AHK Cinema · Movie Review
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
2017 Dir. Rian Johnson 152 minBest for CEFR B2
Experience the epic battle between the Resistance and the First Order in *Star Wars: The Last Jedi*. Directed by Rian Johnson, this 2017 film is a thrilling ride filled with action, drama, and self-discovery.
Things You Didn't Know
6 hidden details
1
The Making Of
The film's budget was around $200 million. Rian Johnson was chosen to direct *The Last Jedi* after his work on *Looper* impressed the producers. The film's production involved over 10,000 extras and a large team of special effects artists.
2
Casting Story
Daisy Ridley was cast as Rey after an extensive search. Mark Hamill was hesitant to return as Luke Skywalker but was convinced by Rian Johnson's script. Adam Driver was cast as Kylo Ren due to his impressive performance in *Girls*.
3
Behind Scenes
The film's iconic red salt planet, Crait, was inspired by the landscapes of Bolivia and Utah. The sound design for the film's battle scenes involved a combination of real-world and generated sounds. The film's score was composed by John Williams, who has worked on every *Star Wars* film.
4
Hidden Detail
The film contains several references to previous *Star Wars* films, including a nod to *A New Hope*. The character of DJ, played by Benicio del Toro, was inspired by a classic *Star Wars* character. The film's final scene features a subtle reference to the *Star Wars* prequels.
5
Production Fact
The film was shot on location in several countries, including Ireland, Croatia, and Iceland. The production team built over 100 sets for the film, including a large-scale model of the Resistance base. The film's visual effects involved the creation of over 2,000 digital assets.
6
Box Office
The film was a commercial success, grossing over $1.3 billion worldwide. It received widespread critical acclaim, with many praising its visuals, performances, and direction. The film's success paved the way for the final installment in the sequel trilogy, *The Rise of Skywalker*.
The Takeaway
The takeaway from Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the importance of self-discovery and embracing one's true identity. For English learners, this film teaches viewers about perseverance, teamwork, and the power of believing in oneself. To get the most out of this film, we recommend watching the scene where Rey confronts Kylo Ren with subtitles to improve your reading and listening skills.
The Learning Pack
Watch this film. Speak better English by Sunday.
Vocabulary, idioms, cultural context, and one scene broken down for shadowing practice.
Vocabulary (16)
legendary
earlyfamous or well-known
"Luke Skywalker is a legendary Jedi"
diverse
middleshowing a great deal of variety
"The film features a diverse range of characters"
perseverance
latethe ability to continue trying hard
"Rey shows great perseverance in her training"
teamwork
middlethe ability to work well with others
"The Resistance relies on teamwork to defeat the First Order"
immersive
middleproviding a very realistic experience
"The film's special effects create an immersive experience"
complexity
middlethe state of being complex or complicated
"The film's characters have complexity and depth"
breathtaking
middleextremely beautiful or impressive
"The film's cinematography is breathtaking"
accent
middlea way of pronouncing words that is typical of a particular region or group
"The film features a range of accents"
comprehension
latethe ability to understand something
"The film is great for improving listening comprehension"
pronunciation
latethe way in which words are pronounced
"The film is great for improving pronunciation"
iconic
middlevery well-known and widely recognized
"The film's red salt planet is an iconic location"
inspired
middlefeeling encouraged or motivated
"The film's score was inspired by classical music"
reference
latea mention or allusion to something
"The film contains several references to previous *Star Wars* films"
subtle
latenot obvious or noticeable
"The film's final scene features a subtle reference to the *Star Wars* prequels"
commercial
laterelated to business or commerce
"The film was a commercial success"
acclaim
lategreat praise or admiration
"The film received widespread critical acclaim"
Idioms & Expressions
in a nutshell
a brief summary
used to describe the film's plot
on the edge of your seat
feeling excited or nervous
used to describe the film's action scenes
a long shot
a shot taken from a distance
used to describe the film's cinematography
to get the most out of something
to benefit as much as possible
used to describe the film's educational value
to pave the way
to make it possible for something to happen
used to describe the film's impact on the sequel trilogy
Cultural References
Jedi and Sith
In the *Star Wars* universe, Jedi and Sith are two opposing groups of powerful beings with special abilities. Jedi are the heroes, while Sith are the villains.
The Force
In the *Star Wars* universe, the Force is a metaphysical energy that surrounds and binds the galaxy together. It is a powerful energy that can be harnessed by Jedi and Sith.
*Star Wars* fandom
The *Star Wars* franchise has a dedicated and passionate fan base, with many fans attending conventions, cosplaying, and creating fan art.
Science fiction genre
Science fiction is a genre of fiction that explores the impact of science and technology on society. It often involves futuristic or speculative elements, such as space travel and alien civilizations.
Scene Breakdown for Shadowing
around 00:42:00
Rey: "I've never seen anything like this before." Luke: "This is the first time I've seen it too." Rey: "What is it?" Luke: "It's a place of great power."
This scene is powerful for learners because it features a conversation between two main characters, Rey and Luke. The vocabulary used is relatively simple, making it easy to follow. The scene also involves a range of grammatical structures, including questions and statements. To practice shadowing, learners can repeat the lines spoken by the characters, focusing on pronunciation and intonation. This scene is also a great opportunity to learn about the *Star Wars* universe and its unique terminology, such as 'the Force' and 'Jedi'.
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