Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

[BillsCarnage]

Good movie for what it was - outside of the saga movies. But, not without its quirks.

Spoiler

The facial cg for Tarkin and Leia were good, but the mouth is what lacked. Disney, of all studios, has lacked in this aspect going back to Clue in Tron.

Vaders force choke was gawd awful. He pinches in SW. so why the rheumatoid arthritis here? Looked silly. This was the first time we saw him in his... whatever that thing was called. it was cool, but I thought his he needed to wear the suit at all times to stay alive.

Leia just magically appears to receive the plans.

How did Vader just magically appear on the Rebel ship? I would have liked to see a bit more of Vader boarding the rebel ship.

The battle at Sarif was by far the best of all the movies and what we would have seen in Jedi if the technology was available.

Evidently the Empire only keeps one master backup of crucial data.

Really liked some of the easter egg (cameos/ships)

Forrest Whitaker as Saw was awesome.

And the score... As Covert mentioned it just didn't seem to fit at times. Unlike TFA this was the rebels and empire, so it would have been nice to have more of that be part of this film.

Like i said, it was good, but not being a saga movie I'd still put TFA a slight notch above.

Can't wait for the sequel

 

[Stout]

This held up to what I thought after a second viewing.

 

[Bert]

Good movie for what it was - outside of the saga movies. But, not without its quirks.

Spoiler

The facial cg for Tarkin and Leia were good, but the mouth is what lacked. Disney, of all studios, has lacked in this aspect going back to Clue in Tron.

Vaders force choke was gawd awful. He pinches in SW. so why the rheumatoid arthritis here? Looked silly. This was the first time we saw him in his... whatever that thing was called. it was cool, but I thought his he needed to wear the suit at all times to stay alive.

Leia just magically appears to receive the plans.

How did Vader just magically appear on the Rebel ship? I would have liked to see a bit more of Vader boarding the rebel ship.

The battle at Sarif was by far the best of all the movies and what we would have seen in Jedi if the technology was available.

Evidently the Empire only keeps one master backup of crucial data.

Really liked some of the easter egg (cameos/ships)

Forrest Whitaker as Saw was awesome.

And the score... As Covert mentioned it just didn't seem to fit at times. Unlike TFA this was the rebels and empire, so it would have been nice to have more of that be part of this film.

Like i said, it was good, but not being a saga movie I'd still put TFA a slight notch above.

Can't wait for the sequel

Spoiler

The facial cg for Tarkin and Leia were good, but the mouth is what lacked. Disney, of all studios, has lacked in this aspect going back to Clue in Tron.

Agree

Vaders force choke was gawd awful. He pinches in SW. so why the rheumatoid arthritis here? Looked silly. This was the first time we saw him in his... whatever that thing was called. it was cool, but I thought his he needed to wear the suit at all times to stay alive.

I think it's pretty clear that was a giant, more permanent life support machine where he can be loaded into the suit when he needs to go out.

Leia just magically appears to receive the plans.


How did Vader just magically appear on the Rebel ship? I would have liked to see a bit more of Vader boarding the rebel ship.

They said; "The rebel ship has the plans but has been disabled!" and Vader said; "Assemble a boarding party immediately."

Leia wasn't on the rebel ship. They escaped, remember Vader stood on the ledge and watched them fly away. They took the plans to Leia is how I understood it. It was a whole other place later.

The battle at Sarif was by far the best of all the movies and what we would have seen in Jedi if the technology was available.

Evidently the Empire only keeps one master backup of crucial data.

I dont think it was an issue of it being the only backup, just that they didn't want the copy of it to be leaked to the rebels.

Really liked some of the easter egg (cameos/ships)

Forrest Whitaker as Saw was awesome.

And the score... As Covert mentioned it just didn't seem to fit at times. Unlike TFA this was the rebels and empire, so it would have been nice to have more of that be part of this film.

Just my takes.

