I remember the first time I saw a Star Wars movie. I watched them prequel to the original trilogy and I, as a ten-year-old girl, was rather uninterested. It wasn’t until I watched them again in High School that I became hooked on the magic of the force and the galactic heartthrob known as Han Solo. I would consider myself a loyal Star Wars fan.

No, I cannot tell you Yoda’s exact species, but I can inform you of most the major planets and characters.

So needless to say I was a little bit excited about the release of "Star Wars: The Last Jedi” into theaters. I saw it the day it was released and was not alone as the film now ranks number two in the highest grossing domestic opening weekend debut at $220 million dollars, second only to “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” which raked in $247 million dollars its opening weekend back in 2015.

After my initial viewing, I was back in theaters to see “The Last Jedi” a second time less than a week later. I wanted to really digest the film before forming a solid opinion on it. I walked away with both roses and thorns but still with an overall feeling of satisfaction. I was shocked to find that many fans didn’t feel the same.

The film itself received mixed reviews. Critics seemed to enjoy it, “The Last Jedi” received a critic score of 90% approval on the website "Rotten Tomatoes" which falls only 3% short of the score received by its sister film “The Force Awakens” which obtained a 93% critic approval rating. The audience score, however, is where the films differ. While “The Force Awakens” received an audience approval rating of 88%, “The Last Jedi” currently stands with a 50% approval rating.

How is it that two films movie critics ranked only 3% apart could vary so greatly in audience approval? I believe the answer lies more with the audience itself than it does with the actual film.

So as of this moment, I’m officially tagging my spoilers and saying if you haven’t seen either “The Last Jedi” or “The Force Awakens” and don’t want them ruined for you, stop reading.

When I watched “The Force Awakens” for the first time I went into it not knowing what to except. I didn’t know if I’d be watching a bigger flop then the prequels or an epic space movie. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the movie contained an intricate plot intermixed with lovable old characters as well as badass new ones.

The movie contained a force strong desert planet pilot nobody, a morally questionable character reluctant to help the rebels who eventually decides to join in the cause, and a Skywalker turned bad. The protagonist needed to blow up a weapon of mass destruction. All in all, the movie screamed “Star Wars.” It particularly screamed “A New Hope,” and the fans loved it. It was comfortable. It made fans feel like they were coming home to a universe in which good is good and evil is evil and the good guys prevail in the end.

“The Last Jedi” on the other hand was anything but comfortable. The movie presents a broken hero in Luke Skywalker who has turned his back on the force. The audience is faced with the fact that your original hero isn’t as perfect as you think he is. Luke isn’t an omnipotent all-knowing being. He’s just a guy who made mistakes and is struggling to live with them. It’s disappointing to the audience to see someone they once loved broken. It humanizes Luke and makes him too real for some people.

Another issue some faced with the film was the answer to the whole “Who are Rey’s parents?” question. The answer being: nobodies. They were no one of importance. I think this created a disappointment in some as Star Wars is known for its big shocking family reveilles. Making Rey a nobody made fans feel as if they had been hyped up for nothing.

However, I thought it made Rey's character all the better. It showed the true nature of an underdog. A girl who has been overlooked can still be an epic warrior because of who she is as a person and not who her parents were. It showed the audience that all you need to make a difference is the brain in your head and the power within you. It tells the story that someone living an ordinary life can become extraordinary.

I believe the biggest issue audience members had with “The Last Jedi” was that it didn’t go in the way they excepted. The hero’s plans didn’t work out. The dark side rises. The rebellion is left in shambles. It didn’t follow the typical “the heroes get away in a close escape that leaves them mostly unharmed.” Instead, the audience sees the “good guys” plans fail. They see a broken hero and a confused villain.

They weren’t given the typical Star Wars movie they excepted, and that’s why they disliked it. It wasn’t safe and comfortable and I, for one, think that's sort of refreshing.

So instead of scrutinizing it in comparison to what a Star Wars movie is supposed to be, fans need to start looking at it as a new movie with unique themes, plots, and characters that can bring new messages and ideas to a new generation of fans.