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Why R1 is One of My FAVORITE Star Wars Movies!

posted 8 years ago by Hazekiah
48 replies | jump to latest

This is officially one of my most favorite Star Wars movies.

I pretty much loved EVERYTHING about it. The fan service especially was *beep* OFF THE CHARTS and a real treat for hardcore Star Wars nerds. Goddamn, we got the Whills, Kyber crystals, Doctor Evazan & Ponda Baba, Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, General Dodonna, Red Leader & Gold Leader, Chopper, The Ghost, the Hammerheads, shout-outs for Captain Antilles & General Syndulla, and aged Saw Gerrrera, Imperial probots, mouse droids, etc., etc., etc.

I mean, GODDAMN. The list goes on and on!

Not to mention Grand Moff Tarkin with more screentime than he had even when Peter Cushing was still alive ffs, Princess Leia in her prime, and HOLY HELL hands-down the most fearsomely badass Darth Vader onscreen to date. So BRUTAL!!!

And then there's the fact that the movie basically fixes two giant "flaws" from the original films, brilliantly and elegantly explaining both the critical weakness of the Death Star and the poor marksmanship of the Storm Troopers. Suddenly, this movie wasn't just simply expanding upon the original films but even IMPROVING them, too. Now THAT'S what I call REAL fan-service!

Likewise, the world-building was pretty impressive and well-conceived, even for a Star Wars film. Linking the power of the Death Star to the Kyber crystals mined from what's basically an ancient Jedi Temple homeworld named Jedha was yet another stroke of genius, and catching a few glimpses of what seem to be the Jedi equivalent of the Emperor's Imperial Guardsmen wandering around the temple city really drove home the point just as much as Saw's Vader-esque physical decrepitude. And OMFG Vader's castle on Mustafar was also as perfectly stark and intimidating as it needed to be, lol. The contrast of it being both his retreat in which he heals his tortured body within a bacta tank AND his own personal hell in which to wallow and therefore further his strength in the Dark Side of the Force was just ABSOLUTELY. ON. POINT. 100%.

On a similar note, the tone of the movie was also pitch perfect. Shady back alleys. Military occupation. Prisoner transports to mining colonies. The cold, blustery weather, of the opening and the "rescue" mission for Galen, the heavy rainfall...the galaxy really FELT like an awful, miserable place in dire need of hope to a degree we hadn't really seen onscreen before. I also really enjoyed seeing the somewhat sketchier side of the Rebellion alongside the oppressive occupation of the Empire. From Cassian's questionable wetworks assassination of a colleague and informant to Saw's extremist insurgent attacks and borderline torture, it all fit perfectly within the context of a less "family friendly" and more "desperate suicide mission" chapter in the ongoing battle against ultimate evil.

And that was something I liked about the movie the most.

Sure, there's a lot of attention to detail and fan service that will go RIGHT over the heads of the general audience -- Rogue One is WITHOUT A DOUBT a Star Wars movie catering to the superfans -- but even my friend's nine year old daughter who's only seen Ep. VII beforehand was still held rapt by the movie and its message of hope and sacrifice for the greater good in the face of overwhelming odds during even the darkest days.

As long as people can understand THAT there will ALWAYS be an audience for Star Wars.

[–] esmereldet 8 years ago

I LOVED it, and especially the last Vader moments. 😎

But I have a question, because I missed it and I can't go see it again and don't want to wait until the BD

What was it that explaned

the poor marksmanship of the Storm Troopers.

?

You have been watching the Loki trilogy (of sorts) Empire magazine.

www.ennisjack.com

[–] Hazekiah 8 years ago

I'd just like to clarify really quick, it's SUPER difficult to reply so it's a ONE-AT-A-TIME affair for now but I'll get to everyone eventually, I promise! Thanks, all.

:)

by esmereldet » 2 days ago (Sat Jan 7 2017 13:29:35)
IMDb member since January 2006
I LOVED it, and especially the last Vader moments. 😎

But I have a question, because I missed it and I can't go see it again and don't want to wait until the BD

"the poor marksmanship of the Storm Troopers."

