Star Wars: Rogue One
Discussion
Bullett said:
I agree Chris, I thought the same. Did DV have a fat neck in some scenes as well?
The uncanny valley thing is interesting. Would we have noticed if it was an unknown character?
That's an interesting point, I still think it would have been noticeable as there was a definite disconnect jumping between a real human and a CG one in the Tarkin scenes, the movement of the skin has a plasticity about it and the light just isn't intricate enough on the face.The uncanny valley thing is interesting. Would we have noticed if it was an unknown character?
I couldn't put my finger on what looked odd about Darth Vader, but something was off. I just put it down to actually seeing him in 4K with a nice shiny new suit, so the clarity was beyond what we're used to (the neck plate looked odd to me). He did look a bit short and stumpy in some scenes though, I guess it's not easy finding somebody with the build and height of 1970s David Prowse.
Anyway, I'm thrilled that the film was so good that I'm only really concerning myself with fairly minor technical details.
Basically loved it, but some quick likes and dislikes from me:
Liked:
- The atmosphere, sets, props, Sound FX and general 'look' was absolutely perfect and felt so 'Star Wars' (looks like a bigger budget and better looking film than TFA in my opinion)
- Great group of characters, esp. K2, Churrit and Baze (spelllings?) and felt sad when they died, even though it was obvious all along that they would
- THAT Vader scene - used him sparingly and then blew our minds at the end there. Love it
- Generally good action with plenty of meaty explosions, blaster fire and noise. It made the Empire and stormtroopers feel dangerous in a way that the other films never managed, and particularly shows up the lifeless bland CGI battles in Attack of the Clones...this is how you do a Star Wars battle George!!
- That they had the balls to kill all these new characters with no spin-offs possible for Jyn, nor any obvious link to Rey's backstory
- If you ever played the game Star Wars: Dark Forces then this was basically the movie adaptation. The whole look of the rebel and imperial army going at it and the Scariff base was also like a really good RTS game. Gareth Edwards has said he was inspired by some of the games and i think the film was better for it.
- Whole thing just left me feeling very entertained with no deeper thought required. Ultimate popcorn movie.
Dislikes:
- The first half hour was badly edited and tricky to get into. Ultimately the visits to Jedha and particularly Eidu (sp?) were dangerously close to filler, with all the budget and momentum clearly saved for Act 3
- Forest Whittaker was under-used and badly written. Basil Exposition.
- I liked Jyn/Felicity Jones but didn't really feel like she had a chance to get fully into gear before the end. The other characters stole the film from her. Also Andor was a bit limp.
- Tarkin CGI: didn't buy it and what should have been a brief cameo with shadows to hide the CGI turned into an overused and jarring effect, the new poster child for the 'uncanny valley'. Didn't mind Leia so much because it was brief.
- The shoehorning in of some of the rebel pilots from Ep4 plus Dr Evazan & Ponda Baba was a bit OTT...would have preferred more subtle references in the background
- I don't recall any of the music throughout the film
- Krennic was not a great baddy....didn't really do much other than look/sound like an Imperial!
- Don't quite get the linking into Ep4 at the end with the plans being handed over physically to rebel soldiers on the Tantive IV. At the opening of ANH doesn't Vader keep saying 'where is that transmission you intercepted?' ....that doesn't really make sense if he actually saw a guy running onto the ship with the plans on a disk!? Also R2 and C3PO were still on Yavin 4 and not on the ship.....is the timeline supposed to be that Leia now goes back to Yavin 4 with the plans then sets off to Tatooine? Don't get it.
But anyway i'm happy. Given all the simialrities to games, is the main 'Force' trilogy taking its cues from KOTOR in the same way R1 was Dark Forces: The Movie......and therefore is Rey a 'Revan' character with her memories/powers locked down ? Discussion for another time...
Liked:
- The atmosphere, sets, props, Sound FX and general 'look' was absolutely perfect and felt so 'Star Wars' (looks like a bigger budget and better looking film than TFA in my opinion)
- Great group of characters, esp. K2, Churrit and Baze (spelllings?) and felt sad when they died, even though it was obvious all along that they would
- THAT Vader scene - used him sparingly and then blew our minds at the end there. Love it
- Generally good action with plenty of meaty explosions, blaster fire and noise. It made the Empire and stormtroopers feel dangerous in a way that the other films never managed, and particularly shows up the lifeless bland CGI battles in Attack of the Clones...this is how you do a Star Wars battle George!!
