The Last Jedi Luke Skywalker's role in "The Last Jedi": Did you like it?

[BatLobster]

When it cuts back to Luke levitating on Ahch-To, he's sweating like hell and looks like he's straining incredibly hard. They go to a closeup on his face to make sure that's clear.

I think fans emotionally just wanted the reveal to be that Luke tricked Kylo and lives to fight another day, but the death really doesn't come as much of a surprise given how it's set up in the film.

Like Rey says, it wasn't a sad death, but one of peace and purpose.

 

[I Am The Knight]

Call it "head canon" if you want but I think it's obvious that Luke in his go for broke gambit knew what the effects could possibly or inevitably be. Doing something you know will end your life takes courage in my view.

I thought he wanted to die though? "I came to this island to die" *Later* "I am going to die, but I will make a big show out of it *

It's a heroic act to buy the Resistance some time but it doesn't feel like "the ultimate sacrifice to redeem oneself* if you are getting what you wanted anyway.

 

[sueb1863]

I never saw Luke as a coward. He had a lot of shame and guilt to deal with.

Luke by nature isn't a big one for facing difficult situations. His first reaction in ANH when Ben asked him to help him save Leia was to say, "No, I have to get home". He was planning to just drop Ben off at Mos Eisley, and this was after he saw the message. Even though he knew Leia was in trouble, his first inclination wasn't to spring to action. It was to say, "I can't get involved".

He faced Vader in RotJ but this was after he'd had training and had gained some confidence. What happened with Ben and his school shattered him to the core and wracked him with gilt and shame. I think his reaction was one most people would have - "I've ruined everything I love, it's best for everybody if I just go away". Luke's powerful but he's not an emotionless god.

I saw his decision to give his life to save what was left of the Resistance, say farewell to his sister, give hope to the survivors, and chastise/ sass his nephew as one of profound bravery. And I'll be very interested to see more of Luke in IX. His story isn't over yet, I don't think.

 

[Clark-Kent]

People that weren't happy with what happened assume he'll be back in the spirit form. Thing is, it pretty much squashes physical Luke which some felt we needed at least another movie out of.

 

[sueb1863]

A kick-ass Luke lightsaber fight would have been nice. But at Mark's age that would have been pretty tricky unless they used a stunt double.

 

[Mjölnir]

The oldest, wisest, and most respected Jedi said these things -

Wars not make one great.

A Jedi must have the deepest commitment. The most serious mind.

Adventure. Excitement. A Jedi craves not these things.

A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense...never for attack.


In this movie....Luke became the best purest Jedi of all....he followed the Jedi teachings to their ultimate end.

Said old, wise and respected Jedi also tried to dispose of the risen dark lord, as well as sending the next most powerful Jedi available after the dark apprentice, before being forced to flee from the Jedi purge.

He also trained Luke with the direct purpose of defeating Vader and Sidious, which was the only road to saving the galaxy.

So while wars don't make one great they are still a vital part of the Jedi's tasks. Yoda showed this as much as anyone. His teaching is that you don't crave battle (in line with not being run by your emotions, like Luke has been after the Ben incident), you go into battle because it's needed of you for the sake of others.

 

[NotSoLongAgo]

I think what we got was better than what fans wanted

 

[Kanon]

Said old, wise and respected Jedi also tried to dispose of the risen dark lord, as well as sending the next most powerful Jedi available after the dark apprentice, before being forced to flee from the Jedi purge.

He also trained Luke with the direct purpose of defeating Vader and Sidious, which was the only road to saving the galaxy.

So while wars don't make one great they are still a vital part of the Jedi's tasks. Yoda showed this as much as anyone. His teaching is that you don't crave battle (in line with not being run by your emotions, like Luke has been after the Ben incident), you go into battle because it's needed of you for the sake of others.

Yeap, having Luke in exile, leaving the galaxy in turmoil after all that happened was a terrible choice (shoe horned because the writers wanted Luke in exile instead of front and center in Force Awakens), thinking, being tempted or attempting (whatever happened) to kill Ben Solo in his sleep very questionable too (I suppose to give Kylo better motivations and sympathy), and the force projection thing is confusing, serves no purpouse other than having cool scenes like everyone shooting at him, with no effect ('cause he dies anyway)

No other Jedi in SW before did battle remotely, that I recall.

The whole force projection thing was very confusing to say the least. So far it was like telepathic communication (other people can't see what's happening except the two involved, or force sensitive individuals), then they star passing around objects, and at the end everyone sees Luke, even the aiming systems and computers seem to detect him IIRC.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Yeap, having Luke in exile, leaving the galaxy in turmoil after all that happened was a terrible choice (shoe horned because the writers wanted Luke in exile instead of front and center in Force Awakens), thinking, being tempted or attempting (whatever happened) to kill Ben Solo in his sleep very questionable too (I suppose to give Kylo better motivations and sympathy), and the force projection thing is confusing, serves no purpouse other than having cool scenes like everyone shooting at him, with no effect ('cause he dies anyway)

No other Jedi in SW before did battle remotely, that I recall.

The whole force projection thing was very confusing to say the least. So far it was like telepathic communication (other people can't see what's happening except the two involved, or force sensitive individuals), then they star passing around objects, and at the end everyone sees Luke, even the aiming systems and computers seem to detect him IIRC.

To me, the weapons systems being able to detect him, Threepio seeing him, the dice, kissing Leia on the forehead, all show how many magnitudes of difference in what Luke did as compared to the communications between Kylo and Rey. This was "magic", this was Luke using the Force, the fundamental power of the universe, to do something so amazing that it's strain was must have been beyond some simple trick or moving an object. And his age is a factor as well. Yet he still did it and I think he did so knowing what the likely outcome was.

