Rogue One: A Star Wars Story- Discussion and Spazz-Fest

[Dark Spark]

I will not delve into spoilers in this opening post, but be aware that they may be come to light in the replies.

Having come back from seeing the immediate prequel to the first Star Wars movie, I want to broach the subject by talking about the theme of this story: Breaking Through Walls.

Rogue One sets up walls both metaphorically and literally. The literal wall comes in the last third of the film, but the metaphorical one is breached right from the start: a wall of secrecy. The movie sets up the premise that the Empire's prize is a secret one, hidden from the rest of the galaxy. What kicks off the Rebel Alliance's race to the end of the film comes from the action of one man willing to take the secrets he knows and getting it out past the monolith that is the Empire. From there, just one hole that managed to be pierced through the wall, many other people (both good and evil) are affected by the currents flowing through the break.

The literal wall comes into play in the battles that ensue, and the desperate struggle there to overcome hesitation and fear to do all that is neccessary to find hope. If not for themselves, then for others to carry on.

[The SheoDovah]

I've heard mixed things about it and some pretty stupid stuff that isn't even related to film.

It has a very interesting concept and I would honestly love to see this turn into a spinoff film series. Though it does retcon the Force Unleashed as that was supposed to bridge the gap between 3 and 4 but Starkiller was overpowered and forced.

[MetaCthulhu]

Though it does retcon the Force Unleashed as that was supposed to bridge the gap between 3 and 4 but Starkiller was overpowered and forced.

he he.

[Dark Spark]

Given that we already know how the "Hack the Death Star" saga turns out, condensing the tale of how the Rebel Alliance discovered the Death Star and sought out its weaknesses was the better idea than turning it into a long-form story such as a TV show or miniseries.

And yes: they dramatically condensed the timeframe of when the secret was uncovered and the battle to steal the plans came down.

Even more dramatic is the point in time when the movie ends:

Spoiler:

Literally, it's just minutes before Episode IV begins.

[Fiar]

I liked it...Was a good movie, far from perfect since it seems to be unanimous that the movie gets interesting wayyy too late in, for many people. Eh, I digress.

What I found interesting was on Jedah, where the Mos Eisley guys that try to bully Luke, were seen when Jyn bumps into one of them. What an obscure callback....

Also, this movie made me want a Darth Vader movie, because you KNOW he's been up to some crazy crap in between movies.

[Dark Spark]

Anyone else get the feeling that Gareth Edwards said to himself "The Virmire mission in Mass Effect was awesome and I want to put that in a movie..."

[Unionhack]

I would so love to get into how stupid the "Force Awakens Rehashed the Death Star" argument is but that's for another day.

I had an awesome experience with Rogue One, which is actually kinda touching I think. Without spoiling anything, it went like this.

My family and I went to see it around 2 PM. One thing you have to know is that my father and I are huge Star Wars nerds; him a bit more than me. My dad was 5 when A New Hope came out, so he is the definition of OG Star Wars. He's been a fan since before I was even thought of and it takes a lot to impress him in that regard. He hated the prequels, for instance.

While watching Rogue One I have never had such a pure glimpse at my dad's inner child. I saw a bit when we watched Episode VII (he loved that one too), but this was different. The entire movie we were like kids in a candy store, excitedly elbowing each other and spilling popcorn everywhere when something awesome happened, or some cool cameo made it into the shot. We made casual comments the whole show and just had the time of our lives.

I talked to him on the ride home afterwards while we were still in shock. My father, who was once a boy in the Star Wars Fanclub in the 80's and has more Darth Vader doodles in old abandoned notebooks than anyone could count, proclaimed Rogue One to be his second favorite Star Wars film; a step below A New Hope and a rung above Empire Strikes Back.

It was immediately when he said that, that I realized that Disney's acquisition of the Star Wars universe was probably the best thing that could have ever happened. While I'm really good friends with my dad, I've never connected with him over anything more than our mutual approaching-unhealthy obsession with Star Wars. Now we get to do it every year, at least til 2020, whether it be a spinoff or sequel movie. I just think that's really special, the power that these movies have to bring folks together while just about everything else in the world sucks.

Needless to say, I enjoyed it, and I can't wait til Episode VIII. I can't wait for the next twenty years of Star Wars and then on. And maybe one day, I could be lucky enough to show a kid of mine the wonderful galaxy so far, far away.