 

[Bert]

This held up to what I thought after a second viewing.

Agreed! I actually liked it even better because I wasn't so amped up!

The ball chin guy was a funny cameo. Was the guy they bumped into supposed to be the same guy who gets into it with Luke at the bar?

C3p0 and R2 are always fun to see.

Did anyone else get chills when Vader walked out the first time? I'm not even that big of a Star Wars fan and I geeked out pretty hard.

 

[Chaplin]

I thought it was great. Not a lot of movies put a smile on my face when the credits roll, but this one did.

Funny what people mentioned about the CGI of certain characters. I actually think the hardest thing to reproduce are eyes, and you saw that problem here.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Was the guy they bumped into supposed to be the same guy who gets into it with Luke at the bar?

Spoiler

Both of the guys from Mos Eisley were there - Dr. Cornelius Evazan and Ponda Baba (aka Walrus Man).

You must be registered for see images

 

[Zeno]

I have loved both movies since Disney has taken over. R1 was just a great back story leading in to ANH, they executed it nearly flawlessly too. The score wasn't of the caliber of John Williams but that was about the only negative to it IMO.

Seeing Vader in action, even only briefly, makes me wish for a Vader stand alone even more now.

Looking forward to Ep 8 in less than a year now. Honestly not all that excited about the Han Solo stand alone though, not that I won't see it--there were just other stories and characters I'd rather see than that.

 

[stewdog1]

As for the score, it was serviceable, but that's it. Remember, Giachinno replaced Desplat at the last minute and had to knock it out quickly.

I would have loved to hear Desplats score. Giachinno has been held up as the successor to John Williams for years, but he just doesn't have the chops, gravitas, compared to him.

I get the feeling that Disney plans on using Giachinno to replace JW in the future, so why not let him get his feet wet here.

But honestly, since the deaths of Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner, Basil Polderius, and others, there is no one in Hollywood that is even remotely close to JW.

 

[Chaplin]

As for the score, it was serviceable, but that's it. Remember, Giachinno replaced Desplat at the last minute and had to knock it out quickly.

I would have loved to hear Desplats score. Giachinno has been held up as the successor to John Williams for years, but he just doesn't have the chops, gravitas, compared to him.

I get the feeling that Disney plans on using Giachinno to replace JW in the future, so why not let him get his feet wet here.

But honestly, since the deaths of Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner, Basil Polderius, and others, there is no one in Hollywood that is even remotely close to JW.

I don't think that's true, there are a few very good composers out there. I know of one that is better than all those you named (probably not JW, but the others): Thomas Newman.

 

[stewdog1]

I don't think that's true, there are a few very good composers out there. I know of one that is better than all those you named (probably not JW, but the others): Thomas Newman.

Eh, maybe. I liked American Beauty, Green Mile, and what he did for Skyfall. But when it comes to creating memorable melodies, motif and liet motif, there are not many who hold a candle.

Hans Zimmers Remote Control Productions hasn't helped. But that's another topic.

Of course, everyone has different tastes in music which I totally respect.

I'm a huge Vangelis fan, and think he is one of the masters of the era, but a vast majority don't know him beyond Chariots of Fire, and to a certain extent, Bladerunner.

 

[Chaplin]

Eh, maybe. I liked American Beauty, Green Mile, and what he did for Skyfall. But when it comes to creating memorable melodies, motif and liet motif, there are not many who hold a candle.

Hans Zimmers Remote Control Productions hasn't helped. But that's another topic.

Of course, everyone has different tastes in music which I totally respect.

I'm a huge Vangelis fan, and think he is one of the masters of the era, but a vast majority don't know him beyond Chariots of Fire, and to a certain extent, Bladerunner.

Interesting you didn't mention what Newman did for Shawshank, Road to Perdition and even Scent of a Woman. All very good.

Hans Zimmer has become kind of a standard now, although he had his fair share of interesting scores: Inception and the Batman films--and before that Gladiator. Graeme Revell's score of the Crow was amazing, I wish he did more like that. As far as I can tell, his last memorable score was The Saint.

