Falcon’s Arrival

The Last Jedi

“Rose, you’ve got three behind you.” Rose is in trouble as she pilots a dilapidated ski speeder over the salty surface of Crait with three screaming First Order ties bearing down on her.

The odds are stacked against the Resistance. Several of the speeders in what started off as a modest fleet have already been reduced to debris. As has been the case throughout The Last Jedi, the Resistance fight seems hopeless.

That is until a familiar silhouette and a familiar score accompany the arrival of our favourite ship.

The Tie screams are suddenly silenced. With one shot to perfectly obliterate all three of Rose’s pursuers, the Millennium Falcon fires into the scene with Chewie in the cockpit and hawkeye Rey on the central canon.

Who isn’t John Boyega when watching that scene? I certainly match Finn’s fist-pumping reaction when I hear John Williams’ classic Falcon theme. That ship’s always known how to make an entrance and this is one of the best.

Kylo Ren and General Hux send all the remaining fighters off in pursuit of the Falcon, as Chewie flies away from the battlefield. Suddenly it’s clear skies for the Resistance as they continue their assault on the First Order’s Superlaser Seige Cannon, (which is also the best weapon name in canon – pun a happy accident.)

But Chewie then has a problem. With around 10 Ties on his tail, the Wookie dives the Falcon into the crystal mines and begins the most aesthetically pleasing chase sequence in the saga. Ducking around the red crystals, boulders and rocks as Ties explode behind, Chewie squeezes through impossible gaps despite the lack of a co-pilot. This is Chewbacca’s moment to be the ace pilot and ace it he does.

Stunning cinematography is not in short supply throughout the movie but Crait is the first planet I think of whenever I consider the undeniable artistry of the movie. And it manages to combine aesthetic beauty with a thrilling action sequence, starring characters we love, the ship we love, Ben Burtt’s unmistakable sound design and one of John Williams’ most iconic Star Wars tracks.

To anyone who tries to argue that The Last Jedi is not true to the saga – perhaps you were obliviated and forgot about this magical movie moment. This magical Star Wars moment.