# Rogue One reviews are coming in. (spoilers possible) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 12, 2016, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rogue-one-reviews-are-coming-in-spoilers-possible/774568 "2016-12-12T23:32:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2016, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rogue-one-reviews-are-coming-in-spoilers-possible/774568/1 "2016-12-12T23:32:30Z")
Sounds like they did a great job. If you get a chance, you should listen to Gareth Edwards visit to Museum of Curiosity. He had yet to make Godzilla and had no idea he was going to make Rogue One. He speaks about Star Wars and how he saw the first one 1400+ times(he has kept track). No spoilers in this thread, but I’m sure some of the reviews we will post will contain some spoilers. [Wil Wheaton loved it.](http://wilwheaton.net/2016/12/the-last-time-i-loved-a-star-wars-movie-as-much-as-i-loved-rogue-one-it-was-1977/) I think he would tell us if it was terrible. I’m glad to find out most of the footage in the movie is totally fresh and that they hid the vast majority of the movie from us. The embargo is still in effect, I take it? I imagine this week we will see the reviews pour in. I plan to see it either this weekend or next. Edit: I have checked. Reviews can be posted tomorrow, the 13th. I guess we’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2016, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rogue-one-reviews-are-coming-in-spoilers-possible/774568/2 "2016-12-13T03:42:19Z")
I know the movie doesn’t have the opening crawl, but I wonder/hope it still starts with “A long time ago in a galaxy far far away…” Here is a reaction to 30 minutes of it (minor spoilers) > **[Quint has seen 30 minutes of Rogue One and has some thoughts on it!](http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/76852)** > > Ain't It Cool's Eric "Quint" Vespe traveled to Skywalker Ranch to watch half an hour of Rogue One! What did he think of it? Well, let's see, shall we? Brian ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rogue-one-reviews-are-coming-in-spoilers-possible/774568/3 "2016-12-13T18:02:15Z")
The reviews are up on Rotten Tomatoes, and most of them are good so far. The Telegraph review had a really obnoxious spoiler in it, so be careful. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2016, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rogue-one-reviews-are-coming-in-spoilers-possible/774568/4 "2016-12-13T18:03:43Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > The reviews are up on Rotten Tomatoes, and most of them are good so far. The Telegraph review had a really obnoxious spoiler in it, so be careful. I read Variety’s review and while it was not terribly spoilerific, it pushed a bit into that area as well. I suspected what Variety’s review revealed, but it was odd for them to confirm a minor plot point. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2016, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rogue-one-reviews-are-coming-in-spoilers-possible/774568/5 "2016-12-13T18:14:24Z")
Quint from Aintitcool liked but did not love. Starts out spoiler free (I stopped when it said “turn back now”) > **[Quint has seen ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY!](http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/76893)** > > Is the Force with this film? Ain't It Cool's Eric "Quint" Vespe has some thoughts on the first Star Wars spin-off movie! Brian ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2016, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rogue-one-reviews-are-coming-in-spoilers-possible/774568/6 "2016-12-13T18:18:24Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > I know the movie doesn’t have the opening crawl, but I wonder/hope it still starts with “A long time ago in a galaxy far far away…” “A long time ago, in a galaxy – no, longer than that. You know how the prequels were set longer ago than the original trilogy? Like that, but not _quite_ that long ago.” ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2016, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rogue-one-reviews-are-coming-in-spoilers-possible/774568/7 "2016-12-13T18:41:28Z")
From [Salon](http://www.salon.com/2016/12/13/review-rogue-one-is-a-dark-exhilarating-blast/): _Rogue One_ is a bold and stirring adventure film that will have both fans and casual observers spellbound. It is easily the most exciting blockbuster in recent memory this side of _Mad Max: Fury Road_, and that includes _The Force Awakens_, which now looks lazy and bloated with sentimentality and fan service in comparison to the subversive ingenuity of _Rogue One_. (note it’s not Salon’s usual reviewer but taken from the AP news feed) ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2016, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rogue-one-reviews-are-coming-in-spoilers-possible/774568/8 "2016-12-13T18:53:38Z")
Wife and I got tickets for this Thursday night’s showing, last week. God am I excited – even more so, perhaps, than for Ep 7 last year (when I maintained my expectations low). I grew up in the 80s and Star Wars (movies, toys, games, books, etc.) was my favorite thing in the whole world from age 4 to 15, and I forget how big a part of me it still is. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2016, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rogue-one-reviews-are-coming-in-spoilers-possible/774568/9 "2016-12-13T19:01:35Z")
