Republic’s Adelphi Rangers and an appearance by Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt, the son of deceased crime lord Jabba the Hutt, and a brutal gladiator who is bent on absolute power and control.

The Mandalorian and Grogu promise to be an extraordinary blockbuster cinematic experience of old-school adventure when it arrives in cinemas on May 21, 2026.

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Now with a fixed location on Moff Gideon’s Imperial Star Destroyer, the Mandalorian posse’s up with a team of heavy hitters who include Bo-Katan, Koska Reeves, Cara Dune, Fennec Shand and Boba Fett and makes his assault on Moff Gideon in a bid to rescue his beloved Grogu. From its opening moments to its shocking conclusion, ‘The Rescue’ is a straight-up, all-out action ride that genre fans will fall in love with, and this is Star Wars like we’ve always wanted to see it!

Director Peyton Reed returns to direct the series finale after his work on ‘Chapter 10: The Passenger’ and once again proves why he’s one of the biggest talents working in Hollywood today. Striking that perfect balance between action, suspense, drama and sentimentality, Reed’s direction of ‘The Rescue’ is about action as narrative and he structures the episode in such a way that each new moment feeds off the one before it. The story he tells in ‘The Rescue’ is simple and to the point. A child needs to be saved and the Mandalorian and his crew are the one’s to do it. But mixed in amongst so many different characters are new motivations and revelations and each moment of this episode grips you tighter and tighter until the third act’s shocking conclusion.

Reed brings a profound level of professionalism and focus to the events of ‘The Rescue’ and his work on this episode will leave long time Star Wars fans salivating. From pitched space battles that see Boba Fett face down a pair of TIE fighters, to high-speed blaster fights to a mano-o-mano duel between the Mandalorian and a Dark Trooper, ‘The Rescue’ is sure to have audiences on the edge of their seats. The Mandalorian has always made wish-fulfilment a big part of its production, and fans have long had many of their biggest Star Wars wishes come true with this series. ‘The Rescue’ again does this, but also delivers some shocking surprises, and sets the stage for a brand new arc in the coming third season that none of us could see coming.

Once more Pedro Pascal is out front in the vanguard as Din Djarin, and here he’s willing to go to any lengths to rescue his kidnapped son Grogu. For two seasons we’ve seen a deep and loving bond form between these two characters, and we can be certain that Djarin’s character will go to any length to protect Grogu, including sacrificing his own life if it means saving him. This attribute of the Mandalorian’s character is a defining feature of anyone who finds themself as a parent, and Pascal once again does a terrific job in portraying his love for The Child and his resolve to save him.

Facing down against Djarin and his crew is The Mandalorian’s big bad Moff Gideon who for two seasons has been portrayed by all-star performer Giancarlo Esposito. And in ‘The Rescue’, Esposito goes full dark side. Where the Mandalorian will do anything to protect Grogu, Esposito’s Moff Gideon will do everything in his power to take from The Child, and he’s not going to let his prize go without a serious fight. Esposito’s nature as a performer keeps you off guard the whole time while watching ‘The Rescue’, and as we’ve come to learn from his body of work we never know what he’s going to do next. This level of caginess and menace really builds up the tension and results in a pitched battle between good and evil.

In terms of its spectacle, ‘The Rescue’ absolutely delivers on the action front and this is Star Wars just the way we love it. Alongside its pitched space battles and blaster fights, there are two standout moments that absolutely cement the episode’s blockbuster thrills. The first is an intense brawl between the Mandalorian and a Dark Trooper which exemplifies the base battle between man and machine. And Reed delivers some chilling suspense as the Mandalorian is beaten to within an inch of his life in this intense fight. The second is the mano-o-mano duel which pits Djarin’s Beskar against Gideon’s Dark Saber, and if you through lightsaber duels where fun, just wait till you see this! Sparks fly in this pitched battle between good and evil, and Reed certainly has his audience hooked.

In discussing ‘The Rescue’ we cannot move past the shocking moments of the episode’s third act and the return of a legendary Jedi master. This is the moment that made the entire episode for me, and it’s the meeting of the old Star Wars and the new one in The Mandalorian that connects not only to the sense of lineage in this franchise but also the diverse themes and narrative elements that George Lucas first conceived of more than 40 years ago. This part of ‘The Rescue’ absolutely takes your breath away as an audience member, and will raise your sense of excitement to a whole new level. Plus make sure you watch for the season’s post-credit sequence….because this moment sets up an exciting future series that is going to be nothing short of badass.

