Rogue One: A Star Wars Story -- spin-off SW film...

[Opus131]

So is the film supposed to be some semi-subtle contemporary social commentary for people who consider themselves intellectuals?
I've not seen it yet, no spoilers please.

No need for spoilers. Empire = white supremacists. All the good guys are teh diversity. That's about it. Gratuitous and hackneyed, but not the biggest problem with the film, that being, as usual, the poor writing, ill conceived story, and anything that isn't related to the visuals basically. If you are one of those people who can ignore lack of substance or quality and just go with the flow and pretend there's actual meaning in what you are seeing and close an eye to the fact the makers of the film have absolutely no idea of what they are doing, you may enjoy the film. Otherwise, it will be just the usual crap that will be forgotten in a year or two. Maybe good for one viewing but that's about it. Same as the vast majority of films made today basically.

[Sinful]

So is the film supposed to be some semi-subtle contemporary social commentary for people who consider themselves intellectuals?
I've not seen it yet, no spoilers please.

No need for spoilers. Empire = white supremacists. All the good guys are teh diversity. That's about it. Gratuitous and hackneyed, but not the biggest problem with the film, that being, as usual, the poor writing, ill conceived story, and anything that isn't related to the visuals basically. If you are one of those people who can ignore lack of substance or quality and just go with the flow and pretend there's actual meaning in what you are seeing and close an eye to the fact the makers of the film have absolutely no idea of what they are doing, you may enjoy the film. Otherwise, it will be just the usual crap that will be forgotten in a year or two. Maybe good for one viewing but that's about it. Same as the vast majority of films made today basically.

This.

And the only reason it's even good for one viewing is if you're like me and like to watch YouTube videos making fun of these movies.

[neorichieb1971]

Star Wars, Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ghostbusters.

All names you associate with a youthful self that did well in that era. Only to be regurgitated and diluted 3 decades later.

The RO trailers had another Transformers movie in the making called the Last Knight or something. Looked like more drivel.


Well anyway.. This is what I wanted to see in Rogue One. I wanted to see the Rebellion shitting their pants, hiding, scavenging, on the last wind of hope. I wanted to see fleets of Tie fighters blowing shit up everywhere and somehow earning the reputation they had at that point. I either wanted Vadar to come on screen in the aftermath and tell everyone "well done" or finish it off himself like he likes to take care of things. At least make him a bit scary.

What you will see is something that plays out like an Avengers movie. A handful of infiltrators who take on the whole empire, with kills which are sometimes comical.

[dan76]

EDIT: just posted a spoiler by mistake. Very sorry if anyone saw it.

Anyhow, thought it was great. Way better than expected. The Dirty Dozen in space just about sums it up (though it's not as good as the Dirty Dozen, obviously).

Starts a bit rough, gets better and better leading to a fantastic ending. Not a character film, it's all about the mission. Didn't think we would ever get a Star Wars film like this. Probably better than TFA.

[Zen]

So is the film supposed to be some semi-subtle contemporary social commentary for people who consider themselves intellectuals?

No. One of the writers made a personal tweet where he said the galactic empire was white supremacist and the alt-right snowflakes got triggered and went full-on Sarkeesian against the movie.

Oh, Mischief Maker, you really are shameless, aren't you
I believe it was semantic deceptions like your own that Viscount Snowden had in mind when he declared; "Truth," it has been said, "is the first casualty of war."

You win a safety pin, you Rogue.

[Mortificator]

Let's make a list of every Imperial character in the original trilogy who wasn't a pale male human:

[Opus131]

Red Letter Media review is out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc2kFk5M9x4

Disappointed with their TFA Plinkett review but i still like those guys.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

Saw it tonight.

Glad it wasn't a heavy handed SJW film. Two characters lead it, both likeable and competent.

Buuuuuut what the hell. They show a lightsaber ONCE in the entire movie. And The Force is reduced to something that only sort of kind of almost works if you chant a two word mantra for 5 minutes.