What was it that explaned
the poor marksmanship of the Storm Troopers.?

Good to know you enjoyed it, cheers!

What I was referring to there was the general idea of the Storm Troopers ALWAYS missing their most important targets vs., well...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NA5t-CCEqHo

Remember Chirrut, the "Guardian of the Whills," who "isn't a Jedi" and when he was praying to the Force as he marched into the kill-zone of dozens of Storm Troopers yet remained COMPLETELY unfazed by their so-called "precise" blaster shots? They couldn't have hit him to save their lives. So much for "precision," right?

That's what I'm talking about.

It was the will of the Force which detracted from the aim of the Storm Troopers any time they aimed at OUR HEROES throughout the Original Trilogy. Just like it saved Chirrut's life until HE did what HE needed to do, it likewise saved THEIR lives until THEY did what THEY needed to do to help restore balance to the Force.

Rogue One essentially justified the lack of "plot armor" for the Death Star the same way it justified the poor marksmanship of the Storm Troopers.

:)

[–] clickbait 8 years ago

Yes OP...I agree with everything and Im and old star wars fan...I was a kid when the first three movies was released that is called 4,5,6 in the order today and I also really loved Rogue one...a really good and well made star wars movie for both older and younger fans of the franschise but I do think that we oldies like it better cause this is more like the old school star wars movie we grew up with and I really hope we get to see more of Gareth Edwards and that he will direct more star wars movie, he did a marvelous job and Rogue One is so much better than the star wars abomination called Force Awekens....

~If the realistic details fails, the movie fails~

[–] jrsjr81 8 years ago

Rogue One is tied for first along with A New Hope for the greatest Star Wars film! Wouldn't it be spectacular if Rogue One was spliced together with the original theatrical version of A New Hope in 4K?

[–] emielyy 8 years ago

"I last saw the movie (ten times and counting!), but there were DEFINITELY tons of people clapping and cheering."

This is why we can't have good star wars spinoffs. Because fanboys will pay to see any star wars movie 10 times and the studios know it.

Also WTF is up with clapping for a movie? It isn't a play no one who made it can hear you!

Do you people not understand why clapping is a thing?

Have you never seen a play?

I SWEAR TO GOD THE DUMBER THIS COUNTRY GETS THE MORE PROUD OF THEIR IGNORANCE THEY BECOME.

[–] Hazekiah 8 years ago

by emielyy » 23 hours ago (Sat Jan 14 2017 19:42:30)
IMDb member since January 2017
Post Edited: Sat Jan 14 2017 19:46:14

"I last saw the movie (ten times and counting!), but there were DEFINITELY tons of people clapping and cheering."

This is why we can't have good star wars spinoffs. Because fanboys will pay to see any star wars movie 10 times and the studios know it.

Also WTF is up with clapping for a movie? It isn't a play no one who made it can hear you!

Do you people not understand why clapping is a thing?

Have you never seen a play?

I SWEAR TO GOD THE DUMBER THIS COUNTRY GETS THE MORE PROUD OF THEIR IGNORANCE THEY BECOME.

I enjoy the movie immensely so I come back to it on the big screen in 3D and 7.1 while I'm able because I won't be able to for too much longer. Sorry that chafes you so hard but if you don't like it then bother someone else about it because I honestly don't care wtf you think.

This was an excellent spinoff and I'm glad to have supported it as much as I have. About a billion dollars worth of ticket sales and generally very positive word of mouth agree with me. People who've seen it as much as I have are statistical outliers, not the norm. In general, Disney probably expects most people to MAYBE see it twice, but most probably only once. Calm down.

