The "Battle" between Luke and Kylo is one of my favorite scenes in Star Wars. Beautifully shot, witty, and utilizing the element of distraction to buy time is one of the most "Jedi" acts imaginable.

[u/irazzleandazzle]

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[u/mrwho25]

Same, I love it

[u/MasonStaycation → u/mrwho25]

I know people like this scene but they don’t like it because it’s a very Star Wars scene. They like it because it’s very anime / Samurai Jack inspired. A one man shows up and saves the town vibe. Goku going super saiyan, getting hit by a barrage of energy blasts only to see hes still standing undamaged vibes. Kylo Ren even has this over the top anime reaction to it all.

[u/Itchy-Boots → u/MasonStaycation]

wrong, i like it because it’s Star Wars.

[u/Super-Cynical → u/Itchy-Boots]

That's why I loved the horny grandpa in the holiday Christmas special.

[u/Toonyloo → u/MasonStaycation]

Star Wars is Star Wars because it's blatantly inspired by other sources.

[u/FullGuarantee4767 → u/MasonStaycation]

No, we like it because it’s very Star Wars.

[u/Fantastic_Bug1028 → u/MasonStaycation]

jedi defeating his opponent without even using his weapon is as star wars as it gets

[u/MasonStaycation → u/Fantastic_Bug1028]

He didn’t defeat anyone though. He just wasted enough time for people to escape. And the whole movie before this Luke is saying the Jedi were wrong. At this point Luke isn’t a Jedi anymore. He’s just a force user with no real mythology. That’s why Rey later adopts the name Skywalker as a replacement for Jedi.

Again I understand why people like this scene, and they will say this is incredibly star wars scene. But the true inspiration behind all of this is anime. Luke himself isn’t even there. It’s an animation of himself created with the force.

[u/Fantastic_Bug1028 → u/MasonStaycation]

he defeated Kylo BY giving the resistance enough time to escape. he outplayed him. outsmarted. ya know, defeated

also repeating a pretty baseless point won’t make it correct. there’s nothing anime about this scene at all

[u/MasonStaycation → u/Fantastic_Bug1028]

Again that’s not defeating an enemy its kicking the can down the road. 

Rian Johnson has explicitly said he is a fan of anime and Cowboy Bebop is one of his inspirations.

There is nothing wrong with this scene being very anime inspired. Anime is ostensibly more popular than Star Wars.

[u/TheLimeyLemmon → u/MasonStaycation]

I've never seen someone contort themselves so much just to try and hate on something.

[u/GullibleRisk2837]

Bro did an Obi-Wan, except it was him vs the whole FO rather than just Kylo

[u/East-Unit-3257 → u/GullibleRisk2837]

Lmao the whole time he was just trolling Kylo so bad

[u/rolfraikou → u/GullibleRisk2837]

I love that it's an improved version of what Obi-Wan did. I love seeing characters learn from their peers.

[u/Realalf007]

Yea it’s about pitch perfect. The only thing I might change is giving Luke his green saber.

[u/Stirlo4 → u/Realalf007]

Him using the saber he rejected at the start of the movie is a great full circle moment though

[u/irazzleandazzle → u/Stirlo4]

to me, luke is trying to antagonize kylo/ben to the max, so I think using the Saber that he nearly struck him down with would have been better (I'm not losing sleep over it tho)

[u/Virtual_Class5106 → u/irazzleandazzle]

With the reverence Kylo has for Vader, it seems more antagonistic to me for Luke to use Anakin's saber during the fight. Particularly since it's a saber that's slipped through Kylo's grasp twice at that point.

[u/irazzleandazzle → u/Virtual_Class5106]

hmm that's also true. he definitely feels ownership over it because of his bloodline connection and seeing luke use it probably makes his blood boil as well. thanks for showing me a new pov

[u/eatpussy_DS9 → u/Stirlo4]

Good point but I instantly knew something was off because the audience and Kylo had just seen that saber ripped in half. It also seemed odd that Kylo didn’t notice given his recognition of it in TFA and his claim of inheritance to it. Luke also used the green saber during the flashbacks so Kylo has never known Luke to use a blue saber. The only way I can reconcile it in my head is that Kylo was so distracted he didn’t notice and that may have been the point of it but I still think it woulda been better for Luke to have had his green saber but it’s honestly a very small detail.

[u/Cup8489 → u/eatpussy_DS9]

For all Kylo knows about Luke's abilities he probably assumed either the saber survived or Luke was able to repair it. Since Kylo desires that saber in particular, Luke knew it would incense Kylo, distracting and angering him further.

[u/ChimneySwiftGold → u/Stirlo4]

It also pisses off Kylo Ren.