That said, I loved the style being a continuation of the movies it takes place between.
Hate it when they dramatically reboot the look of ships and vehicles.

[neorichieb1971]

So nobody else wanted to see some storm trooper action? Apart from them falling all over the place?

I'm disappointed in all SW fans for not wanting this.

[Herr Schatten]

And The Force is reduced to something that only sort of kind of almost works if you chant a two word mantra for 5 minutes.

As someone who likes SW but isn't a huge fan, that was one of the things I actually liked the most about the movie. I can see how SW fans may dislike the fact that the fairytale-y bits of the SW universe don't play a big role in this entry, though, as it definitely takes away a bit of the uniqueness in favour of a more generic gritty SF approach.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

For opening weekend debut, RO earned a whopping $155 million at the U.S. box office (from 12/15/16 through 12/18/16 dateline). Disney was considering an estimated $120 to $150 million for RO's initial opening weekend but fared much better than expected/anticipated. They are quite happy/pleased. For the international box office, RO earned a not too shabby $290 million worldwide for it's opening weekend (not including China or South Korea movie locations as they still have yet to show RO in those respective markets). Still impressive nonetheless.

So if you stop to think about it, Disney's estimated $200 million dollar production budget towards RO was earned back in less than four days easily.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[BryanM]

Star Wars, Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ghostbusters.

All names you associate with a youthful self that did well in that era. Only to be regurgitated and diluted 3 decades later.

In the old days sequels cost twice as much and made half as much money back. It wasn't until Aliens I think that this trend changed?

Ironic, that we'd have James Cameron to blame for the current meme.

Buuuuuut what the hell. They show a lightsaber ONCE in the entire movie.

In TOS, there's only one light sabre fight per movie and they're all against the same guy. Only one of them has memorable use of force powers during it.

Very economical.

[Sinful]

Star Wars, Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ghostbusters.

All names you associate with a youthful self that did well in that era. Only to be regurgitated and diluted 3 decades later.

In the old days sequels cost twice as much and made half as much money back. It wasn't until Aliens I think that this trend changed?

Ironic, that we'd have James Cameron to blame for the current meme.

But James Cameron is the best director ever and Aliens is one of the best sci-fi flicks.

[EmperorIng]

Saw it tonight.
Initial impressions: lol

The best moment came during the trailers when the Planet of the Apes bad guy said "If we don't stop them now, this will become... The Planet of Apes!"

[Stevens]

Well anyway.. This is what I wanted to see in Rogue One. I wanted to see the Rebellion shitting their pants, hiding, scavenging, on the last wind of hope.

When I read this I thought of the future scenes from the original Terminator. Skulls littering the ground, the survivors holed up and mostly broken, death and its ability to come at any time.

Not being a SW fan that would have been great and something I could get behind, but reading what is here? Pass.

[Mischief Maker]

TRIGGER WARNING!

Mr. Plinkett weighs in!

[neorichieb1971]

TRIGGER WARNING!

Mr. Plinkett weighs in!

Makes some valid points that I never thought of. That shoot out comparison just shows how bad storm troopers are at entering battles. Its like the reverse opening of Saving Private Ryan.

[Mischief Maker]

TRIGGER WARNING!

Mr. Plinkett weighs in!

Makes some valid points that I never thought of. That shoot out comparison just shows how bad storm troopers are at entering battles. Its like the reverse opening of Saving Private Ryan.

To be fair, in the first Star Wars they were supposed to let them go so Darth Vader could use the tracking device on the Millennium Falcon to find the hidden rebel base. They wiped out the crew of Leia's corvette pretty quick. And in Empire they flattened Hoth.

But ROTJ... oh the humiliation of space-age helmet technology buckling under gentle beatings from Ewok clubs...

[atheistgod1999]

My parents made me see it with them so I'd get out of the house. I couldn't pay any attention whatsoever due to how fucking boring it is. I'm actually still at the theater as of typing, waiting outside for the film to finish.