I have a 6 and 8 year old. We saw Force Awakens when they were 5 and 7. I’m not sure if I should take them to this without previewing it first. I saw Force Awakens without them first and was confident that if they were warned, they could handle Han Solo’s death. I only want to see Rogue One once in the theater, though, so I’m not sure if I should take them. I’ll wait for Kidsinmind to have a analysis up. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2016, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rogue-one-reviews-are-coming-in-spoilers-possible/774568/10 "2016-12-13T19:11:02Z")
Re: kids watching - I’ve heard a couple of places strongly suggesting that you pre-watch it before taking kids younger than 12ish. I’m spoiler-free still (god only knows how) but it seems like it’s going to be pretty grim in places. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2016, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rogue-one-reviews-are-coming-in-spoilers-possible/774568/11 "2016-12-13T19:58:09Z")
I’m in the same boat, kid-wise. My son, 7 (almost 8), has seen all of the previous movies and cartoon series. My daughter, 5 (almost 6), has seen them all, except Eps 3 & 7. My son saw them all last year, when he was 6, and none of them scarred him. He clutched me a couple times and looked away during some intense moments during Force Awakens, but has said he loved it and can’t wait to see it again (he’s getting the DVD for Christmas). I’m going to go see R1 solo while my wife takes the kids to see Trolls. I’ll likely take my son to see it in the week after that, but I’m confident my daughter isn’t ready for PG-13. And heck, my wife isn’t happy that my son’s been exposed. I just don’t know how I’m going to explain to my daughter that her brother gets to go and she doesn’t. It was easier last year with TFA and she was 4 and she hadn’t seen any of the other movies. But since January, she’s totally gotten into Star Wars and she’s been swept up in the excitement for a new movie. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2016, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rogue-one-reviews-are-coming-in-spoilers-possible/774568/12 "2016-12-13T20:47:44Z")
So when does this one take place and how much backstory is required? I gave up on Star Wars after the diarrhea-fest of _Phantom Menace_ and whatever the sucky one after that one was. But if the reviews are as good as this I might go see it. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2016, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rogue-one-reviews-are-coming-in-spoilers-possible/774568/13 "2016-12-13T20:57:17Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > So when does this one take place and how much backstory is required? It takes place immediately before the original Star Wars film, and that’s all you need to know wrt backstory ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2016, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rogue-one-reviews-are-coming-in-spoilers-possible/774568/14 "2016-12-13T21:11:20Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > So when does this one take place and how much backstory is required? I gave up on Star Wars after the diarrhea-fest of _Phantom Menace_ and whatever the sucky one after that one was. But if the reviews are as good as this I might go see it. You should check out Episode VII. It was really good. I think it has a fair amount of criticism, but not like the prequels. It’s better than I would have predicted, anyway. I liked it a lot. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2016, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rogue-one-reviews-are-coming-in-spoilers-possible/774568/15 "2016-12-13T21:30:13Z")
Rewatch the original (aka Episode IV:A New Hope). This movie is basically the opening crawl for A New Hope (Episode VII, while IMHO a fine movie, is not something you need to see before Rogue One) There are all sorts of “not like the last time” mentions in ANH - some of these may be explained Brian ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rogue-one-reviews-are-coming-in-spoilers-possible/774568/16 "2016-12-14T15:10:16Z")
From the NYTimes review: > [@](#): > > Whether that is enough — whether the fractures in the Rebel Alliance and the power struggles in the imperial ranks quicken our pulses and engage our emotions — is the big question, but it really isn’t a question at all. Millions of people will sit through this thoroughly mediocre movie (directed with basic competence by Gareth Edwards from a surprisingly hackish script by Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy) and convince themselves that it’s perfectly delightful. It’s so much easier to obey than to resist. The spoiler warning sent by the Disney empire instructed journalists to “continue to be our partners on this journey,” and defiance is unthinkable, even if “partner” is taken as a synonym for “shill.” Not a ringing endorsement 😉 but they go on to say that Felicity Jones and the other main actors are all very good, and that the movie serves the overall Star Wars universe well and will likely do very well.