I was pretty hyped for Giacchino back in the day, because I loved a lot of his modern work, like the TV scores to Lost and Alias, as well as his Pixar stuff.

I also think Atticus Ross has some interesting stuff.

 

[stewdog1]

Interesting you didn't mention what Newman did for Shawshank, Road to Perdition and even Scent of a Woman. All very good.

Hans Zimmer has become kind of a standard now, although he had his fair share of interesting scores: Inception and the Batman films--and before that Gladiator. Graeme Revell's score of the Crow was amazing, I wish he did more like that. As far as I can tell, his last memorable score was The Saint.

I was pretty hyped for Giacchino back in the day, because I loved a lot of his modern work, like the TV scores to Lost and Alias, as well as his Pixar stuff.

I also think Atticus Finch has some interesting stuff.

Oh, those are good too, just didn't want to type it out.

I like Zimmers older stuff, leading up to Gladiator, but became more of a wall of sound after that and pumping out clones through RCP.

Gia had a still does have a lot of potential. I thought John Carter was really good, and can show what he is capable of doing. I think he is best in the whimsy of the Incredibles and Up.

Large canvases like Star Wars though I think exploit his short comings, but I hope he proves me wrong if he takes over for JW.

 

[Covert Rain]

As for the score, it was serviceable, but that's it. Remember, Giachinno replaced Desplat at the last minute and had to knock it out quickly.

This. It was very forgettable. Honestly, take out the JW pieces, you could have inserted this score into any sci-fi movie. It just didn't feel Star Wars at all to me except when they were interjecting JW pieces.

 

[Chaplin]

Oh, those are good too, just didn't want to type it out.

I like Zimmers older stuff, leading up to Gladiator, but became more of a wall of sound after that and pumping out clones through RCP.

Gia had a still does have a lot of potential. I thought John Carter was really good, and can show what he is capable of doing. I think he is best in the whimsy of the Incredibles and Up.

Large canvases like Star Wars though I think exploit his short comings, but I hope he proves me wrong if he takes over for JW.

Is there someone in your mind that you think could take over for JW, especially in Star Wars (and by extension, stuff like Harry Potter universe films and Indiana Jones)? To be fair though, Desplat DID take over for the 2-part Deathly Hallows film.

 

[stewdog1]

Is there someone in your mind that you think could take over for JW, especially in Star Wars (and by extension, stuff like Harry Potter universe films and Indiana Jones)? To be fair though, Desplat DID take over for the 2-part Deathly Hallows film.

Like I said earlier, I was looking forward to Desplats score. I thought his Harry Potter scores were pretty good. Them being much darker in tone than the ones JW did made it hard to compare. But I also admit that I didn't get into those scores much.

Personally I would love to see David Arnold or Alan Silvestri given a shot. Silvestri would get the shot before Arnold just because Alan has done a few Marvel films.

I'm not sure why Arnold is not considered for more projects. Maybe it is a personal decision or because he is not an RCP disciple.

 

[Chaplin]

Like I said earlier, I was looking forward to Desplats score. I thought his Harry Potter scores were pretty good. Them being much darker in tone than the ones JW did made it hard to compare. But I also admit that I didn't get into those scores much.

Personally I would love to see David Arnold or Alan Silvestri given a shot. Silvestri would get the shot before Arnold just because Alan has done a few Marvel films.

I'm not sure why Arnold is not considered for more projects. Maybe it is a personal decision or because he is not an RCP disciple.

Interesting that you mention Silvestri. I love his early stuff--Back to the Future, Forrest Gump. But not impressed by any of his Marvel films. David Arnold also had some memorable scores back in the day, like Stargate, but recently he hasn't stuck out -- I thought Newman did a better job with Bond. I do like his SHerlock work, however.

