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I really enjoyed it, I felt it was far better than Force Awakens. Felt more like a view of the actual war that the rebels were fighting that you otherwise only get a glimpse of at Hoth in Empire and the fleet battle during the attack on the 2nd Deathstar in ROTJ.
While there was a lot of CGI I think they managed to keep the Episode IV-VI aesthetic that I-III dratiscally lacked. I felt leia was more obviously CGI than Tarkin (who took me a good 30 seconds to realised Cushing had been dead 20 years!)
I think it was a good move to kill everyone off, gives a sense of sacrifice to the rebellion and removes the question of why they are not present in ANH. I thought there were enough characters from IV-VI to carry continuity and mention of enough more that it felt like a proper prequel.
I did feel the use of a conveniently designed ship to push one Star Destroyer in to the other was a bit lame, I think that a supreme sacrifice ramming manoeuvre by one of the Rebel cruisers or frigates would have been more in keeping with the sacrifice aspect and less 'convenient' and achieved the same this with a bit more drama and emotion.
All in all I thought it was a good action film in keeping with Starwars Canon with only a few Disneyfi'ed moments (Coms cable etc etc).
Just saw it - not bad, but it was a bit worrying that the only character I really warmed to was the robot.
Not sure they tied it in very precisely with ep IV - Leia claiming to Vader she's on a diplomatic mission to Alderaan when he's just watched the ship come out of the shuttle bay of a rebel flagship in battle!
Also the whole 'send a message to get them to attack the gate' thing was utterly pointless. They were already attacking it!
Plus the AT-ATs seemed pretty much impervious to large cannons in Empire, but cut in half with ease by a bunch of X-wings here.
Good fun though.
I think the previous/older SW films haven't set the stage well in terms of 'realism' of some of the battle physics, IE. The xwings in R1 destroying the AT-ATs is more realistic in the sense that they would and should be able to do that.
I mentioned the screen play earlier being spot on, but meant it to be about the script. I heard the same about the load of re-shoots for some of the scenes mentioned above. I don't agree about the beginning being flat, thing is, people go to a Star Wars film expecting the signature dramatic intro, when really this isn't a film that's diving straight into the midst of it. This is a film about the rebellion just starting to kick off big time and getting that crucial bit of info on the old laser ball 😉 I don't need no Trumpet fan fare to get me in the mood. The scenery and detail of the shots is staggering and (from my POV) completely believeable. It's one of the many parts of the film that sticks in my mind. The stormtrooper laser gun fodder is funny. They just keep flooding out them doorways like a pack of lemmings!
Very, very good.
Great characters, loved the under-played start and the new locations, very little cheese and a satisfying lack of drawn-out show downs with a seemingly invincible baddie who somehow gets defeated.
basically it was all just a bit less obvious than the last movie, which I felt was good but disappointingly derivative.
Had an ominous feeling about two-thirds in that nobody was gonna make it out alive, and I think the lack of the usual dramatic escape scene was in keeping with the darker, more realistic tone of the movie.
My fave Star Wars movie, for sure.
CGI Leia was naff though.
Loved it.
B2SO or whatever it was struck the right balance of comedy character vs pointless addition for the kids.
Liked the grey area rebellion ethics. Good easter eggs with the bar guys and squadron leaders.
Downsides? Vader talked too fast, seemed to lack some of the presence. What else? Lack of Wedge making an appearance.
Geek points, second death star had its own faults too... being under the control of a bounty hunter droid Ai being one.
The computer games kind of cover more of the events till a new hope though which could redeem the this is a diplomatic mission bit
Have we done the [url= http://m.imgur.com/gallery/sZQUt ]leaked sequel spoiler photos [/url]yet?
8)
Really enjoyed the film tonight.
Amazing how they bought Peter Cushing back and Carrie Fisher right at the end.
Hope she's OK after her flight today and the bad news about her health
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38423963
Apparently they approached the actor who played Wedge Antilles and he said that he couldn't be arsed!!
Pretty reasonable to assume that job was done/mostly done.
That and they mentioned they were all gone.
I missed that one
Just seen it tonight.
For my money it's the fourth best Star wars film. You don't need to ask what the other 3 are. Why though?
In no particular order:
A relatively tight story. A wee bit of irrelevant twaddle but not as self indulgent as the prequels.
