Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Liked it overall and I thought the fan service here worked much better than the Force Awakens.

It makes sense to copy the design aesthetic of the original films since this one takes place just before episode 4. The ships and walkers all looked great, especially in IMAX.

I really wish they had gone with a new look for episode 7, especially considering that it takes place 30 years after the originals. A bit too much dipping in the nostalgia well. Kind of makes me appreciate the design aesthetic of the prequel trilogy a little more... At least they tried to do something different.

Also was the blind guy like a wannabe Jedi? I wasn't clear on that. Is he just someone that believes in the Force but can't actually use it, like the Lor San Tekka dude from episode 7?

I was sort of expecting Jyn Erso to be related to Rey somehow. But I guess not. They seem to pretty similar characters.

I liked the references to the animated shows. Saw Gerrera was a character from Clone Wars (who was ironically trained in resistance tactics by Anakin Skywalker) and there was a mention of a General Syndulla, likely Hera Syndulla from Star Wars Rebels.

In answer to the spoiler question...

Hmm. I don't know. It seemed like the same ship to me...

I don't think it was clear at at all.

Saw this yesterday, liked it a lot. Unlike Force Awakens, I have a desire to see Rogue One again.

That's not to say I didn't like Force Awakens, I've just never felt compelled to sit and watch it a second time.

Loved the end where we finally get to see Vader be the ruthless supervillain we know him to be. Seeing him mow down rebels in a tight, confined space was actually pretty terrifying.

I could have done without seeing Vader's "home," which felt a lot like LOTR's Minas Morgul (lair of the Witch King) mixed with Mount Doom.

The opening in the energy shield around the planet during the final battle, that seemed very reminiscent of the shield around Planet Druidia to keep in the air. I'm not sure if conjuring memories of Spaceballs is what they had in mind, but I rolled with it. Was King Roland down there somewhere?

CGI Tarkin worked surprisingly well. CGI Leia needed a bit more work.

I thought it was interesting that for the first time in the movies we see what was once a Jedi Temple. I wish there could have been more explanation of what the Jedi Temple was all about. Khyber crystals also figure prominently into the plot. Problem is, if you haven't read any of the Extended Universe stuff, you wouldn't know what they are. I can imagine that being confusing to the casual viewer. I think it's possible to ascertain just from the movie itself that the Empire is using the crystals to someone power/focus the Death Star's laser.

I found it fascinating that the Rebel leaders at first don't believe the story of the Death Star's existence. How could the Empire have kept the construction of something so massive a secret, such that the Rebels wouldn't have at least heard rumors of it?

Did anyone else get the impression that Jyn embarked on her quest, not so much out of allegiance to the Rebel cause, but to honor her father, give meaning to his sacrifices and fulfill his dying wish? After all, Jyn dies not knowing whether anything she's done will ultimately succeed.

The secondary characters could have all used more development. Their ultimate fates would have had more impact if we could have understood them and their motivations better.

Overall, I thought this movie was very, very good. If Rogue One is representative of the quality we'll be getting with the stand-alone films, I'll be happy.

Hmm. I guess I'll have to watch it again.

@Zor Prime
@ed629
@Diacanu

It's a pretty bad fuck up on the part of the screenwriters, and Gareth Edwards gave an interview with quite a lame explanation for the plot hole.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-e...wards-cameo-plot-hole-r2d2-c3po-a7489911.html

If Edwards was so keen on stroking the fans by putting the droids in the movie, he could have easily put them on board the ship. C3PO could have said something like, "what the fuck is going on R2? They never tell me anything" just as the soldier walks past them on the way to the bridge to hand off the plans to that CGI crapfest of a princess.

Also, the movie has been out for more than a week... so we can probably forgo the spoilers. Anyone who hasn't seen it yet, tough shit.

I'm guessing we're past the spoiler tags considering how long it's been out, but I'll keep this sentence going long enough for it to be the only thing that shows up in anybody's hover preview.

This movie makes it official: Disney has successfully rescued Star Wars from its own creator. Rogue One captured the spirit and visual aesthetic of the original with none of the abject silliness of the prequel trilogy.

I ended up with two minor techie quibbles: (1) can they really go to hyperspace in a planet's atmosphere? I know the stuff that explicitly states that gravity wells muck up hyperdrives is all EU, but you'd think Han would have done that when blasting off of Tatooine, or the rebel transports when fleeing Hoth, if it were possible. And (2), would a Star Destroyer really be capable of atmospheric flight?

Seeing Leia at the end was particularly bittersweet just a few hours after hearing that Carrie Fisher had died.

Well shit, I didn't know she died. I thought she was doing well.

It just happened today.

I looked her up after I posted that, I had a long day at work and didn't get time to go on here or online until a short while ago.

Apparently despite some optimistic reports, she never actually regained consciousness after the cardiac episode on the plane

Didn't Han have to wait and get the coordinates from the hyperspace computer before he could make the jump to hyperspace? Seems there was dialogue to that effect.

While it might look ludicrous (and seem ridiculous) the bottom line is that a space vehicle that can routinely endure the strains and stresses we've seen them endure can probably handle atmospheric flight in a gravity well with no real problem. Especially as anti gravity systems are well advanced.