[cave hermit]

I never actually watched a Star Wars film (yeah, yeah I know, living under a rock, whatever), decided to go see this yesterday thinking maybe it would be a good way to get into the franchise.

For most of the movie I was very bored and confused. I started getting into it a bit near the end though, and I thought the action scenes were really good, but also came off as kind of "edgy" for lack of a better word.

I felt like virtually all of the characters were pretty flat though. Ironically, it seemed like the robot was the only character with an actual personality, and it was the only character I felt a bit

Spoiler

sad for when it died.

[Mischief Maker]

I never actually watched a Star Wars film (yeah, yeah I know, living under a rock, whatever), decided to go see this yesterday thinking maybe it would be a good way to get into the franchise.

You were dead wrong. This was the very worst way to get into the franchise because it's nothing but a long series of fanservice to the original film. Just watch the original trilogy then stop. Years of attempts to extend the universe through books and comics and video games have proven this universe isn't open to expansion and interpretation the way Star Trek is.

[Skykid]

I've read nothing in here and avoided all spoilers since this isn't coming out in China until January 5th, however I've just found out Gareth Edwards is director, and he's responsible for one of the worst movies of the last 5 years (Godzilla).

I really hope he's bounced back in a big way, because Godzilla was such a fucking shitshow it was unbearable.

[GaijinPunch]

You probably won't like it.

The Plinkett Review has some good points, but I don't find them all valid. He used some rather comical examples from A New Hope that illustrate a point that I think would have been seen as overly cheesy today.

EDIT: I specifically find such banter in dire situations highly unrealistic. Point: Rogue One.

[neorichieb1971]

I've read nothing in here and avoided all spoilers since this isn't coming out in China until January 5th, however I've just found out Gareth Edwards is director, and he's responsible for one of the worst movies of the last 5 years (Godzilla).

I really hope he's bounced back in a big way, because Godzilla was such a fucking shitshow it was unbearable.

Based on how you like to nit pick things apart, I think you'll have a field day. And I don't think you'll give it a total thumbs up. I'll hazard a guess that 5/10 is the most you would give it, saying that its better than TFA. I mean lets face it, we go into a Star Wars movie expecting an emotional ride and it doesn't trigger anything in me at all. I don't think Disney even know what the magic element is that needs to be injected into these films. But then again the SW fans have loved the last 2 movies so that ingredient/magic I am looking for doesn't need to be in there for everyone to like it.

[Skykid]

I would have given TFA a 6 or thereabouts.

I don't "nitpick", I just identify positives and negatives. I'm just worried Edwards is directing, but ONLY because of Godzilla. Monsters was a terrific debut.

[Herr Schatten]

I'm just worried Edwards is directing, but ONLY because of Godzilla. Monsters was a terrific debut.

I think Godzilla would have been quite decent if they had just left out all the completely uninteresting stuff those puny humans did and fully concentrated on rampaging giant monsters instead. Seriously, the 'story' parts of the movie only dragged it out, without actually making any significant difference to the outcome of the monsters' fight.

[Sinful]

I give the Disney Wars movies 0/10. It's all fluff equivalent to showing shiny new objects to kittens.

[Skykid]

I'm just worried Edwards is directing, but ONLY because of Godzilla. Monsters was a terrific debut.

I think Godzilla would have been quite decent if they had just left out all the completely uninteresting stuff those puny humans did and fully concentrated on rampaging giant monsters instead. Seriously, the 'story' parts of the movie only dragged it out, without actually making any significant difference to the outcome of the monsters' fight.

It was just totally shit.

[Damocles]

I actually enjoyed it. It was definitely better than 7, though that wasn't a high hurdle.

That being said, the first half was relatively pointless and there's quite a bit of chaff that could have been cut. The entire situation with her childhood and her adoptive father was just forced and awkward.

[Mills]

Off topic, just heard the sad news of Carrie fisher passing. RIP.