I didn’t get this at all.
I got it as a lifelong friendship that was taken away too soon.
I saw it last night and really liked it. I’m not a huge Star Wars buff, I think I’ve seen each film once, but my roommate really wanted to go and I thought it would be fun. It was fun, although it was darker than I was expecting. I think I read somewhere about how most of the characters would be one-off characters, and I had thought that it was just a more separated story, I hadn’t realized it would be because most of them died.
One thing that bugged me was how few female roles there were. Felicity Jones’s character and Mon Mothma were the only major female roles. And then Diego Luna assembled a group of rebels to help steal the plans and they were all men. I noticed a few female rebel pilots when they came to help later, but overall even in the extra roles there were very few women. I did like the racial diversity, but I thought it was funny how the sexists were all upset about a Star Wars movie starring a woman, when most of the roles were still male ones.
I agree about Forest Whitaker, he’s a great actor but it felt like he was acting in a different movie than everyone else was acting in. Also I thought it was a little funny/weird that twice Diego Luna was sent to kill someone, and then both Forest Whitaker and Mads Mikkelsen died because of imperial forces.
I felt that some of the characters were a bit underwritten, maybe because there were so many of them. I love Diego Luna and thought he did well but wouldn’t be able to tell you much about his character. And I’ve been using all the actor names because most of the character names went right past me. I was talking with my roommate about that as we walked out and she agreed about not being able to remember most of the names. But I did care about them, and was sad about when they died, unlike lesser movies where a supporting character dies and it’s not affecting.
It was a little distracting to me and stood out. I was at a 3D Imax showing and was wondering if the glasses and my tired eyes were making me think they were using models. But it did look kinda cool. I guess I’m neutral.
I’m not sure if I liked this or TFA better. TFA was more fun I think since this was darker, but I did like how this had a bit of a different story. It made me think of a WWII movie but I’m not sure which one.
I thought the hug made sense in wanting some comfort at facing death, but I was also glad they didn’t kiss despite being two attractive people together at the end of a movie.
K2SO was my favorite character and had most of the best lines.
The tearful goodbye reminded me of two buddies in a war movie. I’m pretty sure there are similar scenes in WWII movies, though maybe with fewer tears (and no spaceships). But I also see how people can interpret them as more than friends.
I’ll one up you (though I would have preferred not seeing her face. The digital cameo was jarring.)
Glad I’m not the only one who thought that. I wanted to lean over to the stranger next to me and whisper “Hey, that’s Sheldon!”
“Many Bothans died to bring us this information.” Of course, that was referring to the second Death Star (Ep6), but the same principle applies: the Rebellion had an entire intel network that involved lots of sacrifice, with a real human toll.
What I liked most about this film is that it showed us the inner workings of the Rebellion for the first time. Sure, we’ve seen a couple of briefings from the OT, but nothing that showed the internal dynamics or chains of command. And certainly nothing to personalize the members of the Rebellion (except for a few of its leaders: Mon Mothma, Ackbar, etc.).
This film wasn’t about royalty, Jedi, or outlaws. This film was about the soldiers. TFA gave our first insight into a stormtrooper’s perspective. This film (significantly better) showed that the Rebels were guerrillas, often tasked with terrorist acts, difficult decisions, and internal disagreement. We’ve never really seen that before (their mission on Endor comes closest) and certainly never where the troops were personalized. Outside of Wedge (and a few ill-fated Rebel pilots), we’ve never gotten to know individual Rebels in the OT even cursorily. It was always about the extended Skywalker clique. Which is fine, but which makes this approach to the story so refreshing.
I didn’t mind Whitaker at all because he was supposed to be seen as a fanatic, so restraint wasn’t in the cards. And it’s still a far more nuanced performance than the full-blown ham of Domhnall Gleason in TFA. Mendelssohn made a terrific impression (and also showed that the Empire had political backbiting), too. Overall, there wasn’t enough time to have the rest of the crew be fully-fleshed out personalities, but each had enough significant brush strokes to make them far more than the interchangeable Rebels in the OT.
People call this film dark, but I guess I don’t see it that way. ESB was dark because you didn’t know the darkness was coming. It was a surprise and a shock to the system compared to ANH. But this? You had to know they were all doomed. Which means, for me, it’s a wonderful treatise on heroism in the face of insurmountable odds, because they must’ve suspected the same thing but did their duty anyway (especially Jyn, as the newest “recruit”).
My biggest problem with TFA was that it constantly equated Bigger with Better (or cooler or more menacing, etc.). But you never really felt the stakes were that high because, outside of the obligatory token death (Solo), you knew everyone else would make it for another trilogy installment. Not so here. The deaths are more pervasive and more affecting, so hats off to both the writers and actors for making it so.
I didn’t mind Tarkin either. It certainly comes closest to Uncanny Valley territory among all the franchises’s digital creations, but it really does work most of the time (helped immeasurably be an extremely convincing voice impersonation). Leia was mercifully brief because that would’ve been harder to pull off for an extended period.
One other thing I liked a lot, even though it was brief: This was Darth Vader at his most badass in any of the SW films besides ESB. He’s more menace in ANH and only has one significant fight (which he loses) in ROJ, and the less said about ROS the better. But that one corridor skirmish, lasting barely a minute, perhaps, showed him at his Dark Side best. A terrific add-on.
