Lure of the Dark Side! Daisy Ridley dazzles in black one-shoulder vinyl dress as she joins a dapper Mark Hamill and cameo stars Princes William and Harry at out-of-this -world Star Wars: The Last Jedi UK premiere

  • Star Wars Episode VIII will be released in the United Kingdom this Friday (December 15), two years after the first film in the rebooted franchise, The Force Awakens, received critical acclaim 
  • The Last Jedi picks up with the Resistance fighting Supreme Leader Snoke´s First Order which is trying to take over the galaxy
  • The Last Jedi ends with a dedication to late Princess Leia actress Carrie Fisher, who makes her final film appearance in  Episode VIII
  • Princes William and Harry and Tom Hardy all make cameo appearance as Stormtroopers 

The Force arrived in London on Tuesday night at the out-of-this world UK premiere of hotly anticipated film Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Lead stars Daisy Ridley and Mark Hamill made a dazzling entrance into the London premiere at the Royal Albert Hall, looking truly out-of-this-world as they posed up in front of a army of fearsome Stormtroopers before they were joined by cameo stars Princes William and Harry.

Daisy, 25, who plays Jedi Padawan Rey, went to the Dark Side with her outfit, showing off her lithe figure in a black vinyl one-shoulder dress with an elegant neck tie detail as she posed for the cameras.

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Lure of the Dark Side! Lead stars Daisy Ridley and Mark Hamill made a dazzling entrance into the London Star Wars: The Last Jedi premiere, looking truly out-of-this-world as they posed up in front of a army of fearsome Stormtroopers

Lure of the Dark Side! Lead stars Daisy Ridley and Mark Hamill made a dazzling entrance into the London Star Wars: The Last Jedi premiere, looking truly out-of-this-world as they posed up in front of a army of fearsome Stormtroopers

Mysterious: Daisy, 25, who plays Jedi Padawan Rey, went to the Dark Side with her outfit, showing off her lithe figure in a black vinyl one-shoulder dress with an elegant neck tie detail as she posed for the cameras.

Work Daisy's elegant one-shoulder black gown

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The dress featured a one-shoulder design, cinched waist and full, mid-length skirt, while Daisy completed the look with some sky high, dainty sandals.

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The elegant dress cinched in at the waist to show off Daisy's taut midriff before flaring out into an elegant flared skirt.

She added height to her look with perspex heels.

Her ombre locks were styled into an elegant updo with curly bronze strands framing her face.

Daisy opted for metallic silver eyeshadow, fluttery lashes and liner while her pout was slicked with a fuschia lipstick. 

Regal: Princes William and Harry, who make cameo appearances as Stormtroopers in the new film, arrived in style

Regal: Princes William and Harry, who make cameo appearances as Stormtroopers in the new film, arrived in style

Space age: The Princes looked dapper in their fitted suits as they were greeted by BB-8 and the soldiers 

Space age: The Princes looked dapper in their fitted suits as they were greeted by BB-8 and the soldiers 

Royal visit: (L-R) Mark,director Rian Johnson,  Prince Harry, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge,John, Chewbacca and Daisy posed during a tour of the Star Wars sets at Pinewood studios in Iver Heath

Royal visit: (L-R) Mark,director Rian Johnson, Prince Harry, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge,John, Chewbacca and Daisy posed during a tour of the Star Wars sets at Pinewood studios in Iver Heath

Imperial March: The fearsome Stormtroopers traded the Galactic Empire for The Royal Albert Hall at the premiere

Imperial March: The fearsome Stormtroopers traded the Galactic Empire for The Royal Albert Hall at the premiere

Dazzling: Daisy looked stunning with her ombre locks styled into a chic updo with curly strands framing her face 

Dazzling: Daisy looked stunning with her ombre locks styled into a chic updo with curly strands framing her face 

Legend! Daisy looked over the moon to be in the presence of Luke Skywalker himself as she gleefully pointed at him

Legend! Daisy looked over the moon to be in the presence of Luke Skywalker himself as she gleefully pointed at him

Here he is! John Boyega, 25, who plays Resistance Fighter Finn, looked dapper in a velvet blazer and bow tie

