The Last Jedi has finally made its way to the home entertainment market. The digital release has been out for a while now, but the physical release — DVD, Blu-ray, and Ultra 4K — is just now hitting the shelves. And if you are a Star Wars fan in any measure of the word, this is a release that you need to have in your personal collection.
Here’s why.
The Openness of Rian Johnson
There are two features on The Last Jedi Blu-ray that are absolute treasures: a commentary track from writer/director Rian Johnson and a feature-length documentary called The Director and the Jedi that follows Johnson during the entire production process on the film.
These two features show off something that we haven’t really seen yet since Disney acquired the Star Wars brand. The Mouse House is notorious for keeping the rougher parts of current film production out of the public’s eye. This is evident in their behind the scenes features for both The Force Awakens and Rogue One. Both of those films had tumultuous periods during their production but the special features on their home releases shied away from nearly all of that turmoil.
That’s not the case with The Last Jedi. With Rian Johnson being such a singular voice for the film, Disney allowed him to be more open than usual with his frustrations, challenges, and outright anxieties regarding the film. This is reflected in Johnson’s commentary where he openly admits when certain story beats weren’t working or when his own ideas failed him and he had to craft something new. It’s most apparent in The Director and the Jedi as the documentary team that follows Johnson gets his raw feelings about the production. For example, the documentary doesn’t hide any of Mark Hamill’s initial misgivings about how the character of Luke Skywalker was being utilized. It’s a frankness that’s very rare for Disney to show, and that only makes it all the more valuable.
And, of course, the documentary does give time to the loss of Carrie Fisher and Johnson doesn’t hide his emotions when it comes to having to deal with such a monumental loss. The scenes with Fisher hit hard but they are crucial for fans to witness as this is the last time we’ll ever see her in the role that made her a star.
The Cutting Room Floor
Along with this openness is a collection of deleted scenes that offer a peek into a few different turns the movie could have taken. You can also watch these scenes with commentary from Rian Johnson to get a better idea as to why they were cut.
Some highlights include a sequence where Rey and Luke are part of a festival thrown by the caretakers of Ahch-To. There are a few more little laughs to be had in this scene but there is also another confrontation between Rey and Luke that adds some more friction to their conflict.
Another deleted scene is an extended version of the sequence where Finn, Rose, and DJ infiltrate the Supremacy, Supreme Leader Snoke‘s flagship Star Destroyer. The best part of this excised scene is where our heroes are stuck in an elevator with a group of Stormtroopers and one of them recognizes Finn. It’s a funny beat that also includes a masked cameo from none other than Tom Hardy.
Probably the most altered scene is between Finn and Captain Phasma. In the original version, Finn outs Phasma in front of her Stormtroopers as the person who lowered the shields on Starkiller Base. In order to preserve her secret, Phasma kills all the Stormtroopers. It’s an interesting twist that adds another level to Phasma’s character. Should it have been in the final cut? You decide.
A True Production
If you’re obsessed with seeing how every nook and cranny of the Star Wars universe gets put together, then The Last Jedi Blu-ray is going to satisfy you in that department as well. There are a number of scene breakdowns that look at some of the pivotal moments from the film. We get a thorough look at the epic opening space battle, a superb examination of everything it takes to bring Supreme Leader Snoke to life, and a great breakdown of everything involving the planet Crait and the final showdown that takes place there.
There is also an extended video that simply looks around at all the many creatures of Canto Bight. This is one of the best little features as Rian Johnson wanted to showcase all the many practical aliens that we didn’t get a good look at during the film. It’s a delightful little piece that caps off a Blu-ray that feels like a true celebration of The Last Jedi.
Don’t miss out on this release. It’s a must buy for any Star Wars fan. The home release is available on March 27.
