“It’s time for the Jedi to come to an end”… I mean it’s time for Star Wars: The Last Jedi to come to Digital HD! That’s right, the film you saw in theaters at least three times is now yours to own in a format you can’t touch two weeks ahead of it’s 4K Ultra HD, Blu-Ray, and DVD release on March 27th. So grab yourself a glass of green milk, nuke a couple porg snacks, and get a soft towel to dab your forehead during that one Kylo Ren scene. It’s time to watch Star Wars: The Last Jedi again… and again… and again…

When Po Dameron betrays General Leia Organa’s commands, the Resistance falls into the First Order’s trap. Worst of all, their ship is a beacon for Rey to find her way home when she finishes training with Luke Skywalker. But Jedi Master Luke gives Rey an unexpected lesson that things aren’t always what they seem. As Rey learns the balance between the light and dark sides of the force, she is also pulled by the same temptations that lead Ben Solo down the path of the dark side. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction in Episode VIII.

While The Last Jedi divided fans in a variety of ways, I fell in love with it instantly and every successive viewing only strengthens that feeling. Sure, it’s not without a few faults and yes, a subplot could have been easily dropped, but I enjoy spending more time in a galaxy far, far away and feel like those moments will have a big pay off in the next episode. The Last Jedi is bold and not afraid to take chances. From start to finish, it offers non-stop thrills and excitement.

The brilliance behind Rian Johnson’s direction is that the film dances around light and dark moments so perfectly. The film has some of the darkest moments in the saga and at the same time, the funniest moments. The themes of light and dark that dominate the story also dictate the emotional beats, creating a beautiful rollercoaster of a film. Sit down, buckle up, tug on that yellow safety strap, and prepare for the ride of your life.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is now available digitally from major providers like Amazon and iTunes. Linking your Movies Anywhere account ensures that you gain access to every bonus feature possible, and there are hours of amazing bonuses including a director’s commentary, deleted scenes, and behind the scenes documentaries. Clear your calendar and immerse yourself in the process of making a new Star War.

Bonus Features

• Commentary (2:31:41) – Rian Johnson explains his story and character choices in this feature length commentary. It’s full of behind-the-scenes anecdotes and he points out what is a practical shot vs. what is digital.
• The Director and the Jedi (1:35:23) – This feature length making-of documentary follows Director Rian Johnson’s journey on the film. You’ll go behind the scenes of casting, design, principal photography, and any other aspect of filmmaking you can think of. It highlights all of the practical effects and makes you feel like a fly on the wall during filming, getting to see the cast goof around and have fun. It also spends a portion on Carrie Fisher, as well as Mark Hamill coming to terms with not being the “Luke Skywalker” of this trilogy. The challenges of bringing Yoda back in puppet form are another highlight of this documentary.
• Balance of the Force (10:17) – Rian Johnson, Daisy Ridley, and Adam Driver discuss the force and how it is represented in The Last Jedi compared to previous films in the saga.
• Andy Serkis Live! (One Night Only) (5:59) – Andy Serkis’ motion capture performance is presented as it appeared live on set with an introduction from Rian Johnson.
• Scene Breakdowns
  • Lighting the Spark: Creating the Space Battle (14:24) – The opening battle between the Resistance and the First Order is picked apart as the filmmakers discuss the inspirations, production process, and post-production aspects of the film’s space battles.
  • Snoke and Mirrors (5:40) – Rian Johnson’s approach to Supreme Leader Snoke is explored in great detail.
  • Showdown on Crait (12:57) – The technical aspects of creating an expansive terrain with a white top layer and ruby crust are explored and how Star Tours inspired the cave chase sequence.
• Deleted Scenes (24:31) – 14 deleted and extended scenes are presented with a director introduction. Each of the scenes can be watched with or without commentary. The iTunes version contains a “Play All” option, or you can view them individually.
  • Introduction from Rian Johnson (0:50) – The Director discusses how some of his favorite scenes had to be cut to trim the runtime of the film.
  • Alternate Opening (1:37) – The alternate opening starts with Finn waking up and looking out his window to see the battle that is in progress.
  • Paige’s Gun Jams (0:39) – An extended cockpit scene with Rose’s sister.
  • Luke Has a Moment (1:07) – While avoiding Rey, Luke takes a quiet moment to himself.
  • Poe: Not Much of a Sewer (0:47) – Poe returns Finn’s jacket with a few new stitches.
  • It’s Kind of Weird That You Recorded That (0:59) – BB-8 shows Finn a video he took of Rey kissing his forehead from the end of The Force Awakens.
  • The Caretaker Sized Up Rey (0:43) – The Caretakers give Rey some judgmental looks.
  • Caretaker Village Sequence (2:58) – The Caretakers’ village is being raided in this deleted scene where Rey disobeys Luke’s orders and intervenes, only to find out that the “raid” is a party.
  • Extended Fathier Chase (5:50) – The fathiers could have caused more damage to the Canto Bight casino in this extended scene.
  • Mega Destroyer Incursion – Extended Version (3:55) – Finn, Rose, and DJ could have gone through extra hurdles on the Mega Destroyer in this extended scene.
  • Rose Bites the Hand that Taunts Her (1:11) – Rose bites General Hux’s hand when he brings up her past.
  • Phasma Squealed Like a Whoop Hog (1:35) – An extended version of Captain Phasma’s demise.
  • Rose & Finn Go to Where They Belong (0:32) – An extra cockpit scene after Finn and Rose escape from the Mega Destroyer.
  • Rey & Chewie in the Falcon (0:16) – A short cockpit scene cut from the Crait battle.
  • The Costumes and Creatures of Canto Bight (1:31) – A collection of unused Canto Bight establishing shots that showcase all of the costumes and creatures in that sequence.

Movies Anywhere Exclusives

• Score Only Soundtrack (2:31:41) – Watch the entire film stripped of all dialogue and sound effects, allowing John Williams’ Oscar nominated score to stand out and take center stage.
• Rebel Rose (2:00) – Kelly Marie Tran’s character Rose is explored in this short featurette that includes her chemistry test with John Boyega.

Video

Star Wars: The Last Jedi using the 1080p stream through iTunes on an Apple TV. The Digital HD release offers a near-Blu-Ray quality video experience, with black levels and bright colors expertly handled. Some of the high speed action sequences feel a little softer than they likely will on Blu-Ray, but a similar level of detail is present in the average shot.

Audio

The 5.1 surround mix makes full use of the sound field, with ships passing behind your head through the rear channels and score filling every speaker. The sound design and mixing on this film is masterful and this mix offers a very satisfying home surround sound experience. The Digital HD copy through iTunes also includes a stereo Spanish track.

Final Thoughts

Star Wars: The Last Jedi takes risks with one of the biggest film franchises in the world, yielding an exciting middle installment of this new trilogy. The Digital HD release presents the film with a great transfer in addition to hours of worthwhile and insightful bonus features. While the film can and will look better on Blu-Ray and 4K Ultra HD, this is a fine way to own the film, two weeks early to boot.