Here he is! John Boyega, 25, who plays Resistance Fighter Finn, looked dapper in a velvet blazer and bow tie

Proud: John looked over the moon as he celebrated his achievement with members of his family on the red carpet including sisters Blessing (third left) and Grace (end right) and parents Abigail and Samson (1st and 2nd left)

Proud: John looked over the moon as he celebrated his achievement with members of his family on the red carpet including sisters Blessing (third left) and Grace (end right) and parents Abigail and Samson (1st and 2nd left)

Animated: John roared with delight as he soaked up the atmosphere at the premiere of the space sage's latest chapter

Don't do it John! John was all smiles as he posed up with a pair of evil Stormtroopers at the premiere

Don't do it John! John was all smiles as he posed up with a pair of evil Stormtroopers at the premiere

Intimidated? John looked slightly scared as he struck a dapper pose next to a strapping Stormtrooper

Intimidated? John looked slightly scared as he struck a dapper pose next to a strapping Stormtrooper

Emotional: John looked overwhelmed as he gave the thumbs up on the red carpet surrounded by Stormtroopers

Emotional: John looked overwhelmed as he gave the thumbs up on the red carpet surrounded by Stormtroopers

Give me five: John held out his hands to his little nephew who seemed more interested in the big screen 

Give me five: John held out his hands to his little nephew who seemed more interested in the big screen 

Space heroes: Mark Hamill, 66, who plays Jedi Luke Skywalker, looked dapper in a suit and bow tie as he took in the awe-inspiring moment with his leading lady

No fear: Despite the army of evil Stormtroopers behind them, Daisy and Mark were full of joy at the screening

No fear: Despite the army of evil Stormtroopers behind them, Daisy and Mark were full of joy at the screening

Evil: Adam Driver, who plays Han Solo's son and murderer Kylo Ren, dressed in a stylish black suit for his turn on the red carpet

Evil: Adam Driver, who plays Han Solo's son and murderer Kylo Ren, dressed in a stylish black suit for his turn on the red carpet

Spotlight: Daisy looked fierce as she struck a powerful pose in front of the wave of Stormtrooopers

Spotlight: Daisy looked fierce as she struck a powerful pose in front of the wave of Stormtrooopers

Playful: Daisy playfully mugged for the camera with Mark as the pair soaked up the atmosphere 

Playful: Daisy playfully mugged for the camera with Mark as the pair soaked up the atmosphere 

Feel the Force! Daisy radiated chic in her couture gown as she posed up in front of the Stormtroopers 

Feel the Force! Daisy radiated chic in her couture gown as she posed up in front of the Stormtroopers 

Leading lights: Daisy and Mark were in great spirits as they celebrated the upcoming release of Star Wars Episode VIII

Mark Hamill, 66, who plays Jedi Luke Skywalker, looked dapper in a suit and bow tie as he took in the awe-inspiring moment with his leading lady.

Mark was joined by his supportive wife of 39 years Marilou Yorke and their daughter Chelsea. 

 Daisy admitted being nervous filming ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ as she didn’t have close pal John Boyega on set with her.

The actress formed a close bond with her co-star on the set of the seventh instalment of the movie franchise ‘The Force Awakens’ in 2015, as their characters Rey and Finn spent a lot of time together.

But after being separated at the end of the movie, the upcoming eighth venture sees the pair spend the movie apart, and Daisy has admitted she struggled learning to trust her new on-screen partner, franchise veteran Mark Hamill.

Good to see you: C-3PO actor Anthony Daniels and Mark shared a warm hug on the red carpet

Good to see you: C-3PO actor Anthony Daniels and Mark shared a warm hug on the red carpet

Cosy: Anthony puckered up to a fearsome Stormtrooper as he put on a playful display on the red carpet

Cosy: Anthony puckered up to a fearsome Stormtrooper as he put on a playful display on the red carpet

Happy: Mark and his wife Marilou looked delighted to see Anthony, whose iconic turn as the droid has won him fans all over the world

Happy: Mark and his wife Marilou looked delighted to see Anthony, whose iconic turn as the droid has won him fans all over the world