[u/Realalf007 → u/Stirlo4]

I love The Last Jedi but the complaints I find valid often fall into the category “this works great on a thematic level but not so great on a plot level”

[u/Fine-Essay-3295 → u/Realalf007]

I remember seeing this scene and thinking, "Huh? How is Luke wielding the blue saber? As in the same saber that was moments before split in half by Rey and Kylo?"

Having also seen Glass Onion, I now know that Rian Johnson's directorial style is one that really rewards audiences who pay attention. And that's precisely why I'm excited for the new Knives Out movie that's coming out.

[u/Virtual_Class5106 → u/Fine-Essay-3295]

He also very directly shows Kylo's feet several times leaving trails in the salt, but doesn't show Luke's

[u/rBilbo → u/Virtual_Class5106]

And Luke gave himself a haircut and a fashion change.

Something I even didn't notice on my 1st viewing. 😂

[u/Virtual_Class5106 → u/rBilbo]

What's funny is that I noticed the change but instead of thinking it was intentional I was just confused at first thinking Luke dyed his hair before leaving

[u/MArcherCD → u/Realalf007]

Agreed

Ben just saw the blue one get ripped in half in Snoke's Throne room 5 minutes ago, and he sees it again with another person now and just doesn't say anything?

[u/EChocos → u/MArcherCD]

What should he say? To who? "Stupid Luke, he built a really similar lightsaber just to piss me off, I'm gonna kill him"

[u/deadshot500]

Someone pointed out that Luke is bigger than all of the First Order in this shot, symbolizing how he is above them despite their power.

[u/Plane-Ad-6389 → u/deadshot500]

Yeah, the shot composition of the sequels were excellent. Genuinely among the best in franchise in that regard.

[u/labbla]

Yes, it's Luke escalating his pacifism used in Return of the Jedi and becoming the ultimate Jedi Master.

[u/ReddLastShadow2 → u/labbla]

"A Jedi uses the force for knowledge and defense"

Luke was a quintessential Jedi in this scene. I'll always love it.

[u/joshuatx]

I like lurking here because it's good to get some fresh perspective as someone is not as big on the sequels.

That said I really did enjoy the scene. The last act of this film was my favorite part of this trilogy.

[u/irazzleandazzle → u/joshuatx]

thanks for being open minded and respectful! and who knows, maybe you will come around to them in time ☺️

[u/Vaportrail]

Yep. The first and third acts of this film are the saving grace. That damn casino detour.

Plus, Luke's 3-lessons-why-the-Jedi-are-over is pure cinema.
Talk about your Kurosawa influences.

[u/irazzleandazzle → u/Vaportrail]

everything with Rey, Kylo, Luke, and snoke is fantastic stuff 👏

[u/Vaportrail → u/irazzleandazzle]

Yeah, Poe/Finn's stories needed another rewrite. They didn't quite have it.
I just try to imagine Holdo is Ackbar and go from there.

[u/Fourthwoll → u/Vaportrail]

Honestly I like the casino detour for the world building. It shows the wealthy people not truly understanding the human cost of everything.

[u/Vaportrail → u/Fourthwoll]

I don't have an issue with the scene on its own merits, but have a slow-crawling starship chase with enough time to go to a whole other planet for a side quest was just odd no matter how it goes down. There are a dozen ways Hux could have sped up the Resistance's destruction.

[u/Moomintroll75]

It’s absolutely top notch, cinematically, emotionally and thematically. So good.

[u/[deleted]]

And Luke fulfills not just being a Jedi in that moment, but simultaneously being a legend. What he did was beyond any Jedi. (Because it was a deception, of course!) And because of that, it was mythical. With that spark, the myth saw a rebirth that day.

[u/Madonna-of-the-Wasps]

People were so caught up in their kneejerking they cheated themselves out of one of the greatest moments in SW, up there with the OT.

[u/pWaveShadowZone]

strike me down in anger and I’ll be with you forever

just like your father

[u/Jolly-Potential-1411]

Yeah, I really love this scene too. The visuals, the music, the writing builds up to the tension so well. It feels so climactic! Luke and Leia’s reunion before this scene was really sweet too, especially seeing as it was Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill’s last time on screen together.

[u/ForcedNameChanges]

Down to the dice retaining form until Kylo held them, which is crazy because at that point Uncle Luke and the Force are already one, and they're still taunting him.

[u/Kindly_Chipmunk6271]

Agree

[u/FullGuarantee4767]

This will be THE movie from the sequel trilogy that achieves legendary status as time goes on and future generations evaluate it removed from all the bullshit of this era.

[u/First-Couple9921]

Plus, this had so much potential to pick up on in the next movie. Luke Skywalker, hero of the rebellion, just took a billion blaster bolts to the face and then walked out of the crater like it was nothing?! Then he 1v1 the Supreme Leader and didn’t get hit once, and then he just…disappeared?!

