I never thought that I would ever see a Star Wars movie that I like more than Empire Strikes Back; that opinion has changed. I have never watched a movie that was more of an emotional thrill ride than The Last Jedi.

Many people did not enjoy the last Star Wars film, The Force Awakens, because they felt like it didn’t take enough risks. This film is the exact opposite: the whole thing is a risk. The director, Rian Johnson, had only made one big budget movie before and was hired to take over the biggest franchise in the world. The film plays out like a normal Star Wars film, but keeps a special kind of Rian Johnson charm.

DO NOT SPOIL THIS MOVIE. For yourself, your friends, or anyone else. There are so many twists and turns that you will leave the theater with your mind blown. The movie pulls punches on you left and right and once it starts, it doesn’t stop. I am not generally an emotional person, but The Last Jedi made me cry like a baby. Do not spoil this movie.

The film has some of the best performances of the year. Mark Hamill makes a triumphant return to his most famous character, Luke Skywalker. Along with Hamill, Adam Driver (Kylo Ren) also gives an amazing performance, truly showing his torn light/dark personality in a harrowing way. You feel for his character, wanting him to do what’s right while at the same time hating him.

“Let the past die,” a quote that means more than you might know. Unlike its predecessor, The Last Jedi truly takes the past, kills it, and takes the series off in a great new direction.

Overall, The Last Jedi is a great film and is very promising for the future of Star Wars. It took the franchise into places I never thought it would go. My only hope for Episode IX, is that it manages to make as many risks as The Last Jedi and wow everyone again.