But it is ultimately ‘The Rescue’s’ concluding moments that truly bring this episode together with a great sense of love and sentimentality. The relationship formed between the Mandalorian and Grogu has been one of immense love and devotion since the very start, and all of that is visited here in the episode’s final moments. This moment is exceptionally touching and you’re sure to have tears welling up in your eyes as the Mandalorian shares a deep and profound moment of love with his son. While the presence of intense space battles and blaster fights are always fun to watch, it’s the connection between this father and son that has made this series so extraordinary and these closing moments of the series finale are in keeping with every reason why we love Star Wars.

The season two finale of The Mandalorian ‘Chapter 16: The Rescue’ is nothing short of exceptional and sets the stage for an exciting third season, whose narrative direction is anyone’s guess now. Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni and Peyton Reed knocked it out of the park with this one, and this galaxy far, far away is about to get very exciting.

The Mandalorian streams every Friday on Disney+

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His work complete on Nevarro, the Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal)  continues on his trek to locate a fabled Jedi on the plant of Corvus. Finding himself walking into a dangerous and savaged world, Din Djarin attempts to locate an elusive Jedi, and encounters Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson), a legend of The Clone Wars and Djarin’s best chance at trying to decipher the mystery behind The Child. Seeking to help the child, Djarin and Tano make a pact to help each other free Corvos of its brutal rulers and the stage is set for one of the most epic episodes of The Mandalorian so-far.

From her introduction in 2008’s Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the character of Ahsoka Tano has been a long-time fan favourite as she first served as the Padawan apprentice to a young Anakin Skywalker, before eventually developing into a full-fledged Jedi Knight. In ‘The Jedi’, Tano moves from being a 2D rendered animated character to a totally real live-action being, and star Rosario Dawson does an incredibly impressive job bringing her to live. Now tough and battle-hardened, Tano is a clear veteran of a long and arduous fight against The Empire, and she is still managing to fight the good fight. Dawson brings a real zen-warrior balance to the character of Tano, and her combination of lightning-fast reflexes and cool demeanour makes her one of the most interesting characters that we’ve met so far.

Alongside the introduction of the character of Ahsoka Tano, ‘The Jedi’ also gives us some incredible details into the nature and history of The Child, who is finally revealed to be named Grogu. In what is the most intriguing parts of the episode, Tano and Grogu share a force-bond and telepathic conversation where Grogu’s past as a Jedi youngling is revealed, and the details that are established here make for incredibly exciting watching. This introduction of Grogu’s past also helps to build his bond even more so to that of Djarin as his protector and ‘father’.

In terms of scale and production, ‘The Jedi’ is the most beautifully shot episode of The Mandalorian to date. Director Dave Filoni grounds this episode’s style and design in the classic samurai cinema of Akira Kurosawa, who had a strong influence on George Lucas’s original creation. From a desolate and barren landscape which is captured in a style similar to sumi-e painting to the Medieval designs of the city of Calodan to the martial arts and samurai movement of ‘The Jedi’s’ immense fight scenes, the language of Kurosawa’s style is all through ‘The Jedi’ and it is beautiful to behold. Filoni also uses a bold use of symbolism in this episode as well, and there are moment where Tano and Grogu’s interactions bear a similarity to the visual motif of the Madonna and Child.

‘The Jedi’ also gives viewers an introduction back to the elegant combat of the Jedi order thanks to Tano’s use of a pair of duel white lightsabers that light up the screen with a combination of fury and grace. The dual action between the Mandalorian and Tano is a terrific fusion of both western and eastern combat styles that we first saw back in the original 1977 Star Wars, and their inclusion here makes for a compelling watch. Tano’s samurai sword duel with ‘The Jedi’s’ big bad, Magistrate Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto), is the episode’s highlight and the action is directly out of Kurosawa’s classic Yojimbo. Tano’s mention of the infamous Grand Admiral Thrawn will also have long-time fans salivating, and will make things very interesting down the road.

Chapter 13 of The Mandalorian, ‘The Jedi’ is the series most beautiful episode to date. It’s Star Wars in its purest form, and I was hooked from beginning to end. They don’t get much better than this.

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Running on empty after his encounter with both the Ice Spiders, the New Republic and his battles alongside Bo-Katan Kryze, the Mandalorian heads to the familiar port of Nevarro. And it’s a full-on reunion this time. Now a prosperous trading town thanks to the administration of the Mandalorain’s long-time friend Greef Karga (Carl Weathers) and his right-hand woman Cara Dune (Gina Carano), who is now the town’s newly minted martial. Seeking repairs for the Razor Crest, Djarin is brought in on a new mission to help secure the planet of Nevarrop completely from the clutch of The First Order…and this is where things get interesting.

