The discrepancy between critics and audience reactions is surprising.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/robcai...against-star-wars-the-last-jedi/#482f5d251d7b
The Casino Planet was some necessary world building both for the film and for the whole Star Wars Universe. It helped further establish that this conflict is much bigger than the Skywalkers and Jedi vs. Sith. There are direct winners and losers from this war. Before this, the planets we saw were Outer Rim backwater terrorities populated by people who were just getting by, low class scum and villainy. The Casino Planet featured high class scum and villainy.
Get used to some story beyond the central conflict. Keep in mind, Disney is debuting a new Star Wars live action TV show for its streaming service in 2019, most likely before Episode IX. There are the Star Wars Lands at both US Disney parks debuting too. Also, a movie a year can't just dwell on the war. There's other stories to tell in a huge galaxy. This film started setting them up.
So what were the issues with Chait? It was like Hoth but with beautiful visuals from the red rocks? The misdirections from Luke and Finn/Rose? You automatically have to pee after 130 minutes of film? What specifically did you not like?
It added almost nothing to the film that could not have been accomplished much more efficiently.
Can you give an example of what could have been done more efficiently and how?
What do we gain from it? Luke’s sweet exit? Put that on the star destroyer to help Rey escape, or open IX with it. Poe learning to run away? Meh, that was really telegraphed and predictable. Could also have worked into the escape from the cruiser. Especially if you had Leia die instead of Mary Poppins through space. Rey moves some rocks? Literally a million ways to work that in. Rose saves Finn? Put that on the star destroyer, cut it all together, or give that line to someone with explaining running away to Poe.
That whole 30 minutes started with the idea of Hoth nostalgia and the special effects of the salt, and forced the story into it. Just added nothing to the story whatsoever save Luke’s Obi Wan moment.
Look, I liked the movie. It’s ok to have critiques of it.
Count me as disappointed in this too:
Wasn’t he killed on the bridge?
It’s odd- the first teaser for TFA was voiced over by snoke. the first TLJ trailer was opened with Snoke. Obviously serkis is a major lead actor. All signs pointed to him being a significant character that we should be thinking about. They put him front and center in the marketing then discarded him. I’m fine with it for the story but I understand why people were thrown off by his being discarded with so little fanfare.