Is there another Star Wars movie as divisive as The Last Jedi?
It’s a fair question, not least because of the disrespectful and often hateful comments directed at Kelly Marie Tran (Rose Tico), who actually left social media earlier this year when the online harassment became too much to bear. She’s since returned to Instagram et. al, prompting a wave of support from the likes of Mark Hamill, who tends to use Twitter as a means of standing up for what he believes in and, in this case, to the bullies who made Tran’s life miserable for far too long.
That’s an example of things getting out of control; social media discourse is one thing, but when a Hollywood star is forced to pull the plug due to an overwhelming amount of hate and negativity, that’s harassment.
Still, there remains a chance for film fans to engage in a series of debates about their favorite movies – Star Wars: The Last Jedi included. And in this instance, Poe Dameron himself, Oscar Isaac, actually welcomes the criticism directed at Episode VIII.
I love that. It’s incredible, because you have people actually engaging with the ethical question of war and what leadership is. The last thing you want is for people to watch a movie and be like, ‘Great,’ and then move on. With [The Last Jedi], the conversation continues and can stir real emotions. You’re having a conversation about actual things that matter, you know?
Those comments were made to Yahoo Movies (h/t Cinema Blend) while Isaac was out promoting Operation Finale, and there’s a good reason why he doesn’t specifically refer to Kelly Marie Tran’s own social media torment – Oscar Isaac is talking about well-reasoned criticism, not spiteful comments made on social media with the sole intention of hurting big-name stars like Tran.
Let’s just hope this kind of toxic negativity doesn’t spill over into Star Wars: Episode IX, which is currently filming across parts of the United Kingdom ahead of its own release in December of 2019.
Published: Aug 27, 2018 01:38 pm