‘The Siege’ is under the firm direction of Carl Weathers himself and this minted action cinema legend brings a quick-pace to this episode. In watching ‘The Siege’, you initially think the episode is going to go one way, but instead, Weathers flips the switch on the narrative and takes his audience down another corridor entirely. As audience members, we get to peer into the sinister motivations of The First Order in ‘The Siege’ and trust me when I tell you that I certainly didn’t see this twist coming. This narrative uncovering raises the stakes of Djarin’s mission even higher and plays into Moff Gideon’s overall plan for total domination of the galaxy, with star Giancarlo Esposito making a special guest appearance.

Not only is Carl Weathers on board as director for ‘The Siege’, but he also takes on the role of Uncle Greef in this episode as he and Cara Dune are reunited with The Child in one of the episode’s most adorable moments. For audience members wanting peak Baby Yoda moments, well you’re in luck, and there are some truly hilarious hi-jinks that provide some levity to kinetic thrills of the episode. ‘The Siege’ feed into the idea that ‘it takes a village’ to raise a child, and seeing the Mandalorian amidst his ‘family’ of Karga and Dune is a very reassuring sight that builds into the greater themes of this series.

Gina Carano’s Cara Dune also gets some great moments in ‘The Siege’ and this episode is very pivotal for her character’s place in the show. Not only do we get to see her taking charge as Nevarro’s new marshal, which leads to plenty of good ground and pound action where she gets to put her MMA skills to work, but she’s out in front in the episode’s exhilarating chase scene. But besides the action is the character, and it’s in the episode’s closing moments that we get some light shed on her character’s backstory and involvement with the Rebel Alliance. And after this moment everything makes sense in relation to Cara Dune’s purpose. Carano once again excels and I can’t wait to see what she does next in The Mandalorian as Cara Dune.

This episode of The Mandalorian is all about the high-intensity thrills and for those with an aching for some high-speed action moments, well, you’ll get them in ‘The Siege’. Using action to build-off action, Weathers crafts an intense speed chase scene that sees Karga, Dune, and the newly unfrozen Mythrol on the run from a batch of Storm Troopers. Beginning with a speeder bike chase to a full-on canyon run with a batch of TIE Fighters in pursuit, ‘The Siege’ builds up the kinetic tension and will have you on edge. This pulse-pounding dogfight is a great throwback to 1977’s A New Hope with Mando going full Han Solo and showing off his cowboy style.

‘The Siege’ is a very important episode to the overall narrative direction of Season Two of The Mandalorian and I believe we’ll see narrative moments playing out in later episodes to great effect. And make sure you buckle in tight….because this one’s wild.

The Mandalorian streams every Friday on Disney+

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Bryce Dallas-Howard returns to the directing chair with ‘The Heiress’, and this episode is the best yet as it kicks into high gear with an exploration of Star Wars lore and some compelling action scenes. After delivering the Frog Lady to her husband on the moon of Trask, in what is one of this episode’s most heartwarming moments, the Mandalorian sets off to find more of his kind, who he has been told reside on the planet. This quickly leads to a compelling action scene and the introduction of one of Star Wars most intriguing characters in the form of Katee Sackhoff’s Bo-Katan Kryze.

Previously a major character in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Sackhoff’s Bo-Katan Kryze, is an incredibly sharp, Machiavellian character who steals the entire episode and sets up an amazing conflict in regards to what the audience has expected from the behaviour of the Mandalorians. Particularly the fact that she and her followers remove their helmets, something we have previously learnt was sacrilegious to Din Djarin. From here we learn that Bo-Katan Kryze is a member of the ancient Mandalorian house of Clan Kryze, and who was born on Mandalore and took part in the war of the Great Purge. It’s also revealed that Djarin is a member of a fanatical sect known as The Watch, who are regarded as religious zealots given their reverence to the ancient ways. All this detail is amazing to witness and it definitely gets you amped.

‘The Heiress’ only gets more interesting as Djarin is forced into a heist alongside Bo-Katan and this leads to an all-out spaceship hi-jacking that showcases the full range of a Mandalorian fighting force and just how lethally effective they are. From full-on blaster fights to brutal hand-to-hand combat moments, action junkies will be gripping their seats with the energy that Howard showcases on the screen in ‘The Heiress’. Alongside the intense close quarter battle, and the episode’s nerve-racking crash landing opening, the presence of a divergent history of the Mandalorians, and the incredible design of Bo-Katan’s armour and her obsession with an ancient Mandalorian weapon keeps things interesting and really amps up the stakes for where this series will go next.