A few nitpicks:
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The Empire essentially destroyed their entire archive–many years and countless systems of information. It had to be done, I suppose, but almost certainly would’ve crippled their day-to-day operations.
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The cantina “We’re wanted men” cameo on Jedha was kinda fun, but they must’ve high-tailed it off the planet immediately since the entire city was a crater within a couple of hours.
Was the VaderCastle on Mustafar?
And I have always believed that Leia going towards Tatooine was purposeful, since she could then summon Obi Wan, and Jimmy Smits certainly calls for Obi Wan, unless he has another Jedi hidden somewhere. But, after the battle, it would seem their main aim would be to get the gell away and not have time for diversions to Tatooone or anyother place?
I am almost positive they said the name of the planet…and it wasn’t Mustafar. Krennic was summoned to him…and when Vader was in the tank, that guy that looked like the emperor from the back told him Krennic had arrived.
I do want to say the very end part bugged me.
It made it seem like Leia was there the whole time but just, like, sitting in a ship? Not actively doing anything? Then she makes her jump to light speed and you’re lead to assume Vader chases her and that’s the beginning to Ep 4.
But the problem with that is she wouldn’t be able to stick with her “diplomatic mission from Alderaan” story. Vader would simply say “Um, no, I literally just saw you leave a ship from a battle where stolen plans were.”
I think they needed one more Jimmy Smits scene at the end where HE’S the one who jets off the fight, then you see a shot of his ship next to the the Cerullean Corvette, then him giving the plans to video game Leia and saying “Good Luck my daughter” and then have them part ways.
Thats basically what he did say
[QUOTE=Leia’s biological dad]
Don’t act so surprised, Your Highness. You weren’t on any mercy mission this time.
[/QUOTE]
Unlike the rest of the series, where he tends to remain calm and stoic even when under pressure and angry, here he was clearly and overtly pissed off and quite incredulous at Leia.
The very ending was extremely chaotic. I seemed to remember more and more ships arriving as the battle wore on. (which made me think of how the battle started…all the charges going off on the beaches, and Krennic looking on from above, and then turns around and has to scream at everyone to retaliate)
From what I can remember (as I thought credits were ready to roll) the ship uploaded the plans, and right when they were about to jump to hyperspace, Vader’s Star Destroyer arrived out of Hyperspace, smashing into the ship that was trying to leave.
The rebels then copy the plans from the ships computer onto the (for lack of a better term) flash drive, since the ship they were on was now disabled. They go from the ship Vader crashed into onto the Blockade Runner, which seemed a bit like it was being used as an escape pod (or were they docked together?), as Vader tries to keep them from getting the drive with the plans to Leia’s ship.
I looked closely and while they did ID in print onscreen every new planet/moon that was introduced (even Yavin), they didn’t with that one, so I’m assuming it’s Mustafar.
I guess I’ll have to use this as an excuse to see it again. And yes, I actually held my breath a bit when they showed the planet and the word Yavin appeared
Going in, I certainly didn’t. And the trailers seemed to indicate that the cavalry would come. Whittaker’s death did give me a clue that all would not be sweetness and light.
On a completely different note, did anyone feel a similarity between the defecting imperial pilot and the Russian cosmonaut in Armageddon?
I just got back from watching it. I was blown away. I felt it started weak, but it picked up fast and I was enraptured.
Are there mid or post credit scenes?
Negative. The end credits are done in the traditional Star Wars format with the fanfare and blue text on a starfield.
No. But in the theater I was in lots of people stayed after the credits ended and we all shared thoughts. (At least 25 people - none in costume)
The ending and Leia’s lie at the start of ANH works for me. She could have hoped Vader didn’t have time to see what ship she escaped in and maybe her excuse would slide. Or she’s a bad ass and doesn’t care how transparent her lies are.
Yeah, I had no problem with Tarkin’s face, but Leia’s eyes were wonky. I was glad it was brief.
The rebels discussed contacting the jedi recluse, and then one of them said something about “tell her” I think. Anyone remember this part better? After the fact, I guessed the plan was for Leia to contact Obi Wan. So maybe she was along for the ride, with the plan that the main force would get the plans and return to Yavin 4 while Leia and others continued to Tatooine?
It was Bail Organa and Mon Mothma talking about contacting Obi Wan and he referenced the messenger he was sending saying: “I would trust her with my life”. He also used the phrase “He served me well during the Clone Wars.” a call-back to Leia’s message to Obi-Wan:
I’m guessing she was about to depart for Tatooine when the fleet was mobilised for the attack on Scarif and decided to go along (which would be in-character). With the amount of improvisation going on while the battle was in progress she would be the logical person to carry the plans away from the fight once the flagship was disabled.
I love the Vader scene when the rebel troops get the plans past the jammed doors and for a second looks like they are in the clear and Vader cuts his way through the door and just keeps coming!
Having Vader back as the Emperors ultimate enforcer was great!
They did set the tone of this movie to be dark from the very beginning. Cassian Andor shot his contact because his anxiety attack would have tipped the Empire about the Pilot making contact with Saw Gerrera. (Or was it because he thought the guy would slow him down?)
Right when I saw this I immediately was reminded of the Greedo/Han scene.