The Best of Star Wars The Last Jedi (Spoiler Free)

You're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view. - Obi-Wan Kenobi.

The following is a certain point of view about how moviegoers can get the most out of their viewing experience of Star Wars The Last Jedi.  For those who haven't seen The Last Jedi, feel free to keep reading.  These are not the Star Wars spoilers you are looking for. Spoilers aside, readers of this treatise presumably have viewed all the previous installments of Star Wars.

Go into The Last Jedi with the goal to escape the real world for two hours and thirty minutes

Star Wars represents the best escapism has to offer.  Everybody needs to escape the hardship of the real world at times.  Unfortunately in today's society there are many unhealthy methods, such as drugs, alcohol, and pornography, used to escape the real world.  Star Wars presents a healthy escape from worldly problems.  For a short period of time Star Wars fans travel to a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. The chief goal of watching any Star Wars movie, including the prequels, is to be entertained and immersed in the galaxy far, far away.  Find hope in characters who, like moviegoers, are flawed, yet find a way to overcome hardship.

Hope, rebellions are built on hope -Jyn Erso

The Last Jedi continues with and takes this message to a whole new level.  Every actor in the movie gives their best performance (including Mark Hamill and the late Carrie Fisher). Characters are flawed, yet there is still hope.  Go see the movie with the goal of escaping reality for a short time and emerging with the hope to continue in the real life journey.

Embrace surprises and plot twists

The Last Jedi is full of surprise with plot twists.  Some fans don't like the surprises and believe that the plot twists don't represent what is typically known as Star Wars.  However, heed the advice of a famous Jedi Master.

You must unlearn what you have learned. -Yoda

New ideas and concepts are essential to the life blood and continuation of any series, and The Last Jedi excels at taking the Star Wars series in a new, interesting, and different direction.  Take delight and curiosity in this new archetype forming in the Star Wars galaxy.

Delight in finding Easter Eggs 

Easter Eggs are references to past or future Star Wars books or movies.  Nothing delights hardcore fans more than recognizing, remembering, or learning new ideas about the galaxy far, far away.  One of the best scenes in The Last Jedi is the gambling world of Canto Bight, which is featured in the book Star Wars Canto Bight.  This book is by no means essential reading, but viewers can get brief glimpses of characters from the book in The Last Jedi. Hardcore fanboys can brag about how much Star Wars mythos they know beyond the movie.

Embrace the Epic Structure of Joseph Campbell's A Hero's Journey

Speaking of the hardcore fanboys, true fans should be aware that every Star Wars trilogy is in reality one movie divided into three acts that follow what Joseph Campbell describes as a hero's journey.  The Force Awakens was intentionally straight forward and essentially A New Hope, because both movies serve as an introduction and call of the main characters to adventure.  Specifically The Force Awakens served as an introductions for Rey, Poe Dameron, Finn, Kylo Ren and Han Solo.  Yes, there are other characters viewers are introduced to in The Last Jedi, but these are the five most important characters in this new trilogy.  Han's death in The Force Awakens might actually be the most important piece to getting the most out of The Last Jedi.  Han's death leads the viewer into this new movie, where the other main characters will encounter the main conflict of this epic story.  Poor Han is truly dead, but the outcome of his death will catapult moviegoers into the rest of Joseph Campbell's A Hero's Journey: The challenge and temptations of the main characters in the abyss, the transformation and/or redemption of the characters, and eventually the returning adventure.  For those who are more visual learners, below is a chart from Wikipedia that describes Joseph Campbell's A Hero's Journey.

Concluding Thoughts: Don't think too hard and enjoy The Last Jedi

These have been a few ideas about how fans, ranging from casual to serious, can get the most of The Last Jedi.  First and foremost, go to The Last Jedi to be entertained.  Deep thinkers are encouraged to share their ideas.  However, pity is given to Star Wars fans who can no longer go to a new Star Wars movie and simply be entertained.  Star Wars movies are not always examples of the best modern cinema has to offer.  That being said, regardless of overall quality, Star Wars movies entertain.  Finally, thank you to George Lucas for being the creative genius behind Star Wars and passing on his creation to Disney so that new movies can be created and enjoyed by men, women, and children of all ages.