He did have to wait for coordinates, but in both cases, ships flew deliberately into harm's way by leaving the atmosphere before jumping into hyperspace. It's hard to imagine them doing that if they didn't have to.

Finally, finally, finally saw this movie (sober) and loved it. The scenes with Tarkin were great as well as Vader being truly menacing. I might have more to say later.

Perhaps he wanted to avoid exposure to ground based weapons.

I love love loved this movie. Made me wanna go back and watch them all over again.

Just wanted to insert that a guy I was talking to text me right after seeing this movie to tell me he didn't get it. And that he didn't "get" any of the Star Wars movies.


I'm now avoiding communication.

Those are neat trailers although I think they give away too much of the plot.

This is actually one of my favorite trailers even though the movie was just average.

Short and sweet.

Saw Rogue One and liked it. Felt a bit choppy during the initial planet-hopping, but otherwise I've no significant complaints. Definitely its own movie, not trying to duplicate the OT's cinematography after that initial pan up from a planet, which is fine by me.

I would disagree. The characters aren't super-deep, and I found myself comparing several to one fictional character or another, but I was into the story enough that everyone felt like real people. Maybe if I watched war movies a lot, they'd mostly come off as stereotypes?

I think it was risky pushing the darker side of the Rebellion. Even in this day and age, where it seems like everything has to have some grime on it to be considered "realistic".

Oh, I hadn't thought about that!

Yes, when the stormtroopers come up from behind on the beach and ask what he's doing there, I kinda wanted him to stand up, turn around, and say, "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya."

I think he's a Force-sensitive, and although I'm sure there are some self-righteous blogs screaming about how he's a racist "blind samurai" stereotype or whatever, I'm very glad he's in the movie, because of the kind of reaction you had.

The Jedi (and Vader) have had a lot of power creep over the years, to the point where it might feel like anybody strong in the Force ought to be able to bend minds into pretzels or have awesome lightsaber battles. But in reality, there are probably a lot of low-level Force users scattered around the galaxy, who can do one or two little things but don't have the talent or the sensitivity to become an elite Jedi of the sort that we've always previously seen. The blind guy can probably sense people around him and submerge just enough into the Force that it protects him from proximate danger (like Luke with the training droid in ANH), but that's it. And that gives the Star Wars world some levels and depth to it, rather than everyone being either a mundane or a god-moding Jedi.

I thought they'd found somebody who looked 90% like Tarkin's actor and cosmetic'ed him 8% the rest of the way. I did figure Leia's face was CGIed.

That was definitely a good move. That and the Alliance splintering over the intel were good examples of fog of war making things difficult for everyone.

Well, yeah.

Adam Savage's podcast has a good episode on the film. Apparently, CGI Tarkin looks like shit in the 3D version, but the 2D version is pretty close to realistic.

I liked Tarkin's scenes and I thought the whole movie tied the prequels, Clone Wars and even Rebels together. This movie really brought the evilness of the Empire back to life, a real sense of Nazism.

He looks like shit no matter what version of the film you watch.

Yep, you and Ed are right.
My bad.

Watched it over christmas, and it was a fantastic entry - more pleasing than TFA. I was surprised at just how much Tarkin was in it, given the riskiness of the CGI. I found the CGI convincing, albeit disconcerting, and I was looking for issues with it but found none but a gut feeling. It was impressive, but possibly a lot less impressive had the scenes been well lit.

One thing I would like to see is a Dragons Den/Shark Tank video on the Death Star being sold.

Stormtrooper Perkins enters the room, before him the impassive visage of Lord Vader, the hooded face of the Emperor Palpatine and a bored sneer from Tarkin.

My... My Sirs... I... I... bring forth this idea of.. of, what I call Closed Circuit Television. It... It will allows us to keep track of people across the Empire...

The Emperor points a finger - Why? Why would I wish to view the day activities of the my subjects? Have I not deeds of greater import to attend?

Perkins: Well, erm, eh, what if... What if some Rebels got through a planetary shie... *ack* *cough*.

Vader, hand grasping out - Do you doubt the security of your Empire Perkins? I find your lack of trust disturbing

Tarkin: Wait, wait Lord Vader, I see some merit in this suggestion of.. Parkins? Penkins? Such a mechanism could add...

Palpatine: I think not Tarkin, this seems prosaic. What we seek is something to terrify, something... Big.

Perkins crawls out, passing him enters Krennic, screens flash up with images of the Death Star. Something by Pharell Williams strikes up. There is a laser display.

My Emperor, Lord Vader. Oh, and Grand Moff Tarkin. I bring you the next level in galactic iron fist, freedom suppressing, rebellion ending technology.

Tarkin, sour faced and unimpressed - Looks like a moon.

Vader: That's no moon! A choke escapes his helmet as he turns to the Emperor. I think I have my first erection since Mustafar...

Palpatine (hoarsely): Yes, yesss, yeeesssss. Krennic I am IN!

Some years later Perkins finds himself posted on Scarif, hands smashing into a console, face lit up by the oncoming destruction, screaming into the communications device at Vader I told you! I fucking told you, you crispy fried, electro-quadriplegic CUNT!

Reshoots!

More at the link.