The Last Jedi Practical Effects Test

It’s May the Fourth, and you know what that means: finally, a day where we can talk about Star Wars! I know we never, ever talk about it any other day, but the 4th of May is the exception to the rule. So go ahead, talk about Star Wars all day. But once tomorrow rolls around, you better stop.

To get into the spirit of the day, Rian Johnson, director of the best Star Wars movie, uploaded a nifty little Star Wars: The Last Jedi practical effects test for the scene where Luke catches Rey almost Force-smooching Kylo Ren (they’re technically only touching hands, but c’mon, it’s clear they were going to kiss if Luke hadn’t shown up) and gets so angry he blows up the walls of the little stone hut Rey is in. While this is the sort of thing another filmmaker might use only digital effects to create, Johnson and company did it practically, and it looks great.

The Last Jedi Practical Effects Test

This footage won’t be that surprising to you if you watched the excellent The Director and The Jedi, a documentary that chronicles the making of The Last Jedi and shows the filming of the scene where Luke uses the Force to pull apart a stone hut in anger. But here’s some test work they did first. It looks great even in its raw form, but for reference, here’s the scene in question in the film.

Anyway, while I have you here, let me just reiterate that I sincerely believe The Last Jedi to be the best Star Wars movie. I know that’s a controversial opinion, and if you don’t agree, hey – that’s fine. But to me, it’s a stunning, intelligent, and most of all, different approach to the overarching material. And it’s the Star Wars movie that most impressed and amazed me when I saw it – and that hasn’t changed. In fact, my love of the film has only grown and strengthened over the years. And the fact that Last Jedi was followed by the shockingly lackluster The Rise of Skywalker will always bug me. Last Jedi also feels like the only entry in the sequel trilogy that’s about something, other than, “Hey, remember this stuff you used to love?” Last Jedi actually investigates the franchise as a whole, and asks challenging questions of the material.

But hey – while I’m throwing out these hot takes, let me also add that Solo: A Star Wars Story is pretty good! Certainly a lot better than its reputation suggests, at least. Everyone should give that one another chance. I’m only telling you all of this because it’s May the Fourth, remember. In a few hours, the sun will set and this day will end, and then we’ll all be forced to stop talking about Star Wars again for a full year. It’s rough, but those are the rules.

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