I got really poetic there don't judge me I'm sappy

[Kerr]

I liked it.

Spoilers, spoilers I spoil everything. Don't open or quote me unless you want spoilers

Spoiler:

I loved the ending, it was fantastic and exactly how it should have ended. I loved how thematically strong it was in regards to sacrifice and how all these people's lives are important which was added to so much by having it then scan upwards after our heroes die to the ship and all those rebels dying at the hands of Vader just to get the plans a little bit closer to where they need to go. Aww, so good.

[KingFeraligatr]

Saw the movie last Monday. It was decent (and for me that's saying a lot), but definitely entertaining. I found it less overall questionable than Episode 7 and definitely far better than the joke that is the prequel trilogy. Me being the pedantic ass I am with most media I consume, not only was (attempting) to follow the movie (I mostly could follow along decently well), but was also analyzing what I was seeing and making note what could be better, contrived, work better thematically, what was good, etc. No doubt it hindered my overall viewing of the movie from an overage person's perspective, but dammit, I'll be a pedantic ass if I want. Overall, it's a better prequel than any of the prequel trilogy and was a pretty entertaining movie, despite being hard to follow at times and having issues.

[Cassandra]

I loved the movie. I had heard so many good things about the movie that I was kind of worried of being disappointed. I wasn't in the least. I spent my younger years watching the original trilogy all the time, so getting to see such a Star Wars-y movie in theatres was so much fun. I didn't get that same feeling from Episode 7.

I agree that the beginning was a little slow, but the beautiful scenery and little references made it perfectly enjoyable.

I actually really didn't like K-2SO. I seem to be alone in that, but I found him super annoying. And I couldn't stop thinking to myself "no, robots don't act like that". Of course I realize that this is Star Wars and droids can act however they want, but it bugged me.

As for the end...

Spoiler:

I loved the ending, it was fantastic and exactly how it should have ended. I loved how thematically strong it was in regards to sacrifice and how all these people's lives are important which was added to so much by having it then scan upwards after our heroes die to the ship and all those rebels dying at the hands of Vader just to get the plans a little bit closer to where they need to go. Aww, so good.

Yes, yes, yes. Also,

Spoiler:

It made me super happy that they didn't make Jyn and Cassian kiss in the end. I thought that they handled their relationship beautifully, considering how long they had known each other and what they had been through together and everything. The scene with the two of them on the beach was perfect, in my opinion.

Also, I loved that it ended only minutes before A New Hope begins. The part with Darth Vader, and the rebels rushing to pass the information along, and then ending it with Leia receiving the plans... I can't express how much I loved this ending.

[legoless]

I found it less overall questionable than Episode 7 and definitely far better than the joke that is the prequel trilogy. [...] Overall, it's a better prequel than any of the prequel trilogy and was a pretty entertaining movie, despite being hard to follow at times and having issues.

Took the words right out of my mouth. Although I do have to say that the ending was awesome, and seeing old characters take on a significant role really made it feel like a proper prequel to the originals.

Spoiler:

Leia's appearance was all the more piquant since I watched the movie a few days after Fisher's death, so maybe I'm a bit biased. Impressive technology nonetheless.

[Kerr]

As for the end...

Spoiler:

I loved the ending, it was fantastic and exactly how it should have ended. I loved how thematically strong it was in regards to sacrifice and how all these people's lives are important which was added to so much by having it then scan upwards after our heroes die to the ship and all those rebels dying at the hands of Vader just to get the plans a little bit closer to where they need to go. Aww, so good.

Yes, yes, yes. Also,

Spoiler:

It made me super happy that they didn't make Jyn and Cassian kiss in the end. I thought that they handled their relationship beautifully, considering how long they had known each other and what they had been through together and everything. The scene with the two of them on the beach was perfect, in my opinion.

Also, I loved that it ended only minutes before A New Hope begins. The part with Darth Vader, and the rebels rushing to pass the information along, and then ending it with Leia receiving the plans... I can't express how much I loved this ending.

More ending spoilers

Spoiler:

Agreed, I love that instead of saying the old "oh, I love you but now we're going to die" stick and kissing Cassian says "Your father would be so proud of you" which is without a doubt the single most meaningful and comforting thing he could say to Jyn. It's also true.

In all the film put me in mind of KOTOR 2 a lot which is good because I really like KOTOR 2.