It’s been almost 6 and a half years since the last Star Wars movie, so obviously I was excited to return to the galaxy far, far away.
The Mandalorian and Grogu is different from most Star Wars movies, and that’s a good thing. On the one hand, it feels like the perfect film to win over new audiences, and on the other hand, it almost lacks what made the original movies so awesome. I do have a soft spot for this film because I genuinely believe that most people will have fun with it.
This movie is basically a spin-off of The Mandalorian TV series, in the sense that it continues with characters who were part of the show. The good news is that you don’t have to watch the show to enjoy the movie. The film basically works as a standalone story and doesn’t continue any of the plots established in the movies.
In order to review this movie as unbiasedly as possible, I’m going to imagine I don’t know the show. I think people who haven’t even watched the main Star Wars movies can still enjoy this. It’s like an alternative introduction to this galaxy, and that’s something this movie does really well.
As someone who has watched all the movies and shows, this film didn’t really bring much new to the table. The Mandalorian TV show is a western that just happens to be set in space, while this movie doesn’t fully carry over those themes and tones. Still, there is a lot that this movie does right in my opinion. I think the cast is phenomenal.
The actor who plays Grogu, aka Baby Yoda, is a scene stealer (I know he’s just a puppet). This is just as much Grogu’s movie as it is the Mandalorian’s.Pedro Pascal once again returns as Din Djarin, the Mandalorian. Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder are his stunt doubles, and they are terrific. Jeremy Allen White stars as Rotta the Hutt, and I think his voice work is great regardless of the dialogue.
I love the production design of this movie, even if the special effects looked a little off at certain points. I think the character designs and practical effects alone make this movie worth the cinema ticket price. I might just be excited to see a Star Wars movie in cinemas again, but I do think it looks amazing. It’s easy to ignore the bad green screens.
I liked most of the action sequences. I do think the final fight scene looked the best because hand-to-hand combat always feels more personal than a big shootout. There were some action scenes that ended up feeling a little lackluster, and I do wish Grogu showed us more of his Force powers.
The thing I loved most about this movie is the score by Ludwig Göransson. There’s no denying that his music elevates the movie and brings everything to life. I think it sets the overall tone of the film and instantly adds an extra star to my rating.
I know this movie will once again have fans divided because Star Wars fans can’t agree on anything. I’m in the camp of those who enjoyed the movie. Is this the best Star Wars movie? No, but it’s definitely better than the last few. It doesn’t really add much to the Star Wars universe, but it also doesn’t take anything away. I think this is for everyone who just wants to enjoy a big blockbuster movie at the cinema, and that includes me.
I’ve loved Star Wars since I watched it for the first time when I was 7 years old. Unlike most people, my introduction to this universe was Return of the Jedi, followed by The Phantom Menace. I guess that also explains why I love adorable characters like the Ewoks and Grogu. It probably affects how I feel about this movie. Anyway, I do think it’s worth watching whether you know Star Wars or not. That’s why I give it 3 out of 5 stars.
