Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Note: As a long-time "Star Wars" super-fan and as a critic, I promise there will be no spoilers here. I understand the desire for surprise and for audiences to feel that sense of wonder and excitement of what they get to discover about the next chapter in the Skywalker saga.

What I can do is tell you how you will feel when you experience Rian Johnson's writing and directorial "Star Wars" debut.

Whether you were a child when the original trilogy came out or whether you were weaned on them by your parents growing up, there is a certain feeling you get when watching Episodes IV through VI. There was a thrill that permeated your body as the spectacle, emotion, and story of the Skywalker family unfolded. The music, the special effects, the plot twists and turns - all of it permeated your senses leaving you with the knowing that you had witnessed something truly special and wonderful and alive.

And here's the thing:

This is exactly how you feel when watching "Star Wars: The Last Jedi."

Truth be told, I really liked "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." J.J. Abrams revitalized the "Star Wars" universe and brought back the fun that was missing from George Lucas' prequels. It felt like the world from the original trilogy and it was fun to have our heroes Han, Luke, and Leia back. But what Rian Johnson has done with "Jedi" is changed the game. In much the way that writer Lawrence Kasdan and director Irvin Kirshner did with "The Empire Strikes Back" (no, it is not a retread of that film), he has upped the ante in terms of story, character development and gorgeous worlds for us to experience. He has brought an even lighter sense of humor and fun to the film, but also gone deeper into the characters struggles between good and evil and how they deal with their complex pasts.

In short, every critic that has already written their Top Ten films of the year needs to go back and do it again. "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" is a game-changer. And one of the best films of the year.

"The Last Jedi" is the first "Star Wars" film since the original trilogy that gives you the same sense of awe and surprise you had when you first watched the adventures of Luke Skywalker. In a time when special effects are a given and plot twists are expected, Johnson has given us an epic film that consistently surprises us with the white-knuckle action on-screen, moments of humor or surprise, and plot stunners that will make your mouth hang open. Not only that, but it has an emotional kick not yet seen in a "Star Wars" film. Some of this is because of our forty-year relationship with the film series. There are numerous callbacks to visual cues, story moments, and even music cues that immediately generate that sense of butterfly excitement deep in our stomachs. This is the "Star Wars" movie fans have been waiting for, and it's a film that will appeal highly even to the casual fan.

To give you a brief plot outline, the events of "The Last Jedi" begin right where "The Force Awakens" left off. It opens with a slam-bang outer-space action sequence involving Poe (Oscar Isaac) and his commander, General Leia (the late great Carrie Fisher). The opener is action packed and is so well choreographed by Johnson that there is genuine suspense and sentiment that is often lacking in action films nowadays. Once we leave space, we go right back to the moment our heroine Rey (Daisy Ridley) hands Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) his lightsaber. What happens next is totally unexpected, and sets the stage for the rest of the film. You never know where it's going to go.

What Johnson does so well in his script is not only call back to themes and moments from the original trilogy (in ways that totally make sense), but he also adds to the mythology. The Force becomes something more mystical and powerful than we once thought, and its power saturates many different aspects of the film. (The final moments of the film are beautifully touching.) He also deepens the characters, with Rey carrying a lot of the emotional weight of the film. Even our resident baddie Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) is given a more complex route to take this time around. Luke and Leia both get some gorgeous moments that add to their stories and give closure as well.

Newcomer Kelly Marie Tran plays a mechanic named Rose that Finn (John Boyega) teams up with, and she's a wonderful addition to the cast. The two travel to a casino town called Canto Bight that is dazzling to see. Laura Dern also joins the cast as Vice Admiral Holdo, a purple-haired, elegant leader who takes no crap but has her own complexities, as well. Benecio Del Toro shows up as a code-breaker named DJ and blink-or-you-miss-him Justin Theroux appears as a casino gambler.

Tech credits are spectacular. Cinematography by Johnson pal Steve Yedlin ("Looper") is gorgeous with eye-popping tableaus and color schemes that will be long remembered. Production design by Rick Heinrichs is magnificent allowing "Star Wars" fans to still be astonished by new sets and new worlds. (Snoke's Throne Room is a massive, red-hued stunner.)

And what can I say about John William's score? While he can rarely do no wrong, he has topped himself with "The Last Jedi," creating new themes but also harkening back to themes of old that are used in exciting ("Asteroid Field" makes a return) and touching ("The Force Theme") ways. It felt like the old days, where one of the only ways to repeat the film was to listen to the soundtrack. I kept thinking how much I wanted to listen to the score once I left the theatre. And that hasn't happened with a "Star Wars" film since "Return of the Jedi."

I know this review is vague and more emotional than most, but it's hard to praise a film as deeply as I want without giving away all the wonderful moments audiences will get to experience. Suffice to say that my best friend and I kept turning to each other with excitement, tears, and jaw-dropped wonder throughout the swift two and a half hour running time. It's the first time in a long time I didn't want the movie to end. And I'm so excited to see it again.

With Rian Johnson being given the reins to make his own brand-new "Star Wars" trilogy, the world Lucas created is in the best hands it could be in. We all thought "Star Wars" was back with "The Force Awakens." This cements it in ways none of us ever expected.

The force is definitely with us.