ST The Cinematography/Film Techniques of The Last Jedi

Well, we've now seen a little of what Rian Johnson's contribution to Star Wars is going to look like. This is the place to specifically discus the most important aspect of any film: not the story, or writing, or characters, but the moving pictures, the thing that sets cinema apart as an art form and makes a movie a movie.

To start with, here are three of my favorite shots. The first allows for a really intimate connection between the viewer and Rey as she tests her burgeoning powers on a small, personal scale. The second has a really lovely contrast between white and red, which we've seen a lot of in the marketing so far; it's on the product packaging, as well as the teaser poster. Maybe thematically the film deals with purity and corruption? Maybe the Jedi Order started out as a pure concept that became corrupted through false interpretations of the Force? Or maybe Rian Johnson just thought it looked real pretty; who knows. The third seems to be the big "money shot" of the teaser, the one most everyone seems to be focusing on. It pairs really well with Luke telling Rey that the Force is bigger than the Light and the Dark Sides (at least it appears that's what he's telling her, although that could simply be a false context created through editing), in that Rey and Luke are these tiny little specks in the grand scheme of things.

Feel free to post others, and have fun delving into the specifics of what the Star Wars universe looks like through Rian Johnson's lens. If anyone can get some gifs of these shots, to represent what they actually look like in motion, that'd be great.

 

is stunning and we still haven't seen Canto Bight.

Also, I adore this image:



Great way to tease his full scar. the angle is to die for.

 

Full disclosure, I am not an anime person, but this feels like it has an anime influence to me, in terms of the way his longer hair is blowing slightly, the lighting both coming from behind Kylo and from his saber's blade, the way the light bounces off his eyes, the dynamic angle of the shot, and the slight twist of his arm. It's just the first thing that comes to mind for whatever reason.

 

Ahch-To definitely looks like the most inspired portion of the film, followed by Crait. Granted, like hana_solo said we've seen none of Canto Bight, so who knows what that'll look like cinematically?

 

I think that canto Bight is going to look sensational and that will make FinnRose scenes ever more endearing cause they were marginalized in FO (sanitation) and the Resistance (maintenance). And now are going to have a grand adventure that officers won't.

 

Some really amazing shots in the trailer!!

 

I loved all the shots from the trailer. But as my username suggests, I am a big fan of chiaroscuro lighting, which is used prolifically throughout star wars. Not seeing much of it in the trailer. Hope RJ is saving some nice chiaroscuro scenes for the film itself.

 

I like the shot with the books shone by light. You got the impression they're super long lost ancient knowledge which will give you enlightenment. The fact they're not Holocrons really hammer in the message that they are super ancient.

 

that was the one chiaroscuro scene of the whole thing. Man, I love that lighting.

 

One of the most stunning aerial shots in a Star Wars film.

 

Is he wiping his nose on his sleeve?

Anyways, this movie already looks way more beautiful than TFA did. JJ used to much shaky cam as well.

 

The waves flowing into Rey. Some Force right there.

 

yup, and we only saw parts of Ahch-To--they did extensive filming in Ireland for this, so there's bound to be more beautiful imagery there, particularly the grassier parts, I'd imagine.

 

I am really really really hoping that the twisting of the sabre he his doing here is threatening/posturing, and not twisting in the wound of a beloved character that he just stabbed.

 

I love how utterly different The Last Jedi looks in its cinematography when compared to the other SW films. There's some nods here and there, but by and large it's shot more like Jackson's Lord of the Rings films than anything from the OT or PT. Rian's making his presence as the director be felt pretty much instantaneously.

 

My hope is that his lightsaber is in someones chest in that moment. Talk about savage.....

 

I love that shot of Kylo, probably one of my favourites from the teaser. In particular, the eye light adds such depth to the shot; reminds me of the similar shot at the end of TFA. Other shots also evoke those from TFA, so I'm not sure I entirely get the 'it looks completely different'.

This is one of my favourite shots in any movie ever. Rian Johnson's 'The Searchers' shot.

 

i'm so impressed the shots are all different they remind me of an indie film 10/10 love it.

 

Love that shot. He looks like a beast.

 

More great cinematography:



Pure magic, no? The light shining on the Jedi holy books is high fantasy. Also, that tree wall...drool


OK, lets analyze our favorite image - that's fire behind him but what's that in the lower right corner? Another light saber? And it's red. Who could have another red?






Luke appear to be in the tree judging by the wall.

 

The Ireland Tourism Board will so so all over this, like New Zealand during the Lord of the Rings movies.

 

I absolutely see this, and I love it

 

Ha, ha, when MSW reported that Kylo's got a cape, I was joking about Batman!Kylo. Turns out, my instinct was right:

 

I know, right? The establishing wide shots of Ahch-To in the start of the trailer are especially similar to Jackson's LotR. Even the distant shot of Rey training with her lightsaber and Luke watching from a few yards off reminds me of some of the shots during the travel montage in the middle of Fellowship of the Ring.