Limited gimmicks. K2SO could have been a jarjar binks but he was quirky without being irritating and I bonded with the character.
Minimal mystical bollocks. The Kung fu force monk was a sufficiently minor character and nicely under played so that he added to the story rather than making you think the whole thing was a foregone conclusion.
A dark ending. Those of us that grew up on the originals are old enough to take that and it won't do the kids any harm either.
No preternaturally talented children.
Half decent acting. By which I mean no Ewan MacGregor.
Saw it on Christmas Eve & really enjoyed it. Great new direction for the series to take. Actually rewatching The Force Awakens now & it is really suffering by comparison, just a poorly conceived/acted cheesy kiddy adventure film with added nostalgia "bonuses". So glad they kept JJ Abrams away from Rogue One!
Just watched it today. Loved it!
Leia claiming to Vader she's on a diplomatic mission to Alderaan when he's just watched the ship come out of the shuttle bay of a rebel flagship in battle!
We don't know how much time has passed since the end of that one and the beginning of ANH do we?
Good film though. Main point for me was the bleak reality of war and sacrifice. Pretty intense. Seeing all the characters you know going down one by one...
K-2SO is mates with TARS I reckon, certainly a similar sense of humour
Also, next off-shoot movie already sounds brilliant (and set before this one, just to confuse people even more)
Spin - MemberFor my money it's the fourth best Star wars film. You don't need to ask what the other 3 are
Phantom Menace, Caravan of Courage, and the Holiday Special obvs.
Interesting article here about the CGI recreation of old/dead actors...
[url= http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2016/12/rogue-one-digging-up-the-dead-in-the-uncanny-valley/ ]Gizmodo - Uncanny Valley[/url]
Enjoyed it, glad they didn't do the whole Hollywood thing of dragging out the tension in the 'will they, won't they' get the data files transmitted.
Have known they managed to do it for nearly 40 years.
I think this sums it up for me - I had a big grin across my face when I saw the cutting floor room footage of the pilots from the old films
http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/why-rogue-one-is-superior-to-the-force-awakens-w456727
Better than Empire. I said it. They finally did it and went and made a better film than Empire, Abrams - you're an amateur.
It was the detail as well, the way that the fighter battles actually felt like fighter battles - heavy pieces of metal zipping around the sky instead of the on rail things of Force Awakens.
From Rolling Stone (Tom's link)
The action is punishing (in a PG-13 sort of way, but still) rather than pulse-pounding.
This is what killed it for me, I thought it was mostly just a shoot em up kids film (which when you see the movie revenue rankings you can understand)
What were you expecting? It's Star Wars ffs!
As above
Thought it was good but unlike most didn't think it was as good as FA.
But Im a silly old goat and really enjoyed the nostalgia of FA, the "history" of the story and caring about its characters. (Think my favorite scene in FA is Han craning his neck to get his first glimpse of Leia.)
The shoot 'em up bits ... which I know is of course the basis/genre of the films... gets tiring for me. Honestly I was waiting for it to end by the time they landed in "Vietnam". Were as, in FA I didnt want to have to leave the theatre.
Still want to watch it again mind.
What I want to know is why do so many of the characters carry 3 or 4 car tyre pressure gauges in pockets on their chests?
What I want to know is why do so many of the characters carry 3 or 4 car tyre pressure gauges in pockets on their chests?
I thought they were wine bottle stops 🙂
I thought they were radiation Dosimeters...
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😉
Well that makes more sense!
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Overall was a good star wars film
Enjoyed some of the references to star wars, Biggs, gold leader, red leader, the number 5 slot opening up in red squadron, bail organa mentioning captain Antilles, is he wedge's dad?
Loved the way it ended to cut perfectly into episode IV, Vader was pretty bad ass, I didn't know he lived in Mordor tho !
A few issues with forced plot devices and dialogue.
Why did they need moisture vaporators on Galens already very moist farm!?
Leia and Tarkin CG not 100% though
Still feel that they are scared to just make a completely new film set in the star wars universe, especially as next one to start filming is Han solo, would hope episode viii will be a bit bolder as vii was embarrassing in its lack of originality.
Rogue I one was enjoyable, I'm still waiting for a truly great film set in possibly the richest sci fi universe ever created
possibly the richest sci fi universe ever created
Er... On film, maybe..