- That they had the balls to kill all these new characters with no spin-offs possible for Jyn, nor any obvious link to Rey's backstory
- If you ever played the game Star Wars: Dark Forces then this was basically the movie adaptation. The whole look of the rebel and imperial army going at it and the Scariff base was also like a really good RTS game. Gareth Edwards has said he was inspired by some of the games and i think the film was better for it.
- Whole thing just left me feeling very entertained with no deeper thought required. Ultimate popcorn movie.
Dislikes:
- The first half hour was badly edited and tricky to get into. Ultimately the visits to Jedha and particularly Eidu (sp?) were dangerously close to filler, with all the budget and momentum clearly saved for Act 3
- Forest Whittaker was under-used and badly written. Basil Exposition.
- I liked Jyn/Felicity Jones but didn't really feel like she had a chance to get fully into gear before the end. The other characters stole the film from her. Also Andor was a bit limp.
- Tarkin CGI: didn't buy it and what should have been a brief cameo with shadows to hide the CGI turned into an overused and jarring effect, the new poster child for the 'uncanny valley'. Didn't mind Leia so much because it was brief.
- The shoehorning in of some of the rebel pilots from Ep4 plus Dr Evazan & Ponda Baba was a bit OTT...would have preferred more subtle references in the background
- I don't recall any of the music throughout the film
- Krennic was not a great baddy....didn't really do much other than look/sound like an Imperial!
- Don't quite get the linking into Ep4 at the end with the plans being handed over physically to rebel soldiers on the Tantive IV. At the opening of ANH doesn't Vader keep saying 'where is that transmission you intercepted?' ....that doesn't really make sense if he actually saw a guy running onto the ship with the plans on a disk!? Also R2 and C3PO were still on Yavin 4 and not on the ship.....is the timeline supposed to be that Leia now goes back to Yavin 4 with the plans then sets off to Tatooine? Don't get it.
But anyway i'm happy. Given all the simialrities to games, is the main 'Force' trilogy taking its cues from KOTOR in the same way R1 was Dark Forces: The Movie......and therefore is Rey a 'Revan' character with her memories/powers locked down ? Discussion for another time...
Not sure this warrants a spoiler tag, but just in case.
I do think that using contemporary actors with similar features would have worked better. I don't think anyone would have minded that and would have fully understood. After all, SW was shot 40 years ago. As it is, those scenes did take me 'out of the zone' somewhat, whereas if they used proper actors, I wouldn't have batted an eyelid.
I also mentioned the Star Destroyers. to my eye, it seemed like the CGI team were told to make them look like models, as in the original trilogy, but neglected to finish the job, like building an Airfix model without painting it properly - in the original trilogy, they were models but the artists/model makers made them more realistic, with different tones, weathering etc.
I do think that using contemporary actors with similar features would have worked better. I don't think anyone would have minded that and would have fully understood. After all, SW was shot 40 years ago. As it is, those scenes did take me 'out of the zone' somewhat, whereas if they used proper actors, I wouldn't have batted an eyelid.
I also mentioned the Star Destroyers. to my eye, it seemed like the CGI team were told to make them look like models, as in the original trilogy, but neglected to finish the job, like building an Airfix model without painting it properly - in the original trilogy, they were models but the artists/model makers made them more realistic, with different tones, weathering etc.
darth_pies said:
Basically loved it, but some quick likes and dislikes from me:
- Don't quite get the linking into Ep4 at the end with the plans being handed over physically to rebel soldiers on the Tantive IV. At the opening of ANH doesn't Vader keep saying 'where is that transmission you intercepted?' ....that doesn't really make sense if he actually saw a guy running onto the ship with the plans on a disk!?
I was never under the impression that Darth Vader actually saw the guy with the disc, otherwise he could presumably have just force transferred it out of his hand easily enough. I just thought he was generally looking for it, wiping out rebels as he went.- Don't quite get the linking into Ep4 at the end with the plans being handed over physically to rebel soldiers on the Tantive IV. At the opening of ANH doesn't Vader keep saying 'where is that transmission you intercepted?' ....that doesn't really make sense if he actually saw a guy running onto the ship with the plans on a disk!?
ukaskew said:
I was never under the impression that Darth Vader actually saw the guy with the disc, otherwise he could presumably have just force transferred it out of his hand easily enough. I just thought he was generally looking for it, wiping out rebels as he went.