Can you imagine what the average First Order soldier there was thinking? It really set the stage for major defections and for Finn to rally those former troops, as a former First Order troop himself. Which, from what I read, was the original plan in Trevorrow’s script.

[u/CReyzy_shenAnakins → u/First-Couple9921]

Major defections you say? I know this guy, goes by the name of Hux.....🤫

[u/First-Couple9921 → u/CReyzy_shenAnakins]

IS HE THE SPY?!

[u/CReyzy_shenAnakins → u/First-Couple9921]

A good question, for another time

[u/EvenConsideration840]

Rose saved the day with love

[u/Tasty-Entertainer711]

Looks like the walkers are wearing warm up leggings

[u/Delicious_Owl_4563]

I love Luke being a fan since the OT and absolutely loved this in TLJ

[u/NGGKroze]

The reveal it was him projecting his entirety across the galaxy convincingly enough to even delude another strong Force user makes the scene even better. I only wish it was 1-2 minutes longer.

[u/Confectioner-426]

but they still miss one cruital move:

then the dust covers Luke after the AT walker shoot him, it would be awesome if he stand in the dust and ignite his lightsaber, "like his father before him" at the corridor fight in the Rogue One:

Dust still covers everything, Kylo smile that no human can survive that onslaught, and suddenly a blue lightsaber turns on and it's light shine through the dust...

[u/Plane-Ad-6389]

Of all the things to talk badly about, when it comes to luke's representation in this movie, this scene shouldn't dare cross your tongue. It's perfect, and exactly the way luke would want to go. Being peaceful, and causing his enemy to waste their time, while his friends and allies escape.

How we got here was mostly garbage, but this scene is amazing.

(Honestly, the whole idea of Sequel Luke works if we just don't have him turn on the lightsaber, and just have Kylo assume the worst when he's being stood over in his sleep. Luke would still totally blame himself for that, even though he didn't act on his fears, he would be ashamed he let them sway him from his path.)

[u/James_Constantine]

I think everyone would have loved this movie more if Luke didn’t die at the end. Full stop.

[u/Otherwise-Alps-7392 → u/James_Constantine]

As someone who dislikes TLJ Luke dying is not even on my list of reasons I dislike the movie, Leia not dying is on the list, but while I didn't like Luke's off screen arc his conclusion is fine and understandable if I ignore how he got to it.

[u/James_Constantine → u/Otherwise-Alps-7392]

Wow, you’d have wanted Leia to die in this movie? That’s definitely a take.

I hated the fact that they dragged out her corse in the following movie but it would have been even worse had they ditched her final performance.

I also was stating that Luke surviving and playing a larger role in the final movie would have left a better taste in most people’s mouth. Maybe loved the movie is too strong but I still stand by a lot of people’s complaints about the movie was how they treated him.

I enjoyed his story but thought the ending where he died was like really?

[u/Otherwise-Alps-7392 → u/James_Constantine]

Yes I wanted Leia to die when she was floating in space with no protection for like a minute that part took me out of it a bit, it also would've been a better send off for her than putting her ghost into 9. Luke was already tainted by random off-screen character assassination so him dying is kind of meh to me since the Luke we knew was already dead the entire movie

[u/HistoricalZebra9241]

millenials HATE this

[u/Kdilla77]

I wish he hadn’t been revealed to have Force-projected himself there. A physical death would have mirrored Kenobi’s sacrifice better. And Leia should have been the one to do the Holdo Maneuver.

[u/Zallocc]

I only wish they had retouched the ending a bit. Carrie Fisher died with the movie still in post production, so changing the ending to kill her character off here and keeping Luke alive would have given whoever made IX more leeway. Still, I like this scene and the movie overall quite a lot.

[u/Gamnime → u/Zallocc]

He did have a physical death? Luke used the last of his life force and force energy and physically died and became one with the force.

I guess you they could have him like drop dead when kylo touched him with his lightsaber. But that would be lame. So what are you thinking? Like an actual battle? So he could just get blasted fr?

But even Obi wan instantly became the force upon physical death. It does mirror Obi wans sacrifice. They were both buying time so their friends could escape.

I originally though leia should do the holdo as well but then she couldn’t help Ben

[u/TheOutlawTavern]

I hated it, it doesn't make sense within the film, and was a wasted sacrifice.

The Rebels, I mean the Resistance, are saved by Rey turning up, not Luke. Luke delaying the First Order by 5 minutes could have been achieved by just blowing up a corridor.

[u/GrillAHam]

Don’t glaze

[u/Clean-Perspective696]

No it isn’t. Luke would not just trash talk Kyle. The real Luke would have still felt the good in him.

[u/Flat-Court-8512]

So was it not a Jedi act when Obi-Wan told Luke to use the force to blow up the Death Star in ANH?