Overjoyed: Anthony gleefully posed in front of the army of Stormtroopers in his dapper suit 

Overjoyed: Anthony gleefully posed in front of the army of Stormtroopers in his dapper suit 

Happy couple: Anthony posed with his stunning wife Christine Savage at the glittering premiere 

Happy couple: Anthony posed with his stunning wife Christine Savage at the glittering premiere 

Centre of attention: Adam looked classically handsome as he made his way down the red carpet 

Centre of attention: Adam looked classically handsome as he made his way down the red carpet 

Fan favourite: RD-D2 actor Jimmy Vee looked stylish for his turn on the red carpet, clad in a suit and bow tie

Fan favourite: RD-D2 actor Jimmy Vee looked stylish for his turn on the red carpet, clad in a suit and bow tie

Glam: Jimmy joined a glamorous pal on the red carpet with the pair looking excited for the premiere 

Glam: Jimmy joined a glamorous pal on the red carpet with the pair looking excited for the premiere 

Sophisticated: Domhnall Gleeson, who plays ruthless General Hux, looked handsome as he worked the red carpet

Acclaimed: Director Rian Johnson posed with his beautiful partner Karina Longworth at the event 

Acclaimed: Director Rian Johnson posed with his beautiful partner Karina Longworth at the event 

Speaking at the UK premiere she said: 'I was nervous going in, because John and I were no longer together, and John is my peanut. So I think more than anything, [I learned] to put your trust in those around you and it’ll all turn out pretty well. Putting my trust in Mark and Rian [Johnson, the movie’s director] mainly, was wonderful.' 

Asked if she found it any easier the second time around, she said: 'I actually felt more nervous because I didn’t know what I was doing the first time around, and you kind of think, how am I supposed to do something again when I didn’t know what I did the first time? 

'And I think because people responded so well to John and I together that was a big thing too, thinking how are people going to respond when we’re not together. So it was nerve-wracking. But again, as relationships grow and you start to get comfortable, it settles into a wonderful six months.' 

John, who plays Resistance Fighter Finn, looked over the moon as he roared on the red carpet clad in a black suit and bow tie.

Fit for a princess! Kelly Marie Tran, who plays Rose Tico looked lovely in a white pearl studded gown with a tulle skirt 

Fit for a princess! Kelly Marie Tran, who plays Rose Tico looked lovely in a white pearl studded gown with a tulle skirt 

Scream: Kelly Marie couldn't help but scream as she took in the moment on the red carpet

Scream: Kelly Marie couldn't help but scream as she took in the moment on the red carpet

Talented: Producer Ram Bergman worked a stylish suit as he joined a glamorous companion on the red carpet

Talented: Producer Ram Bergman worked a stylish suit as he joined a glamorous companion on the red carpet

It was a family affair for the proud Boyega family with John  bringing his parents Abigail and Samson and sisters Blessing and Grace, along with his nephews, to the premiere. 

The Force was strong at the premiere with an army of deadly Stormtroopers opening the dazzling show.

Fan favourites C-3PO and RD:D2 were also seen greeting fans on the red carpet along with Wookiee Chewbacca.

Princes William and Harry and Tom Hardy all make cameo appearances as Stormtroopers, with the royal brothers looking excited as they were greeted by droid BB-8 before they headed inside to watch their big screen debut.

Fan favourites: Droids C-3PO and R2-D2 were a welcome addition to the red carpet as they greeted their fans

Fan favourites: Droids C-3PO and R2-D2 were a welcome addition to the red carpet as they greeted their fans

Use the Force Luke: Mark looked handsome as he walked along with his wife and C-3PO actor Anthony Daniels

Use the Force Luke: Mark looked handsome as he walked along with his wife and C-3PO actor Anthony Daniels

Glee: Daisy and Mark looked over the moon as they posed up together ahead of the film's UK premiere

Glee: Daisy and Mark looked over the moon as they posed up together ahead of the film's UK premiere

Brothers: The Princes looked excited as they prepared to head inside and see their big screen debut 

Brothers: The Princes looked excited as they prepared to head inside and see their big screen debut 

Jedi family: Mark was joined on the red carpet by his wife Marilou York and daughter Chelsea 