While I would have thought it hard to improve on the epicness of ‘The Marshal’, ‘The Heiress’ is a compelling piece of narrative storytelling and engages your mind as a viewer. The presence of such amazing Star Wars lore is a thing of beauty and audiences will be well excited with all of the details that they learn here. To date, this is my favourite episode of The Mandalorian and I was gripped by the energy, action and narrative that was presented in ‘The Heiress’, it really is a story of pure beauty on behalf of Howard’s direction. Plus, there are some adorable moments with The Child as well.

‘The Heiress’ takes The Mandalorian in an entirely new direction and sets up a very interesting new turn for the following episode. You can bet that we’ll be there to find out what happens next.

The Mandalorian streams every Friday on Disney+

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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A year after the events of The Last Jedi, the remnants of the Resistance face the First Order once again—while reckoning with the past and their own inner turmoil. Meanwhile, the ancient conflict between the Jedi and the Sith reaches its climax, altogether bringing the Skywalker saga to a definitive end.

As the first port of call, THIS REVIEW WILL BE ENTIRELY SPOILER FREE. Now, let me say that J.J. Abrams has returned to the coveted role of director, following his work on Star Wars: The Force Awakens and his loud and extravaganza filmmaking style is on full display here. And it makes for one hell of a rush! When it comes to directors who know how to crank up the volume and deliver the spectacle, they don’t come much bigger than Abrams, and the director has that rare talent, like James Cameron before him, to use action as narrative and here he propels this story forward at lightning speed. It’s clear from watching the epicness of this film that Abrams understands the monumental scope of the task at hand, and he once again delivers everything of himself as a filmmaker and really sticks the landing. In my opinion, he crafts a work that truly articulates love and respect for this mythology and audiences will have a wild time watching it.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens made her a star, and now Daisy Ridley steps up with her performance here as the scavenger turned Jedi Rey. In Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, Rey must contend with the dark side and must journey towards what she fears most, to face it and overcome it, and there are surprises that no audience member will see coming here. Ridley delivers considerable dramatic depth in The Rise Of Skywalker, and she gives a committed and extremely natural performance as she has to contend with the pull of both the force and the dark side, and which power will ultimately hold sway over her.

Contending with Ridley’s Rey for mastery of the force and the galaxy is Adam Driver who returns as Kylo Ren, and the Supreme Commander of the First Order is now an even hungrier animal and is ready to go to extremes to get what he wants. Abrams returns Kylo Ren to the badass dark side warrior that we were first introduced to back in The Force Awakens, and here his malice and anger are turned up to a whole new level. Driver’s commitment is considerably engaged with his performance, and this gives his power over the character considerable depth as his actions lead him ever closer to his ultimate destiny.

For those wanting a movie-going experience that floors the throttle, well, you’ll be very happy with what Abrams and his team bring to the screen in The Rise Of Skywalker. The action in The Rise Of Skywalker doesn’t stop for a second, and whether it’s the rush of an explosive space battle or the crackling strikes of lightsabers in full combat as Rey and Kylo Ren duel it out, there’s plenty to get excited about. While I won’t go into too much detail, I will say that if there was a moment that struck me with it’s epicness then it most definitely was the dynamic lightsaber battles that we got to see this time. While in The Force Awakens we were only beginning to see these characters begin to harness their powers, here they are fully open to them and the resulting fight scene between both light and dark absolutely grips your attention.

Alongside the film’s gripping action sequences, and the magnificent level of practical detail that Abrams and his team bring to its production design and art direction, the film’s focus on tying together all of the Star Wars mythology is a grand achievement on Abrams behalf. As the greatest ever modern myth, Star Wars holds a very special place in the hearts of people the world over, and Abrams uses this love and reference for this bold saga to help bring it to a conclusion here. Both nostalgia and the new permeate this final chapter of the Skywalker story and there’s considerable multi-layered theming taking place here that many will be excited to decipher and decode.

As a way to end the decade, it doesn’t get much bigger or bolder than the grandness and scope of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker! This is a phenomenal cinematic experience from beginning to end, and with its focus on narrative, character and some amazing action sequences you will truly leave the cinema with that magical Star Wars feeling fluttering in your heart. This one truly is an event for the ages and Star Wars fans, both young and old, will be very pleased with what is offered here.

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Following the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Rey (Daisy Ridley) has gone to seek out revered Jedi Master Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to learn from the great Jedi himself. But darkness rises, and the resistance is threatened and on its last breath of hope as Rey hopes to learn to control her great powers to help restore order and peace to the galaxy.

For those of you afraid of spoilers. Don’t worry, you’re in good hands here. There will be none in this review. Instead, I implore that each of you goes and sees this amazing film for yourself and let its layered themes and multi-arched character journeys wash over you. It is from the mind of celebrated writer/director Rian Johnson that the world of The Last Jedi springs and while watching this film you feel every beat of his creativity and passion for this fantastic sci-fi universe. Johnson is a lifelong Star Wars fan and he understands George Lucas’ characters intimately and uses his knowledge to present a side of them that was there all along, but which until now we had not seen. Johnson is also a gifted writer and his knack for structure, and prose also find their way into a very well-crafted script and a plot that keeps you guessing proving that he was most-definitely the right man for the job here.

The world of this new Star Wars saga expands here, and this is specific to the characters of Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). Each of these two characters go on a journey of growth as they learn new things about themselves and each other. Part of what makes for a great sequel is the fact that the stories characters must grow in some dramatic way, and that is certainly the case here. The prominence of each of these characters to the success of The Last Jedi also adheres to the film’s thematic emphasis on balance. The idea of balance between light and dark is essential to both these characters and Johnson’s exploration of it via these two characters makes for a very interesting experience.

If there was one moment I was waiting for though then it was most definitely the return of Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker. As a child, Luke was always my favourite character and I can assure longtime fans that Hamill does not disappoint as the Jedi master. But Hamill’s now aged Luke is not the man we once knew and is portrayed as a monastic figure and whose appearance within the story brings another big theme into the movie. That of the position of the force and its deep spiritual subtext of belief and hope. Like Rey, Luke himself goes on quite a journey, and his is one of an interesting interior reflection. As a viewer and lifelong fan of Luke Skywalker, I was pleased that Johnson focused his attention on Luke’s spiritual side as it offered something different and unexpected along with considerable growth for the character. Hamill is in top form throughout the entire film, and fans will be pleased that he has made his return.

If you’re looking for spectacle and size then you’ve come to the right place as Johnson fills the screen (preferably IMAX, trust me you have to watch this in IMAX) with extraordinary action set piece and large-scale sets. He has a knack for art direction, and The Last Jedi is filled with rich colours and intricate details that reflects its different environments from the forgotten earth of Ahch-To to the glitz and glam of the casino planet Canto Bight to the read earthed salt plains of the planet Crait. While each of these settings might be vast in their construction, they are also intimate and there is a real sense of care with each of these new worlds. Both production designer Rick Heinrichs and cinematographer Steve Yedlin, both heavy hitters in the industry, bring their all to this production, and alongside Johnson, these three artists create the far away universe we have come to love and explore through Star Wars.

A lot of thought has been placed into making Star Wars: The Last Jedi a very exciting ride and this extends to the film’s larger than life battle sequences. While I won’t discuss the action involved as to not run into spoilers lets just say that there are all kinds of towering space battles and if you like lightsabers, well, you’re in for a treat.

But in talking about Star Wars: The Last Jedi one cannot pass the presence of the late, great Carrie Fisher who made her final appearance on the big screen as General Leia Organa before her sad passing. While we only got to see Leia for a moment in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, here she has a far grander role and her presence reflects the grace, decorum and strength of character that Fisher brought to both the original Star Wars films, along with the science fiction genre in general. Like the other characters, including her brother Luke, Leia herself goes on quite a journey and becomes the symbol for one of the film’s most poignant symbols: hope. Believing when no one else will, Leia’s faith in the power of the force and in the good of others is a poignant reminder of the strength of Star Wars and of what Fisher brought to it. I can say that I welled up a little with our princesses final scene, but Fisher’s performance is flawless and Johnson along with the cast and crew do right by her with a very fitting film.

Whether you’re a longtime fan or have only recently entered into the Star Wars universe you’ll be guaranteed to love Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Both large in scale and intimate in its narrative and character development, this is a film that has been crafted with love and attention from a group of filmmakers who have such passion for what they do and the universe that George Lucas created. Do yourself a favour and make sure you go and watch this film as soon as you can (preferably in IMAX) because you won’t be disappointed.

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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