The Last Jedi, thoughts and spoiler free.

So I've been back from the cinema for about 30 minutes and still trying to process everything I've just seen in the 2 and a half hour new Star Wars film.

(image Disney)

For a start when the end credits started I was shocked that it was over already as there was no way that amount of time had passed.

When the title scroll and the film first started my first thought was 'They've remade Empire Strikes Back this time' but that was quickly put to bed and a major plot device for the film is something that I'd never even thought of in the Star Wars universe, that of fuel. I'll not go into any detail or give any more hints on that, it's never been something mentioned before I think.

So to move on, the gang are back together in their different locations and things come thick and fast apart from Ray and Luke, that story is the breather you need. This film delivers the laughs that always seemed so forced in the first 2 trilogies and Mark Hammill delivers a performance to rival Hugh Jackman's Logan as an ageing hero full of doubt and regrets. This is really the best Luke Skywalker performance there has been, fragile and broken yet a total badass with attitude.

The new guys on the block all give it their all and you almost forgive Kilo Ren for killing his dad as you learn more about him. Finn comes into his own more and Poe takes over the role of the reckless maverick that was Han Solo in the original films.
Thankfully the Porgs are not the new Jar Jar or Ewokes I'd feared and without the shadow of Han Solo Chewie came into his own, no longer a sidekick but a character in his own right.
Another of the old guard, our Princess was amazing and regal as the leader of the rebels and I really don't know how they will fill the hole left by her in the next film.

My initial feeling is this is the best Star Wars film to date but I really need time to watch it again and have spoiler free chats with friends to work this out but from the action, character interaction and performance I think this will be the best Star Wars film until the next one is released.