Jedi family: Mark was joined on the red carpet by his wife Marilou York and daughter Chelsea 

Fearsome: Gwendoline Christie, who plays feared Captain Phasma, flashed her cleavage in a plunging semi sheer dress dotted with black circles 

Dark presence: Gwendoline joined her Stormtrooper pals on the red carpet while flashing her radiant complexion

Dark presence: Gwendoline joined her Stormtrooper pals on the red carpet while flashing her radiant complexion

Bow down to your leader: Gwendoline got into character as the terrifying Captain Phasma as she ordered her troops

Bow down to your leader: Gwendoline got into character as the terrifying Captain Phasma as she ordered her troops

Looking good: Oscar winner Benicio Del Toro, 50, who plays shady DJ in the film, looked suave in a Giorgio Armani dark suit, bow tie and navy scarf
Looking good: Oscar winner Benicio Del Toro, 50, who plays shady DJ in the film, looked suave in a Giorgio Armani dark suit, bow tie and navy scarf
Looking good: Oscar winner Benicio Del Toro, 50, who plays shady DJ in the film, looked suave in a Giorgio Armani dark suit, bow tie and navy scarf

Looking good: Oscar winner Benicio Del Toro, 50, who plays shady DJ in the film, looked suave in a Giorgio Armani dark suit, bow tie and navy scarf

How's it going? Benicio greeted a Stormtrooper on the red carpet as he shot a warm smile at the soldier

How's it going? Benicio greeted a Stormtrooper on the red carpet as he shot a warm smile at the soldier

Work it: The star was flanked by soldiers of the Galactic Empire as he posed for snappers on the red carpet

Work it: The star was flanked by soldiers of the Galactic Empire as he posed for snappers on the red carpet

Furry nice: Simon Pegg, who plays Unkar Plutt smiled as he joined a cuddly Chewbacca on the red carpet

Their arrival came after the glittering world premiere at LA's Shrine Auditorium on Saturday. 

The film's  director-writer Rian Johnson paid special tribute to late Princess Leia actress Carrie Fisher as he introduced the screening, saying: 'I want to dedicate tonight to Carrie, who is up there right now flipping me the bird, saying `Damn it Rian, don´t you dare make this night a solemn tribute.

'So let´s all have a blast tonight for Carrie.'

Wow factor: Laura Dern, who plays Amilyn Holdo, looked stylish in a feathered pink strapless dress as she was flanked by Stormtroopers

Wow factor: Laura Dern, who plays Amilyn Holdo, looked stylish in a feathered pink strapless dress as she was flanked by Stormtroopers

Dark Side: Andy Serkis, who plays evil Supreme Leader Snoke, posed with his wife Lorraine Ashbourne

Chilly: Daisy bundled up in a black coat as she left her hotel en-route to the glittering premiere 

Pink power: Laura looked fabulous in the feathered pink gown which flashed a hint of her cleavage 

Pink power: Laura looked fabulous in the feathered pink gown which flashed a hint of her cleavage 

Cool: Mark Strong looked suave in navy trousers, matching tie, three quarter length coat and a flat cap

Cool: Mark Strong looked suave in navy trousers, matching tie, three quarter length coat and a flat cap

The film ends with a dedication to Fisher, who plays Princess Leia. 

Carrie died at age 60 last December after completing her work on The Last Jedi. 

She shot to fame as the feisty and determined Princess Leia in the original three Star Wars film- A New Hope (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983). 

Happy: Danny DeVito looked delighted as he posed with some young family members and the Stormtroopers

Happy: Danny DeVito looked delighted as he posed with some young family members and the Stormtroopers

Chewy! Joonas Suotamo who was a body double for Peter Mayhew's Chewbacca posed with his wife on the red carpet

Chewy! Joonas Suotamo who was a body double for Peter Mayhew's Chewbacca posed with his wife on the red carpet

Bucketheads: The evil soldiers made for a frightening sight as they marched their way down the red carpet

Bucketheads: The evil soldiers made for a frightening sight as they marched their way down the red carpet

Galaxy glamour: Myleene Klass (L) flashed her toned legs in a thigh-high split gown while Alexandra Burke flashed her bra in a lace body paired with a green velvet suit

Practicing your Strictly moves? Alexandra appeared to be dancing with a Stormtrooper on the red carpet

Practicing your Strictly moves? Alexandra appeared to be dancing with a Stormtrooper on the red carpet

Stunning: Model and Rogue One star Eunice Olumide looked sensational in a flamboyant couture gown

Her character, now known as General Leia Organa, leader of the Resistance, plays a key role in the film.

