After viewing the film here are my initial thoughts:
It’s better than all three of the prequels (and I liked parts of those movies!).
It’s better then TFA. That was a film I think that was trying to do what this film succeeded in doing. TFA was a new star wars that was desperately trying to be like the OT but the writing and characters were just not there.
This film feels like a real Star Wars film and a return to the universe that we saw in the OT. The scenes on Jedha had that grungy used universe feeling that Lucas got from the European comic artists of the 70s and its been translated so well here. This is also the first Star Wars film since Empire to not have any childish or cute characters. As much as I love ROTJ, the ewoks were the beginning of a trend of pandering to kids that lasted only until a few years ago. This was a straight forward sci fi fantasy film and a really good one at that.
And then there’s the Vader’s castle sequence which is just so beautifully done. I think there’s definitely fan service parts to the film but they are very quick and definitely nothing as offensive as any of the Phantom Menace gags or tentacle monsters in a cargo hold that we put up with in previous films. It was a film that finally said “Someone who isn’t Lucas can make a great Star Wars film”. The filmmakers of TFA were so sure of themselves that they forgot to make a good movie. But everything with Rogue One was just spot on from the characters to the pacing to the amazing visuals. Great film.
I agree for the most part though I dont think I agree with the characterization you’ve given TFA as a film making effort.
I dont like TFA much. But I dont think it was so much a desperate attempt to be like the OT. In fact i find it to be a completely corporatized safe bet of an attempt to test the waters by lazily copying the OT. TFA seems to serve one purpose only. To give fans the candy they think they want. You want Han and Chewie? Its got Han and Chewie. You want Tie Fighters? Its got TIE Fighters. You want sad and aimless youth on a desert planet setting out on the adventure of a lifetime? It’s got that.
This was nothing more than a careful entry into the Galaxy with the goal of not wanting to disturb the fanbase. I feel it accomplished that. It was also an attempt to wipe the palate of the fanbase from the miserable PT (apologies to those here who like them). It was from a business perspective the right and safe first step.
And the fact they want to play it safe with a trilogy is also understandable given the financial commitment required. However, it is a shame. The spinoffs get to take risks while the great saga thread is left to languish in its own past glories. I dont think I like that. Perhaps that will change in the next trilogy but I wonder if the current trilogy’s mold isn’t already cast and set by TFA.