Rogue One

[Meister]

So I just got to see Rogue One.

Whilst if I had to be critically honest I would have to admit it's not a "perfect" movie, however as a Star Wars fan (particularly of the original trilogy) I personally found it extremely enjoyable, particularly that final act.

I'm a fan of Gareth Edwards, I think he has a unique talent for the visual build up and climax of a scene (I.e. The hologram scene between Jin and her father during the first test of the Death Star is a prime example of this, which I think was executed superbly). I think he did a good job overall, even though the final product apparently is an altered form of his original vision (really hope they release the original directors cut of this at some point inthe future)

Anyway, for anyone who would be asking what is the purpose of this movie, I think the best way I could personally answer is:

- It just makes Star Wars better.

And to me that is something special In itself and worth the watch.

Now please excuse me as I need to put on A New Hope. May the Force be with you

[Ralph Wiggum]

For me, growing up with the Lucasarts games, especially with the X-wing series and Dark Forces, this was a match made in heaven.

[drifand]

I predicted everything as it was. I knew many lives were lost and I expected it.
I was kinda hoping for a twist that Vader was not entirely turned and actually turn over the plans to the rebellion lol.

[ITZTRU]

I predicted everything as it was. I knew many lives were lost and I expected it.
I was kinda hoping for a twist that Vader was not entirely turned and actually turn over the plans to the rebellion lol.

Lol. Huh? You "predicted"? "Expected"?
You're not the biggest Star Wars fan, are you?

[Ralph Wiggum]

I found it interesting in that the significant loss of Rebels during the Scarif battle, including all of Rogue One, Blue Squadron and a large part of the fleet (including the flagship) made it seem more of a pyrrhic victory than an all out victory. Certainly the opening crawl of A New Hope made it look better than the outcome of Rogue One:

"It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire.

During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire's ultimate weapon, the DEATH STAR, an armored space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet.

The cost in obtaining the Death Star II schematics and the Emperor's plans to be present were clearly alluded to in RotJ when Mon Mothma states that "many Bothans died to bring us this information."

[Krayt]

.... Mon Mothma states that "many Bothans died to bring us this information."

Awww.... poor old Manny

[drifand]

So what's next rogue two on why second Death Star is still
Poorly designed?

[SharkyMcShark]

One of the things I love about this film is how it contextualises a lot of what comes after it the Original Trilogy films.

• The Battle of Yavin makes more sense from an in universe point of view now because the Rebel fleet was smashed about two days before hand, which is why there was no cap ship support. Red and Gold Squadron arguably get wiped out so quickly probably because they're so combat fatigued.
  
• The Tantive IV being over Tatooine at the start of ANH isn't a coincidence anymore - Leia was swinging past to pick up Obi Wan on her way to Alderaan.
  
• Obi Wan teaching Luke, leaving Tatooine and the Death Star sequence is more meaningful. The way Rogue One portrayed it was that the Rebellion leadership knew that Bail knew where Obi Wan was, but that he wouldn't go to him unless things got particularly dire. Taken with Rogue One in context, Obi Wan arguably knew that the fact they were reaching out to him meant that things had gotten really bad so he knew it was time to accelerate things.
  
• The Return of the Jedi stolen shuttle gambit being an entirely predicted and failed trick on the part of the Rebels has greater meaning now too seeing as that's exactly how Rogue One managed to sneak into Scariff.

As a fan of the Star Wars EU some of the biggest thrills in this film for me came from seeing things I'd read about committed to film.

Y-Wing bombing run on a Star Destroyer like in the X-Wing books? Check

Darth Vader absolutely wrecking everything in his path like in The Force Unleashed or Dark Lords of the Sith? Check

Starfighters completely smoking AT-ATs like in Isard's Revenge? Check (I am aware they're actually AT-ACTs in this film)

Suicide mission led by a tough as nails female to steal the Death Star plans, just like at the end of Rebel Dream? Check

Bizarre TIE variants that we'll likely never see again, just like most EU books? Check

So what's next rogue two on why second Death Star is still
Poorly designed?

The Death Star 2 was still under construction. The whole point of that entire gambit was to have the station look like it was still under construction, leak the location and that the Emperor was on board to draw out as many Rebels as possible, and then have the superlaser operational to wipe out the Rebel fleet.

[Krayt]

As a fan of the Star Wars EU some of the biggest thrills in this film for me came from seeing things I'd read about committed to film.

Y-Wing bombing run on a Star Destroyer like in the X-Wing books? Check

Darth Vader absolutely wrecking everything in his path like in The Force Unleashed or Dark Lords of the Sith? Check

Starfighters completely smoking AT-ATs like in Isard's Revenge? Check (I am aware they're actually AT-ACTs in this film)

Suicide mission led by a tough as nails female to steal the Death Star plans, just like at the end of Rebel Dream? Check

Bizarre TIE variants that we'll likely never see again, just like most EU books? Check

Speaking of things like this... i so thought the Hammerhead was going to do an X-Wing game run through the control towers on the SSDs...

[philby]

One of the things I love about this film is how it contextualises a lot of what comes after it the Original Trilogy films.
[*]The Tantive IV being over Tatooine at the start of ANH isn't a coincidence anymore - Leia was swinging past to pick up Obi Wan on her way to Alderaan.

it wasn't a coincidence back then, she says in the hologram message that her mission to bring him to alderaan has failed, so she was always going there to get him.