Well the way i interpreted the sequence was.. the guy is trying to pass it through the gap in the door that's jammed as Vader is approaching, which he manages to but Vader then stabs the door with his saber and it opens....the rebels run the disk through the airlock of the ship (the next door) just in time and are away, with Vader standing on the empty dock. On reflection 3P0 and R2 back on Yavin is the bigger continuity issue! Im going to have to go back and watch it in 2D, for be as always the colour is washed out when watching in 3D
For me, I like the cameo appearances and references to the other episodes;
The two blokes from the Cantina bar were there on Jedha and basically had the same script
In the background on Jedha was one of those Imperial Probe Droids like on Hoth
RA-7 Silver Droid from the Sand Crawler in Episode IV was on Jedha
Blue Milk at the start..... in Jin's home
They appeared to be playing the same Dejarik game in the bar as they had on the Falcon
In the bar was a dancing Hologram, this appeared to be the same lady that dances for Jabba in Return of the Jedi, the list goes on.
There were a few things I didnt understand though, R2-D2 and C3-PO were on Yavin 4 as they moved out for their attack. Yet they need to get to Tantativ IV somehow
I also didnt understand how Jin ended up in prison at the start of the film after jumping from her being a child
There is a deleted scene from Episode IV that shows Luke looking to the stars watching watching a battle in space https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-j4P4Ch-Ew Is that the battle for the Death Star plans?.
For me, I like the cameo appearances and references to the other episodes;
The two blokes from the Cantina bar were there on Jedha and basically had the same script
In the background on Jedha was one of those Imperial Probe Droids like on Hoth
RA-7 Silver Droid from the Sand Crawler in Episode IV was on Jedha
Blue Milk at the start..... in Jin's home
They appeared to be playing the same Dejarik game in the bar as they had on the Falcon
In the bar was a dancing Hologram, this appeared to be the same lady that dances for Jabba in Return of the Jedi, the list goes on.
There were a few things I didnt understand though, R2-D2 and C3-PO were on Yavin 4 as they moved out for their attack. Yet they need to get to Tantativ IV somehow
I also didnt understand how Jin ended up in prison at the start of the film after jumping from her being a child
There is a deleted scene from Episode IV that shows Luke looking to the stars watching watching a battle in space https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-j4P4Ch-Ew Is that the battle for the Death Star plans?.
Edited by oldaudi on Thursday 15th December 13:02
Edited by oldaudi on Thursday 15th December 13:03
Edited by oldaudi on Thursday 15th December 13:07
)I thought it was great, slow to get going but the final act was awesome. mon calamari are crazy and I can now see why they have them commanding the fleet.
Im very sad they killed the full 'rogue one' team, but I think it had to be done BUT it seemed lots of people sacrificed themselves for very little gain
I liked that a lot of the concepts had already been approached in star wars rebels to get them mainstream, empire strategy droids and seeing with the force etc
Im disappointed that the tie striker didn't get some decent screen time, great looking tie fighter with a great concept, maybe that will be in a longer edit.
Im very sad they killed the full 'rogue one' team, but I think it had to be done BUT it seemed lots of people sacrificed themselves for very little gain
I liked that a lot of the concepts had already been approached in star wars rebels to get them mainstream, empire strategy droids and seeing with the force etc
Im disappointed that the tie striker didn't get some decent screen time, great looking tie fighter with a great concept, maybe that will be in a longer edit.
Watched it at lunchtime and very much enjoyed it. I liked the fact it was a self contained story that fitted in nicely with the rest of the series. SheldonBot added just the right amount of humour without going all JarJar. Proves to me that Disney can make a Star Wars film without having to rely on the origional main charactors.
What an excellent addition to the franchise, on par with any of the origonal 3, had good pace throughout, i.e. felt like they had a deadline, A new hop had this in spades.
I liked pretty much all of it, with little excpetions, all of the little nods to previous films like gold and red leader, etc. it all showed a love to the origonals without becoming ridiculous.
I LOVED when Tarkin appeared, but i genuinely thought at first they had used Wayne Pygram (farscape-scorpius character) as he was the stand in in makeup for Tarkin at the end of episode 3. However when i realised he was a CGI i was impressed, yes i could tell it was CGI (apart from the fact Mr Cushing is dead) but the tech is getting better and better, and the voice was perfect, i want to see who did that.
Lei cameo was a bit shoehorned in and her face wasn't right, felt it was a misstep there. I liked seeing 'Ghost' freighter from Rebels cartoon now and then, and a line Bail Organa said, i assumed they were going to have Ashoka tano appear, but they must have meant leia, but the line was in ref to an old jedi friend so didnt make sense, but i'm seeing it again tomorrow with mates so ill listen again.