 

[Stout]

Well, it wasn't a main story line Star Wars movie (part of a trilogy) and it was a straight-up war movie as opposed to mere space fantasy fun, so I don't rightly care that it didn't have the right music lol

 

[stewdog1]

Interesting that you mention Silvestri. I love his early stuff--Back to the Future, Forrest Gump. But not impressed by any of his Marvel films. David Arnold also had some memorable scores back in the day, like Stargate, but recently he hasn't stuck out -- I thought Newman did a better job with Bond. I do like his SHerlock work, however.

I think Silvestris marvel stuff is probably more in line with what the director was wanting with that RCP sound. His Captain America theme is really the only thing in the marvel music that is good. Pretty disappointing that the Marvel music isn't better. It is really the only thing that they are missing.

Arnold doesn't have much to stand out since the Bond scores. Amazing Grace and Stepford Wives was really good though.

 

[stewdog1]

One of the most interesting things to come out of this movie is the mention of the Journal of the Whills.

It's been a part of Lucas's writings since the beginning but has never been on screen.

It really makes me wonder if the reason it was brought up is because it allows Luke or whomever to bring it up in VII or IX without much of a wtf from viewers.

 

[BillsCarnage]

Spoiler

Vaders force choke was gawd awful. He pinches in SW. so why the rheumatoid arthritis here? Looked silly. This was the first time we saw him in his... whatever that thing was called. it was cool, but I thought his he needed to wear the suit at all times to stay alive.

I think it's pretty clear that was a giant, more permanent life support machine where he can be loaded into the suit when he needs to go out.

But when has Vader ever used that kind of bath tube? Never on screen; maybe in the books?? The times we see him in Empire or Jedi he's in that egg pod thing sitting had his helmet being attached. Again, I thought the suit was his life support system, so showing him in that just seemed out of place even though it was a nod to Luke after he gets rescued by Han.

How did Vader just magically appear on the Rebel ship? I would have liked to see a bit more of Vader boarding the rebel ship.

They said; "The rebel ship has the plans but has been disabled!" and Vader said; "Assemble a boarding party immediately."

Right, I get that, but again there's an opportunity to show how Vader forced himself on the ship and any resistance rather than just appearing in a dark hall.

Leia wasn't on the rebel ship. They escaped, remember Vader stood on the ledge and watched them fly away. They took the plans to Leia is how I understood it. It was a whole other place later.

Again, I get that, but we go from Bale saying he knows who to give the plans to and how to get them to Kenobi to Leia just being there to get the disk. I just think that was a sequence that could have been expanded on. A bit more of the rebels trying to hold back Vader while Leia escaped to the ship would have been cool.

Evidently the Empire only keeps one master backup of crucial data.

I dont think it was an issue of it being the only backup, just that they didn't want the copy of it to be leaked to the rebels.

That was just sarcasm as in todays digital world redundancy is important. Imagine if the Empire had multiple copies, but only one was legit.

 

[Covert Rain]

Well, it wasn't a main story line Star Wars movie (part of a trilogy) and it was a straight-up war movie as opposed to mere space fantasy fun, so I don't rightly care that it didn't have the right music lol

Music is an essential part of the experience. It's like a character was missing. The emotion alone that can be driven by Williams score is evident in the few moments where it's used.

Also, an interesting side note. A Star Wars fanatic friend of mine said the movie was 5 stars and is now dropping his rating to 4.5 stars. Still thinks it's fantastic. However, he makes a good point. He said he found himself for waiting 80 minutes just to see that last scene in the movie. He said he is sort of questioning how memorable the rest of the film is going to be long term if he finds himself doing that already on the second showing.

I can't comment because I have not seen it my second time yet. Although, I admit, after he said that, I find myself already desperately wanting to see that one scene more than any other in the entire film again.

 

[Stout]

I have to disagree with your friend, Covert Rain. I thoroughly enjoyed it the 2nd time through, and wasn't merely waiting for the ending.

 

[Covert Rain]

I have to disagree with your friend, Covert Rain. I thoroughly enjoyed it the 2nd time through, and wasn't merely waiting for the ending.

I will know soon enough. Going to see in IMAX 3D this time.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Wow I don't agree about the cgi at all. The first one you raised I hadn't realized was cgi. I was trying to figure out how they located someone that looked that similar. The last one I expected and I expected it to be terrible, and it really wasn't. It worked for me.

Yeah I had no problem with the CGI. My wife thought they had some old scene from Episode 4 or something. I told her it had to be CGI.

I very much enjoyed this one.

 

[crisper57]

Read that they found unused scenes from Episode IV that they spliced into Rogue One. Basically, the fighter pilot cockpit scenes were shot in 1977 (or whenever Lucas filmed them). So that is why you can see the original Red Leader (non-CGI) fighting in the climax of the movie. How freaking cool is that? I understand the Tarkin CGI, but this is a universe where they communicate via hologram. Why couldn't they just have the Director bicker with Tarkin's hologram for most of the movie and then have his CGI character show up at the end, if necessary?

I moved into my childhood home when I was 5. So that gives me a reference point for my love of Star Wars. I remember watching it in my first home countless times. My parents knew if they put me down in front of Star Wars, I wouldn't move for 2 hours. So by the time I was 5, I had seen it off of our VHS/HBO bootleg dozens of times. Since then, I kid you not, I have seen the original trilogy hundreds of times. I've probably seen the prequels a few dozen times each and Episode VII at least 5 times so far. I've read every Star Wars Expanded Universe (Legends) novel ever written. I named my dog "Jade" for "Mara Jade". I still own all the original action figures, play sets, vehicles, etc.

I tell you all of this to give some context to my next statement: Rogue One was the first time I can recall recapturing the magic of seeing the original Star Wars for the first time. It was the Star Wars movie that grew up with those of us that discovered the original trilogy in our childhoods. And this is the first time I am glad they got rid of the Expanded Universe source material. Instead of Han's ex-druggie girlfriend being the source of the Death Star plans, we get this epic tale instead.

I don't know if I was the parent of a 2-5 year old if I would let them watch this movie. It is tough for small children, even though it is "Star Wars". But man, it informs the original trilogy with such reverence that I don't know how I could keep them from it either. I mean, the "Red 5" moment? That was a throwaway moment that die-hards immediately appreciated. Thankfully, it will be a few years before I have to make that call.

My wish list for additions to the "Star Wars Story" universe:

Mandalorian Wars (Watch as the Old Republic is brought to brink by the fiercest warriors in the Universe)
Sith Wars (Ancient History in the Star Wars Universe, but could easily be a new Trilogy)
Hutt Movie a la "The Godfather"
Bounty Hunter Movies that follow different hunters through their adventures
Yoda Movie (How did the cave come to be possessed by Dark Force? Was there an epic Force battle on Dagobah that could be told like a horror movie?)
Rogue Squadron movie(s): Follow the fighter pilots like a "Top Gun" movie. These were my favorite novels that are no longer canon.
Imperial Movie: Shown form the perspective of imperial soldiers and pilots fighting off "terrorist" rebels.
Jar Jar Movie: Think the "Passion of the Christ", where he is basically tortured for 2 hours. That'd be fun.
Jedi Movie: Show a Jedi fall to the Dark Side in a more realistic manner than Anakin's fall. Maybe in the heat of battle, he has to turn to the Dark Side to survive, but then he is hunted by his fellow Jedi (like First Blood).
Hyperspace Movie: Earliest Days of Star Wars universe, where the invention of light speed allows the Universe to begin to form into Old Republic. It could be fertile ground for exploration-type movies, where species are encountered for the first time and misunderstandings could lead to war.
Bothans Movie: Death Star II plans are stolen. Only, they aren't. They are given away, but they don't have to know that before several of them die.