The Force is strong with
Star Wars: The Last Jedi at the box office; by the time
Thursday's numbers are in, the film will have netted over
$600 million worldwide in a week of release. Despite the impressive numbers and
superb critical reaction, however, the fan response to the film has been notably mixed.
SPOILERS AHEAD!
From killing off Supreme Leader Snoke and Luke Skywalker to a host of other plot developments and character choices,
The Last Jedi has faced the most polarizing reception in years, even from some of
the film's stars. In a response to a fan over the discussion the film has generated, director
Rian Johnson addressed the backlash. Johnson reaffirmed that his aim was not to upset fans, and that the discussions over the film's direction are vital for the future of the franchise.
"The goal is never to divide or make people upset, but I do think the conversations that are happening were going to have to happen at some point if [Star Wars] is going to grow, move forward and stay vital," the director tweeted.
Thematically, it's very apparent that this is the message that
The Last Jedi encompasses, though if and how that resonates with people individually is a completely different matter unto itself. What do you make of Johnson's response? Let us know in the usual place!