Cass R. Sunstein, Columnist

'The Last Jedi' Is Good. It Just Isn't Magical.

What's missing is the internal struggle between good and evil, wrestling with one's demons, and seeking answers to life's big questions.

December 19, 2017 at 1:00 PM UTC

By Cass R. Sunstein

Cass R. Sunstein is a former Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is the author of “The Cost-Benefit Revolution” and a co-author of “Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness.”

Tough to top this pair.
Photographer: Terry O'Neill/Getty Images

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George Lucas, the genius behind the first six “Star Wars” movies, says that his films are defined by “a sort of effervescent giddiness.” That’s true, and it’s central to their magic.1513632103205

That helps explain why writer-director Rian Johnson’s new film, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” isn’t really “Star Wars.” Sure, it’s good, even very good -- but there’s nothing giddy about it.