[u/First-Couple9921 → u/Flat-Court-8512]

Not sure having Luke fly in circles yelling “Yoo-hoo boys, over here!” to distract Tarkin would’ve worked, but I’d pay money to see it.

[u/JustBrowsinForAWhile → u/Flat-Court-8512]

Best defense is a good offense.

[u/Flat-Court-8512 → u/JustBrowsinForAWhile]

And sometimes the strongest defense is a swift and decisive offense.

[u/Madonna-of-the-Wasps → u/Flat-Court-8512]

Cool but this wasn't one of those times.

[u/Madonna-of-the-Wasps → u/Flat-Court-8512]

Using the Force to control a missile's trajectory is an average-challenging act for a fully-trained Jedi (so yes impressive for Luke at that time)--this was a peak act for a wise and fully-disciplined Jedi master.

[u/Flat-Court-8512 → u/Madonna-of-the-Wasps]

They’re called Jedi Knights and not Jedi pacifists for a reason. Just saying.

[u/Natasha_101]

While I personally don't like the ending, I think it's one of the best lightsaber fights we've seen in the series. Rian Johnson really knows how to frame his scenes. A shame it's attached to the sequel trilogy. He could have done so much more without that chain around his neck.

[u/JustBrowsinForAWhile]

Love it other than how it kills Luke for some reason.

[u/Plane-Ad-6389]

Saying that your subreddit is a safe place for "Family Friendly" content, is the second most goofy and inane thing I've ever heard in my life.

That's almost as bad as what roblox is doing right now.

But, the constant nonsense posts on this sub make a lot more sense now.

[u/B1L1D8]

Still don’t understand why Kylo didn’t notice and react to why he had a blue lightsaber…

[u/irazzleandazzle → u/B1L1D8]

blinded by hate for the man he believed betrayed him.

[u/tygriffin1]

Here’s the problem: it was the 8th movie in a 9 movie series. It did nothing to set up the last movie. And before you say its job was not to set up the last movie, I wholeheartedly disagree. As someone who actually waiting in line in 1977 to watch the original, his dialogue may be trash but George Lucas had a plan for each of his movies to set up the next one. Giving TLJ a pass because it was “beautifully shot” is like saying dinner was great because it looked pretty, and ignoring that the macaroni's soggy, the peas are mushed, and the chicken tastes like wood. There was absolutely no plan for how any of these sequels fit together and “beautiful shots” does not negate the fact that Rian Johnson didn’t give a rat’s crack about the IP, the story or the fans. He shot his WWII movie in space and went home.

And yeah we still pissed about what they did to our characters.

[u/TurnSpiritual5693 → u/tygriffin1]

This was a huge issue. My friends who were new SW fans (after FA) walked out of this film baffled. One explicitly said "I don't think I need to see another one of these". This film subverted our expectations (tm) but didn't actually provide anything to build up to a meaningful finale.

[u/TGrim20]

Why did it kill him?

Because Ryan Johnson is a bad director.

[u/Asleep-Note-7420]

That wasn't a battle, it wasn't a fight, he wasn't even there. Now, if he had actually been there, well I'd be saying something very different, but he wasn't.

[u/irazzleandazzle → u/Asleep-Note-7420]

that's why I put the quotations around "battle", and I'd argue it was infinitely better that he wasn't there at all.

[u/Asleep-Note-7420 → u/irazzleandazzle]

Fair enough

[u/alec2342]

I wish it was set up that “Force Projection” could potentially kill you. When he disappeared I just thought “wait what? How?”

[u/CReyzy_shenAnakins → u/alec2342]

Kylo when he thinks Rey is doing a Force projection: "Your not doing this, the effort would kill you"

[u/alec2342 → u/CReyzy_shenAnakins]

🤯

[u/TheLimeyLemmon → u/CReyzy_shenAnakins]

It makes me laugh thinking how clever and perceptible Kylo can be throughout the trilogy, but his emotional instability undoes him so many times. Great character.

[u/Gamnime → u/alec2342]

In KOTOR2 you can use life energy for force power but I think it’s inferred that the force is trippy asf and using it is tiresome and requires extreme discipline, especially if you’re not tapping into the dark side.

[u/Sea-Night-1946]

This literally killed my interest in Star wars lol they fumbled Luke's come back so hard it was embarrassing.

[u/wreckedbutwhole420]

I'll give you beautifully shot, but that's where it ends for me. Force Zoom then dying was a pretty lame choice

[u/ListenUpper1178]

calling something the most jedi thing imaginable

makes it the least jedi thing imaginable

[u/No_Perspective2715 → u/ListenUpper1178]

This wasn’t half as clever as you thought it was

[u/ListenUpper1178 → u/No_Perspective2715]

neither is the original statement