Er... On film, maybe..
well yes, though the expanded universe has some great stuff in it (and some bobbins)
in cinema no one has managed to beat Star Wars for epic space opera, happy to be proved wrong tho!
[url= https://www.buzzfeed.com/danieldalton/stunning-star-wars-concept-art-ralph-mcquarrie?utm_term=.qjrzEw2pj#.sevzBM0A3 ]
possibly the richest sci fi universe ever created [/url]
possibly the richest sci fi universe ever created
Er... On film, maybe..
Someone really should set about making a movie of or in one of Ian M Banks culture books.
Judging by his belt accessories, Han runs tubeless.
Someone really should set about making a movie of or in one of Ian M Banks culture books.
its the first one that springs to mind!
alistair reynolds
foundation
ender series
hyperion could be ace
Dune was a good effort, inspite of its flaws, the matrix impressive in its originality ended up a turd
alienses/prometheus/bladerunner is trying similar
i think cameron is trying it with avatar 🙄
It seems that TV is where the big stuff happens these days
Looked brilliant - it had the dirty, run down grittiness that the original EpIV had. Stormtroopers on the prison planet in filthy armour looked great. Liked the 'war film' aesthetic. Good that it tied up plot holes in the original (to an extent).
I thought Leia looked fine but Tarkin looked too CGI'd (his movements were odd). They should/could have used him more sparingly and it would have been more effective.
The plot had glaring weaknesses again though - I still don't understand how so much can be spent on a film without sorting out some basic plot points. The Empire storing their data in what looked like a manually operated tape store (with big FO data cartridges) and the 'main switch' on an open air console in the middle of a beach being the two that bugged me during the film itself.
simons_nicolai-uk - MemberI thought Leia looked fine but Tarkin looked too CGI'd (his movements were odd)
I've seen a few people comment on the way he moves but apparently that's all real person- Guy Henry from Holby City in fact.
The Empire storing their data in what looked like a manually operated tape store
That's more secure. I bet there are still some tape stores like that in real life deliberately.
Why it isn't all in an underground bunker though I have no idea. And a transmission terminal on top of the tower where anyone can get at it - that's daft. And why is the switch for it ona gantry sticking out of the side of the tower? Purely so that a hero can be on it when it gets damaged and can almost fall off but bravely climb back up, that's why.
kimbers - Member
Loved the way it ended to cut perfectly into episode IV
I realised the following yesterday, after a second viewing:
Tantive IV (the blockade runner from A New Hope) was docked to the flagship of the rebel fleet. Admiral Raddus' fleet were the first assets to make for Scarif after the rebels discovered that Rogue One had gone there. They were reinforced by starfighters that came from Yavin IV, which launched after the fleet had departed.
In the scene where the X Wings and Y Wings take off from Yavin IV, C-3PO and R2-D2 are seen watching them leave. As the rebel fleet had already left for Scarif at that point, how did the two droids end up on Tantive IV, and when they did, why was whoever delivered them not given a copy of the Death Star plans?
Still, it's a good movie, though I reckon the Force Awakens did Star Wars better, even if it isn't as good as a movie on its own merits.
Just watched it yesterday. To me, its just Star Wars and does what its meant to do - lots of stuff to pick at but heh, its a good fun movie at the end of the day. My level of geekery doesn't extend to picking holes in timelines and plots.
I did think this:
Did anyone else not find it a bit... middle eastern/terroristy?..
at one point - sandy-world based rebels being blown up by superior military powers? Hmmmm
And also
the way that the fighter battles actually felt like fighter battles - heavy pieces of metal zipping around the sky
I can't help wondering when the rebels sleep, eat, poop etc but that's irrelevant in the movies right?
Saw it yesterday with the binnerettes (9 & 12) and we all absolutely loved it!
Surely picking holes in the plot/timelines of a Star Wars film falls into the same category of joyless pointlessness as deconstructing jokes to explain why they're funny?
Someone really should set about making a movie of or in one of Ian M Banks culture books.
Please God, no.
whilst this is true, I've never understood why people spending $200 million making a film wouldn't get someone to give it the once over and ensure the plot at least made sense!Surely picking holes in the plot/timelines of a Star Wars film falls into the same category of joyless pointlessness as deconstructing jokes to explain why they're funny?
the same category of joyless pointlessness as deconstructing jokes to explain why they're funny
Exactly. And a certain someone I know does both things excruciatingly well which is why I'm just happy for it to do what it says on the Star Wars tin.
Making sure the plot makes sense? The one with all the space ships, force fields, alien galaxies, star gates, Death Stars, and battle droids? 😆
Amazing to think that this bloke directed it - I'll bet his side-step would have come in handy against a company of stormtroopers.
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Someone really should set about making a movie of or in one of Ian M Banks culture books.
Absolutely not. Film and books are very different concepts. Some books cross over, but some don't. That's why fans are always whining about book conversions, because they have to be altered so heavily. To even suggest such a thing shows a lack of awareness...
You might be able to fit one into a whole TV season, but it really shouldn't be done. It would cheapen the concept.
how did the two droids end up on Tantive IV, and when they did, why was whoever delivered them not given a copy of the Death Star plans?
Well I can only assume that the big Mon calamari ship it was docked to didn't leave till after the fighters, by which time the droids had taken a shuttle/blockade runner up to it, bail organa mentioned captain Antilles as he left the meeting with someone in mind to escort the plans and c3po said in episode IV he was their last master.
To even suggest such a thing shows a lack of awareness...
I think you just have to accept that film or TV adaptations are different things, I love GOT, walking dead, dune, marvel etc books and films/series for all but you can't get hung up on which is better.
Delighted to see I'm not the only one underwhelmed by it.
Little humour, no pauses for calm, non stop action, in 3d onlyn1 part of the frame is in focus, plenty to be grumpy about!
It's about suspension of disbelief. Good sci-fi is believable sci-fi. With a few billion dollars budget, you should be able to nail the basics
You know it's not a documentary, right?
To even suggest such a thing shows a lack of awareness...
Not overly precious at all then 😆
Nice cameo by Daniel Mays, who seems to be making a career out of getting killed off early doors.
I would love to see a film of some of the Iain M Banks stuff, The Player of Games is probably the most obviously film-friendly, nice simple plot and obvious dramatic tension.
I really like Marvin the Sarcastic Android.
I am not sure if this is the right place to make this argument, but Star Wars is NOT science fiction, so it doesn't matter if the plot is rubbish. It has space ships and aliens, but at best it is space opera.
It is not a documentary, either...
Not overly precious at all then
About what?
It's true though - a book doesn't make a good film just because you like it. Ask Hitchhiker's fans.
The Player of Games is probably the most obviously film-friendly, nice simple plot and obvious dramatic tension.
That's a more straightforward plot - would be a good series. Consider Phlebas for a film, I reckon.
But the whole point of books like that is the huge scope, which would be impossible to do on anything like the same scale. So you'd end up with an action film with some smart-arsed artificially intelligent spaceships in it.
...
Which, thinking about it, might actually might be quite good 🙂 But the overall effect would be nothing like the books to the point where you wouldn't really be doing the same thing.
Star Wars is NOT science fiction
No, it's not. What's the main theme of the film? It's not anything scientific, it's a mystical energy guiding all of life through those chosen few who can feel it strongly. That makes it a fantasy film. Happens to have spaceships and in it, that's all.
Hels - we were all in agreement that Marvin the sarcastic android was the best thing about the fillum! Absolute genius! 😀
It's true though - a book doesn't make a good film just because you like it. Ask Hitchhiker's fans.
Am I the only Hitchhikers fan who thought the most recent film was perfectly decent? I've watched (and enjoyed it) a coupe of times now. It's not perfect but it's far from terrible.
Very dubious about Iain M Banks transferring to film though.
I liked it too, but my comments were really addressed to the fans who moaned because it was different to the books. Of course it was, that's why it took 30 years to get made. It had to be.
Just back from watching it, can finally read this thread whilst enjoying a G&T.
Lots of good comments, personally it could become my favourite Star Wars movie, I had an ending playing in my head where the robot named after potassium sulphate or something transfers his data into another droid before his death, then flies down and rescues the living couple. I was overjoyed when they simply got deaded instead.
Plot had ropey moments and some character arcs were all over the place. But still, Lots of clever references, technically it's still too dark even in 2D though.
Seen it today IMAX 3D, thought it was great, so much so I'd like to see it again. Hate Hollywood whooping and high5 endings, Hollywood cheese etc so the whole thing was mostly satisfying in it's more dark aspect.