Andy Serkis believes Carrie has left 'an indelible mark' on the world in the wake of her passing. 

Andy, who stars as Supreme Leader Snoke in the upcoming movie, as well as in 2015’s ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’, dubbed the late star as an 'incredible soul', and insisted her memory will be 'honoured' in the sci-fi flick.

The 53-year-old actor said: 'She’s an incredible soul, Carrie, so unique and individual and funny. I actually … it’s hard to think she’s not around, she has left such an indelible mark and her presence is truly beautifully honoured in this movie.'

Fellow ‘Star Wars’ star Domhnall Gleeson - who plays General Hux - also shared his fondness for the late actress, whom he says he 'cherished' his time with.

Speaking to Metro.co.uk, 34-year-old Domhnall said: 'Everyone has their own personal experience with Carrie because she was so distinctly herself. We all had precious moments, some more than others but I cherished the time I had with her. And I miss her.'

Space saga:Harrison Ford, Carrie and Luke shot to fame as Han Solo, Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker in the first Star Wars film A New Hope in 1977

Space saga:Harrison Ford, Carrie and Luke shot to fame as Han Solo, Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker in the first Star Wars film A New Hope in 1977

Forever Princess Leia: Andy Serkis, who stars as Supreme Leader Snoke in the upcoming movie, as well as in 2015’s ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’, dubbed the late Carrie Fisher an 'incredible soul', and insisted her memory will be 'honoured' in the sci-fi flick (pictured at The Force Awakens European premiere in December 2015)

Forever Princess Leia: Andy Serkis, who stars as Supreme Leader Snoke in the upcoming movie, as well as in 2015’s ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’, dubbed the late Carrie Fisher an 'incredible soul', and insisted her memory will be 'honoured' in the sci-fi flick (pictured at The Force Awakens European premiere in December 2015)

Andy and Domhnall aren’t the only stars who have recently felt the hole left by Carrie since her passing, as her close friend and co-star Mark Hamill - who stars as the iconic Luke Skywalker - admitted it has “not been easy” dealing with her death.

He said: 'I'm selfishly mad that she's not here to make me laugh. But I'm also grateful for all that she was able to give us while she was here. It has not been easy.'

Flying high: Oscar Isaac, who plays X-Wing pilot Poe Dameron, posed with his wife Elvira Lind 

Flying high: Oscar Isaac, who plays X-Wing pilot Poe Dameron, posed with his wife Elvira Lind 

John Boyega, who plays Finn, also spoke about the star, when he joked that he failed his diet because Carrie had told him to "take some chocolate bars" from her stash in the fridge.

He said: 'I was on a strict diet during 'Episode VIII', and she was like, 'Kid, get into that fridge and take some chocolate bars. I have many there.' And I did. I failed my diet because Carrie Fisher told me to. And it [felt] great.' 

The Last Jedi, which is out on December 15, picks up with  the Resistance fighting Supreme Leader Snoke´s First Order which is trying to take over the galaxy.

The film's release comes two years after The Force Awakens. 

Fun: Strictly judge Bruno Tonioli (L) made friends with a Stormtrooper while presenter Matt Johnson wowed in a floral silk jacket

Smitten: The Script's Danny O'Donoghue posed with his model girlfriend Anne DePaula on the red carpet 

Smitten: The Script's Danny O'Donoghue posed with his model girlfriend Anne DePaula on the red carpet 

Wow factor: Olympian James Cracknell and his his glamorous wife Beverley Turner wowed at the premiere

Wow factor: Olympian James Cracknell and his his glamorous wife Beverley Turner wowed at the premiere

Rey (Daisy Ridley) tries to convince Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to join the Resistance and bring hope to the rebels against Snoke's villainous rule. 

The star-studded ensemble cast, including Ridley, John Boyega, Lupita Nyong'o, Adam Driver, Andy Serkis and Hamill.

Disney has a strict embargo on full reviews until Tuesday, but early spoiler-free Twitter reaction has been universally positive.

Festive: Tallia Storm appeared to have a deliberate wardrobe malfunction as she pulled her dress to one side and flashed her underwear

'Star Wars: The Last Jedi is everything. Intense, funny, emotional, exciting. It’s jam-packed with absolutely jaw dropping moments and I loved it so, so much. I’m still shaking,' wrote Gizmodo's Germain Lussier.

'I can’t believe The Last Jedi exists. @rianjohnson is a madman and I love him for it. He takes Star Wars to the edge and throws it over. What a crazy, awesome movie. We’ll be talking about this one for a long, long time.'

SlashFilm's Peter Sciretta tweeted: 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi is so very different, exciting, surprising. So many emotions, so many amazing moments. Stay away from spoilers.

Battle: Rey (Daisy Ridley) tries to convince Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill, above) to join the Resistance and bring hope to the rebels against Snoke's villainous rule.

Battle: Rey (Daisy Ridley) tries to convince Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill, above) to join the Resistance and bring hope to the rebels against Snoke's villainous rule.

The LA Times Jen Yamato claimed: 'StarWars: The Last Jedi is so beautifully human, populist, funny, and surprising. I cried when one POC heroine got her moment because films like these leave their mark on entire generations -- and representation matters.' 

The original trilogy's plot focused on the Rebel Alliance, led by Leia and its battle to destroy the Galactic Empire's space station, the infamous Death Star, manned by supervillain Darth Vader.

Luke Skywalker, then a simple farm boy, acquires droids that possess stolen blueprints for the Death star. 

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI - REVIEWS 

 'An excellent middle chapter bursting with wit, wisdom, emotion, shocks, old-fashioned derring-do, state-of-the-art tech, and stonking set-pieces.' Total Film

Rating:

'The Last Jedi mounts some genuinely startling narrative twists and feints.' The Telegraph

Rating:

'Simply, it doesn’t disappoint.' Radio Times

Rating:

The longest and least essential chapter in the series.' Variety

 'Fun, funny but with emotional heft, this is a mouth-watering set-up for Episode IX.' Empire

Rating:

'A brilliantly crafted, intelligent blockbuster.' Daily Mail 

Rating:

Colossal confrontations, towering indecisions and teetering temptations, spectacular immolations, huge military engagements, and very small disappointments.' The Guardian

Rating:

 

'A brilliantly crafted, intelligent blockbuster': Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the best by a distance, writes Brian Viner

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (12A) 

Rating:

As the Star Wars behemoth lumbers on, cynics might be forgiven for raising an eyebrow at the number of sequels, prequels and spin-offs that continue to make their way here from a galaxy far, far away.

Or not so far, actually. This film, the ninth (and in my view the best by a distance) since George Lucas’s original movie in 1977, was shot mostly in the British Isles. 

It is the product of some remarkable technical wizardry at Pinewood Studios – as well as great vision from its American writer-director Rian Johnson. 

Crowd-pleaser: 'A brilliantly crafted, intelligent blockbuster': Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the best by a distance, writes Brian Viner

Crowd-pleaser: 'A brilliantly crafted, intelligent blockbuster': Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the best by a distance, writes Brian Viner

Admittedly, it takes a very long time to get from its exhilarating start to its poignant sign-off, a dedication to “our princess”, the late Carrie Fisher, who died after filming had been completed. 

Stars Wars: The Last Jedi lasts fully two and a half hours. There were moments towards the end when I felt like one of those poor Cubans listening to Fidel Castro at the height of his oratorical vigour … just as you’re planning your route to the exit, it lurches into yet another new lease of life. 

But my goodness, how it rewards the audience’s staying power.