 

[C. Lee]

To me, the weapons systems being able to detect him, Threepio seeing him, the dice, kissing Leia on the forehead, all show how many magnitudes of difference in what Luke did as compared to the communications between Kylo and Rey. This was "magic", this was Luke using the Force, the fundamental power of the universe, to do something so amazing that it's strain was must have been beyond some simple trick or moving an object. And his age is a factor as well. Yet he still did it and I think he did so knowing what the likely outcome was.

Agreed. It shows that Luke had mastered or advanced the mental/mystical aspects of the Force further than it had gone before. The Jedi of the Prequel Trilogy were masters of and had advanced the physical aspects of the Force to a fantastic degree. They could jump about, flip, somersault, spin their lightsabers like an industrial fan all day long....but none even came close to what Luke was able to accomplish. Think about this....Force ghosts were not seen in the universe until Obi-Wan did it in ESB....and then Yoda in RotJ. Both of whom had been off by themselves alone. Not doing any showy physical activity....but more likely concentrating on advancing their mental/mystical Force abilities. And yes....I know that Darth Vader also showed up as a Force ghost in RotJ. But remember....he had spent 20 years with artificial legs and an artificial arm. It was shown that he had rouble with his breathing needing mechanical help with that. He was not shown to do any great physical activity like his youth....so he too could have been working on being able to do more with his mental/mystical aspects. It's just that Luke took it further while alive....and it appears that Yoda has now taken the abilities after death to a far greater place than he or Obi-Wan had been able to do 30 years earlier.

 

[Flemm]

This was "magic", this was Luke using the Force, the fundamental power of the universe, to do something so amazing that it's strain was must have been beyond some simple trick or moving an object. And his age is a factor as well. Yet he still did it and I think he did so knowing what the likely outcome was.

I think you're right, in the sense that your interpretation is what gives the whole thing its proper weight and significance.

But I think the number of people walking out of the theater who saw it that way is really small.

 

[Bruce Malone]

A kick-ass Luke lightsaber fight would have been nice. But at Mark's age that would have been pretty tricky unless they used a stunt double.

It seems some of the fans wanted that CGI fight-scene that Yoda had in the prequels which would seem ridiculous as Mark is an actual human and not a cgi character.

 

[markjoedelonge]

It seems some of the fans wanted that CGI fight-scene that Yoda had in the prequels which would seem ridiculous as Mark is an actual human and not a cgi character.

This is just nonsense. Was the Darth Vader scene in Rogue One a CGI fight scene akin to Yoda? We just wanted a showcase of his lightsaber skills as a Jedi Master.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

This is just nonsense. Was the Darth Vader scene in Rogue One a CGI fight scene akin to Yoda? We just wanted a showcase of his lightsaber skills as a Jedi Master.

This

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

This is just nonsense. Was the Darth Vader scene in Rogue One a CGI fight scene akin to Yoda? We just wanted a showcase of his lightsaber skills as a Jedi Master.

An elderly jedi on a killing spree.

Doesn't that conflict with the message and theme of Star Wars?

What would be the point?

 

[Kanon]

An elderly jedi on a killing spree.

Doesn't that conflict with the message and theme of Star Wars?

What would be the point?

Bringing justice and peace to the galaxy?

 

[I Am The Knight]

I'm not really bothered by the lack of an actual lightsaber duel or Luke going on a "killing spree", frankly he's had two duels with Darth Vader and he briefly dueled with Rey in this film. I am more concerned about his characterization.

I certainly do understand that fans would be disappointed that we don't see Jedi Master Luke in all his glory, altough he is not really "that" anymore in this film.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

Bringing justice and peace to the galaxy?

So slicing people up accomplishes this?

Maybe in a video games, your body count makes you a "winner" but not a master jedi close to joining the force.

 

[markjoedelonge]

An elderly jedi on a killing spree.

Doesn't that conflict with the message and theme of Star Wars?

What would be the point?

Who said he had to go on a killing spree? A lightsaber duel with Kylo would have sufficed.

 

[Kanon]

So slicing people up accomplishes this?

Maybe in a video games, your body count makes you a "winner" but not a master jedi close to joining the force.

Well, it worked so far, instead of letting the Sith you created go slicing people. Abandoning the ways of the Jedi could have worked before training a student into a Sith, doing it after that kind of negates what he acomplishes in RotJ.

 

[sueb1863]

I certainly do understand that fans would be disappointed that we don't see Jedi Master Luke in all his glory, altough he is not really "that" anymore in this film.

I thught him willingly giving his life for his sister and the survival of the Resistance was pretty glorious.

 

[Sithborg]

I thught him willingly giving his life for his sister and the survival of the Resistance was pretty glorious.

Plus, denying Kylo his victory over Luke is pretty big.

 

[sueb1863]

Yup, that too!

I didn't need to see one more big lightsaber fight in a movie that already had lots of violence. I liked what they did a lot better. Luke defeated Kylo using his wits. And sass!

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

Well, it worked so far, instead of letting the Sith you created go slicing people. Abandoning the ways of the Jedi could have worked before training a student into a Sith, doing it after that kind of negates what he acomplishes in RotJ.

It was an endless cycle no matter what Luke did.

In fact, it seemed the more pro-active Luke was the more things would backfire.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

Who said he had to go on a killing spree? A lightsaber duel with Kylo would have sufficed.

So Luke beats Kylo, then what?

Unless you wanted Luke to lose?