I am back from a pre-premiere screening (at least in my country), and I am thrilled. To me, this is the best Star Wars movie to be released since 1980. I’ve watched the OT on cinema in the 90s when the Special Editions were released, as I am too young to have seen them during their original runs, and I’ve watched every Episode premiere following.
Edwards has done a fantastic fan service and I am saying that in the most positive way possible. He definitely loves Star Wars and I think has a far better grasp of what it stands for than JJ; as much as the movie is different, tonally and editing, from the Saga movies, I think it gave me everything I could have wanted from a Star Wars movie. In some respects, it’s also a “soft reboot” - it’s a mix between a direct prequel for ANH and what RotJ should (could) have been. But it’s subtle, not at all blatant like TFA was. In fact, it makes TFA feel like a 12-year old’s fanfic. Rogue One has breadth, scope and nuance (not just visually but story wise) where TFA feels cramped and forced.
Tarkin looks amazing. Definitely still in the “uncanny valley” but far, far better than anything similar I’ve seen before. Honestly, if he was used more sparingly, the results would have been better. There’s a particular scene where he’s silent, just observing eerily (reminiscent of ANH) and that’s the exact moment I lost it that it was CGI… he felt like the real Peter Cushing. It still felt odd where there was dialogue and a close-up shot of his face, though. There is another CGI character used very briefly and it works marvelously.
RO gives me some vague hope that Disney can actually deliver decent continuation of the OT, and that JJ’s TFA was just a misstep as they wanted to play “safe” with the new trilogy. The movie had its fair share of problems but overall, it’s great.
If anyone is interested in spoilers, let me know. 😃
Someone on here talked about there being mentioning or a reference to the Whills in this movie. Tell us about them?