The second in the so-called Star Wars sequel trilogy, it follows directly on from 2015’s The Force Awakens. Han Solo is dead, killed by his son Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), and the villainous First Order’s ineffably evil, incomparably ugly Supreme Leader Snoke (a mercifully unrecognisable Andy Serkis) is determined to finish off the noble Resistance, led by the venerable General Leia Organa (Fisher)

Excellent viewing: It is the product of some remarkable technical wizardry at Pinewood Studios – as well as great vision from its American writer-director Rian Johnson 

Excellent viewing: It is the product of some remarkable technical wizardry at Pinewood Studios – as well as great vision from its American writer-director Rian Johnson 

Snoke has the dastardly but comically hapless General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) to do his dirty work for him, as well as the still-conflicted Ren. 

Driver again makes a fantastic baddie, a worthy successor to Darth Vader, investing his character with proper depth.

In fact, if I had to find a spoonful of negativity to splash on such a cinematic feast, it would be that Daisy Ridley, as the space scavenger Rey, is outclassed in her scenes with Driver and the equally terrific Mark Hamill. 

She’s jolly pretty, and wields a light sabre wonderfully, but her dramatic range still stretches only from A to just beyond B.

Tense: Stars Wars: The Last Jedi lasts fully two and a half hours. There were moments towards the end when I felt like one of those poor Cubans listening to Fidel Castro at the height of his oratorical vigour

Tense: Stars Wars: The Last Jedi lasts fully two and a half hours. There were moments towards the end when I felt like one of those poor Cubans listening to Fidel Castro at the height of his oratorical vigour

Happily, Hamill gets a gratifying amount of screen time as a disillusioned Luke Skywalker, looking like a lonely old fisherman and living in self-imposed exile on a remote, jagged island, supposedly the most “unfindable place in the galaxy” and in reality just off the coast of County Donegal. But he’s still a Jedi knight and Rey wants him to teach her the secrets of the Force.

Will he be tempted out of retirement? Even without him, the beleaguered Resistance, rapidly running out of both fuel and ideas, can muster some impressive assets, among them the apostate stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega) and his unlikely new sidekick, a doughty janitor called Rose (Kelly Marie Tran).

Maverick pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) is a further thorn in the First Order’s side, though he’s almost as much of a handful for his own side, especially Leia’s second-in-command, Vice-Admiral Amilyn Holdo, played by Laura Dern with a fetching mauve hairdo that makes her look for all the world like an inter-galactic Mrs Slocombe, from Are You Being Served?.

Dream like: Further enlivening the basic good v bad narrative are some truly spectacular battles, oodles of wit and a glorious episode in a casino that looks like the realisation of a feverish dream

Dream like: Further enlivening the basic good v bad narrative are some truly spectacular battles, oodles of wit and a glorious episode in a casino that looks like the realisation of a feverish dream

In our seats at Monday’s IMAX screening (do see this film on the biggest screen available) we were certainly being served. Further enlivening the basic good v bad narrative are some truly spectacular battles, oodles of wit and a glorious episode in a casino that looks like the realisation of a feverish dream surreally fusing James Bond with Dr Dolittle. 

There’s also a scene-stealing turn from a rascally, stammering Benicio del Toro, and a few fleeting cameos, from Adrian Edmondson and Lily Cole among others, that are fun to spot.

But all this is underpinned by some genuinely profound philosophising about life and death, including a line about the way to win being more about saving those you love than killing those you hate, that felt almost too deep for Star Wars.

 The Last Jedi is that very rare thing, a brilliantly crafted, intelligent blockbuster that will deserve every penny of its doubtless immense box-office returns. 

One to watch: The Last Jedi is that very rare thing, a brilliantly crafted, intelligent blockbuster that will deserve every penny of its doubtless immense box-office returns

One to watch: The Last Jedi is that very rare thing, a brilliantly crafted, intelligent blockbuster that will deserve every penny of its doubtless immense box-office returns

Lure of the Dark Side: Questions remain over whether Kylo Ren (played by Adam Driver) will face justice for murdering his father Han Solo (Harrison Ford)

Lure of the Dark Side: Questions remain over whether Kylo Ren (played by Adam Driver) will face justice for murdering his father Han Solo (Harrison Ford)

Fighter: John Boyega will return as Resistance Fighter Finn in the new film

Fighter: John Boyega will return as Resistance Fighter Finn in the new film

 

 

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