Tarkin CGI, I think I wouldn't have been any the wiser other than him looking more healthy than he looked in A New Hope. Maybe his position as Battle Station commander took it's toll in that short time, not eating properly, late nights, worrying about facing Vader, hitting the bottle.
Princess Leia CGI was more obvious as her face looked strangely flat in IMAX 3D, but didn't detract from the whole experience. A bit of a sad moment, considering the past few days.
Big scenes were fantastic in IMAX, but agree that some of the closed in blurred scenes where slightly annoying, what with it not being proper 3D.
One small thing that did it for me over last years film, watching it on a massive screen in sort of 3D, I wasn't this time continuously distracted by obviously painted wooden props.
There were the occasional, "why would they do that/ put that there / how did they get there in that time frame / why didn't they question that? etc etc" . I think you have those moments in all SW films, suspension of disbelief and all that, those moments weren't that frequent here (or as obvious?), like in some really poor SW films.
overall I really enjoyed it (none SW nerd).
Took the kids to see it today, 5 year old boy who knows the expanded universe very well, 7 year old girl who likes the films but not overly bothered and me, like all the films, seen them loads but not obsessive. We all loved it! It's a kids film and they both loved it! I loved it too. Yeah there my be some plot holes, but this is not citizen Kane, this is a kids film, and it's very good for what it is
I saw it yesterday and really enjoyed it. My only issue is that, and i hope this doesn't open a STW can of worms, but stormtrooper helmets are rubbish. One knock to the head and they are out for the count!
It's a kids film
What? It's about the ultimate sacrifice. How is that a kids' topic?
Stormtrooper armour is indeed rubbish though. It doesn't seem to protect them from anything at all.
I really enjoyed the film last night. I saw A New Hope first time around and liked the way they didn't try to 'update' too much in terms of making things look slicker - my 10 year old me approves.
The reason why Vader has a fat neck.
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I saw it day before yesterday. Thought it was average at best and I won't be buying it on br when it releases.
Watched it tonight on full fat IMAX at GSC after doing the same with TFA. The difference is night and day between 2D and watching it on a purpose build mega screen.
Liked Vader showing up and watching about half a dozen ships destroy themselves trying to do a hyperspace jump through his star destroyer.
K2 with another imperial droid in a headlock interrogating its memory. Oh, and the grenade exchange 😀
Also liked seeing the dirty side of the alliance, just need to get another film showing things from the death star plumbers perspective and we're sorted 😉
Lastly Culture films would be difficult to do. How would you ever convey the personality of a mind or someone glanding something? That said Consider Phlebas is a good shout, Player of Games is a good book but would need FAR too much explanatory dialogue and I think we can agree that even if Excession is about the best of the lot (for the Mind dialogues alone) it would be a complete car crash.
EDIT: The last standalone is Boba Fett, NOT Vader!
Judging by many of the comments here, this was a fan's film and the detailed intricacies of the SW story that evidently was told in a way that appealed to fans of the wider story and background. Reading these comments makes me wonder if I watched the same film. Can someone explain where in the timescale of the SW series this is supposed to be? There didn't seem to be much Jedi stuff going on.
Right before A New Hope. Jedi's are wiped.
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I wonder if everyone's favourite Chiss art critic will appear in Ep VIII or IX?
I would love to see a film of some of the Iain M Banks stuff
I'm just finishing [i]The Algebraist[/i]. It's probably unfilmable really, but it'd be hilarious to watch someone spunking a trillion dollars of budget on trying. 🙂
It would take months to agree on any of the pronunciation for the culture!
Saw it last night, liked it better than TFA. As said, proper sense of being at war and having to do some bad stuff. CGI Tarkin and Leia good but no chance of passing for real - Tarkin being in it so much just hammered that home for me.
Favourite bit for me was when the rebel ships pop out of hyperspace (or whatever) and the empire fleet is right there, properly took me back to how much I loved that bit at the end of Return of the Jedi. The whole space battle bit was awesome, much better than the X-wings in TFA which just didn't move like real things.
Didn't really get the bit about the need to hook up the cable, it was a bit clunky but I was happy to go with it in the end.
Lastly Vader just slaughtering his way on the ship at the end made me look at him in a bit of a new light, like an actual properly bad guy rather than just the enemy - that hasn't really come across in the other films IMO.
mikewsmith - MemberIt would take months to agree on any of the pronunciation for the culture!
Marain has a welsh ll in it so that's me screwed.