7 of The Worst Audience Reviews for Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Because I Hate Myself)
I could have just left it all alone, but after my last post that completely avoided talking about the movie itself, it was inevitable.
The audience review function of critic aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes is a place plagued with extreme reviews on both sides of any film. Because of this, many “reviews” don’t make sense and reveal deep misunderstandings about the film in question.
Having combed through thousands of these (yes, I’m serious) I have selected a few that either stand on their own as bad criticism or represent many other comments just like it. And since there’s no way to sort reviews, I literally clicked through 100,000+ audience reviews just to get some that were written around when the film came out in 2017.
1. Let’s Start Off Short and Sweet
Our first review is from user Joe S who took the time to make a Rotten Tomatoes account with the one and only purpose of giving Star Wars: The Last Jedi half a star. At least, that’s what I think he’s talking about. He could be saying that he literally invented his own Rotten Tomatoes but I don’t think that’s the case.
So detailed. So passionate. So precise.
There were a surprising number of reviews just like this one or had a very first line that said the same thing. A plethora of people made accounts to the website just to impact the audience score. That is what we call review bombing. Plain and simple. We can argue all day about what scale we’re talking, but it’s irrefutable that a number of “fans” specifically got onto these aggregator websites just to pull the score down.
2. “Horrible humor”
Two stand-out points here. First, “Do not believe the positive reviews”. What, are they lying? Did Disney buy out 91% of critics? Wouldn’t that cost more than this movie did?
Second, “Horrible humor”. We’ll get to the rest later, but I honestly do not understand this criticism. The humor wasn’t laugh worthy, but it was hardly overbearing. Go watch Peacemaker on HBO Max and you’ll see plenty of overbearing humor that undercuts emotional investment.
Here though, I just don’t see it. I’ve seen people complain about the “telephone humor” of the opening scene. What about Han Solo (Harrison Ford) in A New Hope? You know, this one? It’s fine if you don’t think it’s funny, but it’s not really supposed to make you laugh out loud.
Or even worse is the critique of the scene where Rey (Daisy Ridley) hands Luke’s (Mark Hamill) lightsaber back to him at the beginning of the film. Such as Jeremy Jahns saying:
“I felt like that was a moment where, it’s just like, that could have been a serious moment and they just sacrificed that for an unexpected laugh.” - Jeremy Jahns.
Well, here’s the clip. I flat out don’t understand how people interpret it as comedic. The music cuts out. Everyone is frowning. Luke tosses it. Rey is confused. Luke leaves.
We see a closeup of his artificial hand subtly trembling as he accepts it, leaving first time viewers still curious as to how he’s going to react. His face says it all, the tossing is the icing on top. Not only is he not dealing with this stuff anymore, he’s rejecting it completely.
It is a perfect introduction to the nature of where his character is at emotionally after all this time.
3. Uh Oh, I guess Nobody Likes Rotten Tomatoes
Yeah, another fun fact about the site is that it doesn’t count half star reviews (also note how the comments of that tweet include people admitting, once again, that they only made an account to give the film a bad review).
The more important fun fact is that even the people using Rotten Tomatoes as a punching bag for movies they hate are unhappy with the way it’s designed. This type of comment was somewhat popular as well.
Niel M is over here admitting that he changed his score of the film just to impact the audience score and is mad he can’t have his cake and eat it too. I mean, sure, I guess I feel for the guy. But on the flipside he cares more about a percentage than his own rating. He cares more about a consensus of the mob than his own opinion being correctly represented. Fascinating.
4. I’m Sorry… What?
I don’t even know what to say.
Politics aside (as they should be), I’m just going to let this one speak for itself. Anyway. Moving on.
5. Curveball— Something I Agree With
Yeah. I can see that.
While my overall view of the film is very positive, I agree with the criticisms of its length. I think by the time I get to my favorite part of the film (the last act) I feel like I could have gotten there sooner. Some have pointed out that it’s almost like the film has four acts.
I think this issue stems back to the more serious and somber tones of the film. While Rey, Luke and Kylo have a high stakes and highly emotional ride throughout the film, Poe and Finn are learning less dramatic lessons and it just doesn’t stitch together like I’d want it to.
I think this is the best review to sum up the ones that weren’t extreme on either side. Also bonus points for separating personal opinion and supposedly objective criticism.
6. The Almighty Luke Skywalker
Why is everyone so obsessed with the space cow? It’s just a space cow. Where do you think space milk comes from?
And here’s the great complaint to rule them all. The beloved character Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) was depicted as a hopeful, wise Jedi Master in the original trilogy and this movie destroyed that image, right?
So, what should have happened after The Force Awakens? Luke should just hop in the Millennium Falcon and start hunting space Nazis?
The first film of the sequel trilogy was too scared to actually do anything with Luke.
The consequences of this approach left Rian Johnson with really no other road. If you don’t believe me, please explain in the comments how Luke could just be his normal self when he abandoned the entire galaxy to The First Order for the entirety The Force Awakens. No matter which way you cut it, Luke is abandoning his sister to fight alone.
He’s not hopeful or determined. He’s hiding. And all that is definite before The Last Jedi even begins.
Passage of time is a powerful thing. It’s like saying that it’s out of character for Anakin Skywalker to become Darth Vader because he was such a hopeful and determined little boy in The Phantom Menace.
And at what point does he get “his butt kicked by an untrained Mary Sue”? He hasn’t fought anyone in years and he’s drifted away from the force. And yet he wipes the floor with Rey until they aren’t fighting with sticks anymore. She pulls a laser sword on him. He is shocked and falls. Did we watch the same movie?
In my opinion, this depiction of Luke Skywalker is inevitable according to the deconstruction of the Jedi as seen in the prequels. The Jedi Order is flawed. Just like how Luke points out in the film, they are hypocritical and largely ineffective at being peacekeepers. So if Luke starts a new Jedi Order, how can it be so unacceptable that he falls into the same trap?
This accentuates his ultimate sacrifice where he reconnects with the force on an unseen scale to be what the Jedi were supposed to be. He saves The Resistance without shedding a drop of blood like a true peacekeeper. This film turns Luke into an eternal symbol of hope with a broken road behind him, which is infinitely more interesting.
7. I’m Sorry It’s Been So Hard for You
If this isn’t the definition of overreacting, then I don’t know what is.
Look.
I’m sorry if The Last Jedi ruined your childhood. I’m sorry if The Last Jedi followed you home and keyed your car. I’m sorry if The Last Jedi hid under your bed at night and whispered to you. I’m sorry if The Last Jedi made you feel personally violated. I’m sorry if The Last Jedi murdered your entire family.
But it’s just a movie. It is perfectly fine to disagree with a film or an art direction or any number of things related to the process. But where do we cross the line of emotional obsession that leads someone to believe we think a film is out to get them?
I think this is such an interesting idea for a listicle, it allowed you to defend your movie in a unique way. I honestly agree with the too long review, it made me laugh that you agreed to. Super good tone and you can tell that you are passionate!
This was really fun Josh. And again, you have examined another aspect of film criticism that is often too divisive. I thought the sub-headings for each entry was cool/catchy as well. Great Job!