Do you actually think that the R1 plot would be compelling had it not been littered with Star Wars imagery? Take away the Death Star and replace it with some other space device and I don’t think anyone would have been interested.
I actually like a number of things in R1. I think it’s better than TFA and has some valuable stuff in it. Visually, the film is stunning. There are some fantastic action sequences and it’s well directed overall.
What, take away the very thing the movie is about? You are not making much sense.
“Rogue one: the movie about the death star plans, but really it is just a long character study staring Dr evazan, and there is a giant basket instead of a death star.”