Rogue One [Official Info] Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - December 16, 2016

Clearly not removed from the board, as we’re getting a whole TV show involving some of the characters...

 

Not even sure what this means. Most war films don't have every character die. In fact, I can't even think of a good one that does. Just because it's a "war" movie doesn't mean everyone needed to die.

As far as "they can show up in prequels" I'll just go ahead and say I don't think any of those characters pasts are interesting enough to me. The Cassian show isn't something I'm looking forward to. I've had about enough of the "struggling rebellion" storylines from Star Wars. You can only mine the exact same period with similar types of stories for so long before I just get bored and want to move on. I have far more interest in the new republic post RotJ, which is where I'd have preferred to see Jyn and any other potential survivors.

 

The narrative of essentially a suicide mission sacrifice, conducted with just the barest chance of success, puts this film over the top though. The fact that all die, but fulfill their mission, makes this an incredibly unique movie (nevermind Star Wars movie), and head and shoulders above most genre blockbusters. That was worth it, even though it means the main characters won’t show up in future timelines. Though we still have Mothma...

This era can be mined in a million different unique ways. And a “spy thriller” has never been done in Star Wars, so it’ll be unique enough not to bore you.

I’m about 95% sure that when this show comes out, you’ll be skeptical at first, and then totally won over after the first episode.

 

You don’t know what it means? That’s on you, not me.

 

What’s also odd is the criticism of it not following the formula of most war films by having all main characters die. Isn’t originality a plus? Especially in this case, where it powerfully reinforces theme, narrative and character?

“Most movies don’t do this” is not a valid critique.

 

That's ironic, I'm sure Brie Larson cared quite a bit about what 40 year old white dudes thought about her then. Maybe that's what made her so averse to them not too long after that.

 

Probably posted before but I love these Full Metal Jacket-inspired fan posters for Rogue One. They were made before the films release but I think they capture the feeling that the film will be primarily about boots on the ground Rebel soldiers.

 

That’s actually from an unused shot that appeared in one of the trailers.

 

I'm telling you guys, a 10th Anniversary release of RO will probably be when the original footage sees the light of day. It's only 5 years from now. And think about what a treat that would be with the Disney+ Expanded Universe having been built up by then.

 

Re-releases are built on hope.

 

I love how passionate you are about this film.

 

What are you talking about I hate this movie.

For being so good.

 

Hey man it made my all-time favorite movies list so I’m with ya. I don’t know how, every time I learn more about how post production went I’m always baffled it wasn’t terrible.

 

Clearly the smoothness of a film’s production is not correlated with a film’s quality. In this case, I think the marriage of Edwards (super fan), Gilroy (not a fan), and Fraser (one of the best DPs in the business) was a magic, accidental formula that helped create the wonderfully odd yet nearly perfect Star Wars beast that is Rogue One.

 

I think having someone who is not a fan there (Gilroy) really helped the quality. He was able to look at it from an objective viewpoint.

 

I realize I'm late to the party, but...

There was something poignant about none of them even knowing whether they succeeded or not.

A criticism I heard in my circle of friends was that Cassian wasn't likeable. I was like, can you explain why that's a bad thing. Especially in a movie with an ensemble cast as opposed to having one clear protagonist.

 

I also don’t think Cassian was that unlikable.

 

Cassian was my favorite character in the film from the moment he shot his informant in the back. He straddles the line between likable revolutionary and detestable insurgent, which I found refreshingly appealing in a series that's usually pretty morally black and white.

 

I did not like that Cassian shot his contact. I did like that he looked like he hated that he had to. And I liked that later, he chose not to shoot Galen. To me, it showed a clear character arc, someone who had been slipping into darkness recognizing where he was headed and resolving to go back to the light.