Saul garrerra was okay, but poorly used i felt, especially with Forest Whittakers talent.
Waders 'fortress of solitude' was great to see, as its been talked about since the original star wars storyboards, and was great to see it realised.
You can tell that Gareth Edwards has watched Empire at War game, with the Hammerhead pushing the star destroyer!
Only proper dislike was the 2 teenage lads mumbling to each other through the whole film, or guffawing pointing at any reference, i almost beat them to death with my commemorative tin!
Oh and K2-so was sublime.
Its up there with ESB for me!
I liked pretty much all of it, with little excpetions, all of the little nods to previous films like gold and red leader, etc. it all showed a love to the origonals without becoming ridiculous.
I LOVED when Tarkin appeared, but i genuinely thought at first they had used Wayne Pygram (farscape-scorpius character) as he was the stand in in makeup for Tarkin at the end of episode 3. However when i realised he was a CGI i was impressed, yes i could tell it was CGI (apart from the fact Mr Cushing is dead) but the tech is getting better and better, and the voice was perfect, i want to see who did that.
Lei cameo was a bit shoehorned in and her face wasn't right, felt it was a misstep there. I liked seeing 'Ghost' freighter from Rebels cartoon now and then, and a line Bail Organa said, i assumed they were going to have Ashoka tano appear, but they must have meant leia, but the line was in ref to an old jedi friend so didnt make sense, but i'm seeing it again tomorrow with mates so ill listen again.
Saul garrerra was okay, but poorly used i felt, especially with Forest Whittakers talent.
Waders 'fortress of solitude' was great to see, as its been talked about since the original star wars storyboards, and was great to see it realised.
You can tell that Gareth Edwards has watched Empire at War game, with the Hammerhead pushing the star destroyer!
Only proper dislike was the 2 teenage lads mumbling to each other through the whole film, or guffawing pointing at any reference, i almost beat them to death with my commemorative tin!
Oh and K2-so was sublime.
Its up there with ESB for me!
Edited by Rick_1138 on Thursday 15th December 16:46
Rick_1138 said:
Lei cameo was a bit shoehorned in and her face wasn't right, felt it was a misstep there. I liked seeing 'Ghost' freighter from Rebels cartoon now and then, and a line Bail Organa said, i assumed they were going to have Ashoka tano appear, but they must have meant leia, but the line was in ref to an old jedi friend so didnt make sense, but i'm seeing it again tomorrow with mates so ill listen again.
Old jedi friend was a reference to Obiwan.
Just back from watching that and really enjoyed it.
Is £14 normal or is that why the cinema was deserted in the middle of the afternoon?
- Really like it, feel slightly naive for being very optimistic about a happy ending for at least one of the main characters.
- Think they did a decent job with the CGI, on balance probably better than trying to make someone look like those characters
- Went in not having seen any trailers and hadn't quite counted on Rogue One apparently ending 30 minutes before Episode IV started
Is £14 normal or is that why the cinema was deserted in the middle of the afternoon?
trooperiziz said:
Rick_1138 said:
Lei cameo was a bit shoehorned in and her face wasn't right, felt it was a misstep there. I liked seeing 'Ghost' freighter from Rebels cartoon now and then, and a line Bail Organa said, i assumed they were going to have Ashoka tano appear, but they must have meant leia, but the line was in ref to an old jedi friend so didnt make sense, but i'm seeing it again tomorrow with mates so ill listen again.
Old jedi friend was a reference to Obiwan.
One other point many are missing with regards to R" and 3po, we see them at Yavin as the rogue one team steal the freighter, the rebel fleet arrives later so they probably go on the tantive 4 when the fleet mustered before going to skarrif.So would have been on the ship heading into A new hope.
Rick_1138 said:
trooperiziz said:
Rick_1138 said:
Lei cameo was a bit shoehorned in and her face wasn't right, felt it was a misstep there. I liked seeing 'Ghost' freighter from Rebels cartoon now and then, and a line Bail Organa said, i assumed they were going to have Ashoka tano appear, but they must have meant leia, but the line was in ref to an old jedi friend so didnt make sense, but i'm seeing it again tomorrow with mates so ill listen again.
Old jedi friend was a reference to Obiwan.
One other point many are missing with regards to R" and 3po, we see them at Yavin as the rogue one team steal the freighter, the rebel fleet arrives later so they probably go on the tantive 4 when the fleet mustered before going to skarrif.So would have been on the ship heading into A new hope.
Gassing Station | TV, Film, Streaming & Radio | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff