Honest Trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Below is the honest trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi that takes both to "greatest" and "worst" Star Wars movie perspective.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Novelization Reveals New Story Tidbits

If seen the movie and ok with spoilers, io9.com has broken down some of the additional story points from Star Wars: The Last Jedi that didn't make it into the movie. Points that are in canon too. The story beats include a look at an alternative life for Luke, Han's funeral, details on the Leia, more details on the Force, Rey and Kylo's connection and a bit more. If don't mind the spoilers you can read the details here.

The Last Jedi Solves Space Combat

Below is an interesting video that breaks apart some of the space fight sequences of Star Wars: The Last Jedi that explains and uses some of the space combat rules that was established in the previous movies that we may not have been entirely aware of.

Score Only Version of The Last Jedi Available

Right now you can buy a digital copy of Star Wars: The Last Jedi or wait until March 27 and buy the Blu-ray with Digital Copy for the same price. It turns out if you have a Movies Anywhere account and linked to whichever service you prefer (iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, etc.) then it will come with a bonus feature. Via Movies Anywhere you will get access to a score only version of the movie with all the worlds and sound effects removed. A score only version of a film is really rare but welcome and worth trying if only for a few chapters. After all it is the iconic music of John Williams.

This is the full movie, but with no dialogue, fx or backgrounds... just John's score. I really wanted to put this out, it's really something to see John's music play with the movie, like a silent film.
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) March 13, 2018

BTS Of The Visual Effects of Snoke and Battle of Crait from Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Here are two more videos that provide a behind the scenes look at the Oscar nominee visual effects for Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The first vid is a look at the elements that created the Battle of Crait and the second is the creation of Supreme Leader Snoke. Thanks once again to Feris O. for the links.

Two Behinds the Scenes Videos of the VFX for The Last Jedi

Below are two quick videos that give you a behind the scenes peak at the Oscar nominated visual effects of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The first one virtually builds the set used for the climatic battle on The First Order's massive ship hangar while the second builds a moment from the bombing run that opened the film. Thanks to Feris O. for the links.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Home Video Details

Disney has announced the details (with video below) for the home video release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. As is now the norm, the digital copy will get an "early" release on March 13th while the physical copies (with their own digital codes) will come out on March 27. The special features include writer-director commentary, around 14 deleted scenes, and lots of behind the scenes footage.

• The Director and the Jedi – Go deep behind the scenes with writer-director Rian Johnson on an intimate and personal journey through the production of the movie—and experience what it’s like to helm a global franchise and cultural phenomenon.
• Balance of the Force – Explore the mythology of the Force and why Rian Johnson chose to interpret its role in such a unique way.
• Scene Breakdowns
   - Lighting the Spark: Creating the Space Battle – Get a close-up look at the epic space battle, from the sounds that help propel the action, through the practical and visual effects, to the characters who bring it all to life.
   - Snoke and Mirrors – Motion capture and Star Wars collide as the filmmakers take us through the detailed process of creating the movie’s malevolent master villain.
   - Showdown on Crait – Break down everything that went into creating the stunning world seen in the movie’s final confrontation, including the interplay between real-world locations and visual effects, reimagining the walkers, designing the crystal foxes, and much more.
• Andy Serkis Live! (One Night Only) – Writer-director Rian Johnson presents two exclusive sequences from the movie featuring Andy Serkis’ riveting, raw on-set performance before his digital makeover into Snoke.
• Deleted Scenes – With an introduction and optional commentary by writer-director Rian Johnson.
• Audio Commentary – View the movie with in-depth feature audio commentary by writer-director Rian Johnson.

How Star Wars The Last Jedi Should Have Ended

Below is the latest offering from the HISHE gang that provides amusing take on the latest Star Wars offering that includes a pretty solid ending.

16-Bit Luke Skywalker vs Kylo Ren from The Last Jedi

Significant spoiler warning for those that have not seen Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Below is a re-creation of the near end of the movie in Super NES graphics and it does get that portion of the movie, including dialogue, with a high degree of accuracy. If seen the movie, will likely really enjoy this "remake".

The Last Jedi Passes $1 Billion Box Office

With each movie that comes out, Disney's $4 Billion purchase of Lucasfilm is starting to look like a bargain basement deal. The fourth film of the franchise in the Disney era has crossed the $1 Billion global box office in only a few weeks, on paper paying for the cost of the deal in box office dollars alone. The movie crossed the mark with third number one weekend in a row and will easily become the top movie of 2017 by the end of next week. The current breakdown is $533M in the US and $523.3 everywhere else and will be interesting to see how that ratio is maintained by the end of its run. Nowadays the typical successful tentpole movie is more like 30% US, 70% international so this 50/50 split is a rarity.

Catch-Up on the Star Wars Universe Before The Last Jedi

Tonight Star Wars: The Last Jedi will premiere in theaters around the world. In case you need a refresher course on how the Star Wars Universe stands before heading into the theater, below is two-part video that catches you up along with some speculation on what the new movie may have in store. These were made and posted before the world premiere last Saturday so no spoilers to worry about unless have not seen Star Wars: The Force Awakens or any of The Last Jedi trailers and TV spots. The video is focused on "recent" events of Star Wars but if want a breakdown of how it all comes together from the end of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi to now using current canon sources of movies, comics, TV show, and video games then i09.com has you covered with their Star Wars Timeline.

Reviews for Star Wars: The Last Jedi Are In

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is just days away from its worldwide release and in the states the reviews are in. In short - they are overwhelmingly positive. They also are specific to point out this mean does not rehash The Empire Strikes Back but paves its own way with a dense story line that is entertaining and moves the Star Wars universe forward. Below are a few highlights and can find more reviews over at Metacritic.

Collider

Although, like The Force Awakens, it takes more than a few beats from the Original Trilogy, [Director Rian] Johnson feels eager to subvert our expectations, challenge the archetypes the series was founded on, and take bold steps to establishing a new concept of what a Star Wars movie can be while still feeling very much in line with previous films in the franchise. Although the movie suffers from a few pacing issues, they ultimately don’t detract from the film’s stunning craft and confident storytelling.

I09

[Director Rian Johnson] instantly creates a tense, engaging tone for the film, because from moment to moment, you truly don’t know what’s going to happen next. Any time things seem to be going one direction, they don’t just zig or zag, they blast off into another dimension entirely. And it happens again and again. ...there are parts of the film that are incredibly weird and almost surreal—moments that seem more fit for an avant-garde movie. But they work too, because the very nature of Star Wars is that anything is possible. From scene to scene Johnson is basically saying, “Look, if we can have talking slugs, laser swords, and lightspeed, why can’t I do this?” And then he does it."

The Verge

It’s surprising how neatly and succinctly Last Jedi wraps up the open-ended stories — there are still plenty of details left to address about the new characters’ pasts, but the film answers the trilogy’s biggest questions to date with a directness that feels blunt and pointed: “You need to move on, and you can’t until you have your answers. So here are those answers.” If Last Jedi is fundamentally meant as a rebirth for the Star Wars series, the way Johnson addresses fan questions is the sharp smack on the ass that’s meant to prompt a baby’s first wailing breath. ...It isn’t just a single-story movie, it’s a kind of wide-ranging, almost soap-operatic check-in on an immense cast of characters up to their own adventures. Johnson doesn’t fully justify all the side adventures, but he does weave them into the larger loss narrative, and into an ongoing attempt for the Resistance to live up to its name, while the evil First Order attempts to wipe it out completely.

Deadline

In addition to brilliant action sequences and state-of-the-art CGI effects, there is strong character development as this chapter continues to pave the way for a new generation of stars to take on the mantle and lift it further into galaxies far far away. This one has it all and then some, and on top of everything else offers a poignant final goodbye to Carrie Fisher, who goes out with a strong presence as the Leia we know and love.

Bleeding Cool

This is a character piece, and the moments of building are subtle and lovely to watch. We see our main heroes each go through new trials and tribulations that help shape the people they will become in future movies — in both good ways and bad. Director/writer Rian Johnson doesn’t just take risks; he does things with this movie that could easily be considered “unsafe” for brand management, and no one at Lucasfilm seems to take issue with it. There is a reason they gave this man his own corner of the Star Wars universe.

The New Worlds of Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is just days away from hitting theaters. Here are two new short videos to promote the movie. The first is a behind the scenes look at some of the new worlds the movie will introduce while the other is very short TV spot.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi World Premiere Videos

Saturday night was the world premiere of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Fortunately below are videos of the red carpet event in Hollywood, CA. The first video is a very short summary while the vid that follows is the entire hour or so event with cast interviews and the like. The movie hits theaters this Thursday night.

Two TV Spots, Training BTS for The Last Jedi

Below is two new TV spots and a brief training behind the scenes video from Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Cast on Jimmy Kimmel

Last week the cast of Star Wars: The Last Jedi appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live to promote the movie. Pretty much no plot or spoiler information was revealed. That is unless count the first word of the movie ("We're") and if you are now pissed then you have taken the definition of "spoiler" to bat-sh$^ crazy levels and I have no sympathy. Below are the links to the various segments from the show.

Kimmel Pitches Star Wars Ideas
Cast Talks About Their Characters
Shooting Final Scene for The Force Awakens
Unnecessary Censorship - Star Wars Edition
Mark Hamill Uses The Force
Cast on Being Part of Star Wars
RIP Failed Droids
Cast Thoughts on Porgs
First Word of the Movie
Kimmel Catches Up with BB-8

Two New The Last Jedi TV Spots, Tracking for $200M Weekend

Below are two new TV spots for Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Very little new is shown. As for the movie itself, Disney is probably very pleased with tracking indicating that the movie will have a $200+ million opening weekend in the United States. No idea how this is determined but the number could even be a low ball considering The Force Awakens opened to $248 million while Rogue One opened at $155M. Only other members of the $200M club is Jurassic World ($208.8M) and The Avengers ($207.4M). If it succeeds to do so (and little reason to think it wouldn't) then the film would easily cross the $1 billion worldwide box office threshold which is still a pretty rare achievement despite a hefty boost from China's rapidly growing box office. The film hits theaters on December 15.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Runtime is 2.5 Hours

During a press trip to France, Rian Johnson revealed that Star Wars: The Last Jedi will have a runtime of 2.5 hours, including credits. This will make it the longest Star Wars to date but only by a few minutes. Below are all the runtimes for the curious.

- Star Wars: The Phantom Menace – 2 hours, 16 minutes
- Star Wars: Attack of the Clones – 2 hours, 22 minutes
- Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith – 2 hours, 20 minutes
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story – 2 hours, 13 minutes
- Star Wars: A New Hope – 2 hours, 1 minute
- Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back – 2 hours, 4 minutes
- Star Wars: Return of the Jedi – 2 hours, 11 minutes
- Star Wars: The Force Awakens – 2 hours, 16 minutes
- Star Wars: The Last Jedi - 2 hours, 30 minutes

Four Star Wars: The Last Jedi TV Spots

Here are four new TV spots for Star Wars: The Last Jedi. There are a few new scenes but most are the same as the previous trailers. The movie hits theaters on December 15.

Luke Boards the Falcon in The Last Jedi TV Spot

A new TV spot for Star Wars: The Last Jedi aired during game 7 of the World Series (Astros won) which shows a few new additional scenes including Luke on the Millennium Falcon bridge. Info wise it remains very low but as trailers goes does a good job to make you want to see more.