As for clapping and cheering at movies, it's not always about rewarding "the players on the stage" or the writers and producers who made it. It doesn't matter if THEY can hear us as long as WE CAN HEAR US. It's oftentimes a sign of excitement and solidarity shared by fellow theatergoers and movies are no exception. I sometimes liken it to watching a big storm come in from a hilltop. When you see EVERYONE in your entire field of vision reeling from the same gust of wind, it's hard not to appreciate that "WOW, THIS IS A BIG DEAL" moment and how everyone there is experiencing the same emotion.

Plus, I'm also a big fan of loud rock concerts and watching a movie with an excited crowd on opening night is about as close to watching a movie from a mosh pit as you can get, lol.

If something is funny, you laugh. It isn't about rewarding the person who told you the joke, it's a knee-jerk reaction to humor and you do it to acknowledge to YOURSELF, even as a group, that you've enjoyed it.

Same goes for any other emotion.

[–] emielyy 8 years ago

"As for clapping and cheering at movies, it's not always about rewarding "the players on the stage" or the writers and producers who made it. It doesn't matter if THEY can hear us as long as WE CAN HEAR US. It's oftentimes a sign of excitement and solidarity shared by fellow theatergoers and movies are no exception."

Understand that everyone with an IQ above 90 came to see and HEAR the movie, not a bunch of monkeys whoops and hollers....

[–] Hazekiah 8 years ago

When something like 90% of the theater is doing it at an opening night show I think it's fine, but I'd agree that it goes too far when it crowds out the dialogue immediately afterward.

Same goes for rock shows and mosh pits. It's cool when everyone's singing along and cheering but if you can't even hear the performer it's obviously gone too far.

[–] Hazekiah 8 years ago

You SURE about that?

Oh, look what just popped-up in my newsfeed...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T3WFHXNhUg

[–] vikingo 8 years ago

Agree! I love the movie. I think is much better than Ep VII (wasted opportunity for me) (saw the original trilogy at cinemas and this is the best since then) Regards and respect from Argentina.

[–] Hazekiah 8 years ago

by u-yes-u » 6 hours ago (Sun Jan 15 2017 08:56:08)
IMDb member since May 2007
A friend dragged me to see this movie tonight and I'm glad we went. Best Star Wars movie since Jedi IMO.

Good of them to drag you along and good to know you had such a great time!

Why so reluctant at first, though?

o_O

by vikingo » 17 hours ago (Sat Jan 14 2017 21:46:05)
IMDb member since March 1999
Agree! I love the movie. I think is much better than Ep VII (wasted opportunity for me) (saw the original trilogy at cinemas and this is the best since then) Regards and respect from Argentina.

And HELLO from the U.S., my Argentinian Viking friend!

Nice to hear back from afar, glad to hear you loved the movie so well. I think we disagree about Ep. VII a bit (I loved it!) but a great big world and there's plenty of Star Wars for everyone to pick and choose from at this point.

I've seen every Star Wars movie in theaters too and have always enjoyed the experience and gone back for more as many times as possible, especially the most recent two installments. As far as I'm concerned, Ep. VII and R1 are both the best Star Wars movies since the Original Trilogy! If you catch me on the right day I could even be tempted to say R1 gives Ep. V a run for its money, so I really can't praise enough what Disney's managed to accomplish here.

Really excited to see what the next several years will bring fans of the franchise!

XD

[–] u-yes-u 8 years ago

A friend dragged me to see this movie tonight and I'm glad we went. Best Star Wars movie since Jedi IMO.

[–] JarJarRocks 8 years ago

I'm right there with ya, brother.

For me it was a perfect spin-off movie. Perfect in the same way things like Dark Forces and Rogue Squadron and other things have been in the past. Real Star Wars, but with a different feel and twist. Something that makes the original movies even more enjoyable. And I got exactly what I wanted.

The movie was actually much better than I expected and hoped for. And I was very positive to begin with. If you had removed the space battle and the Darth Vader ending scene, you pretty much had the movie I expected. But those things made a great movie into an amazing, amazing experience.

Forget silly nerd-rage things like "fan service". Those words mean nothing. It's like critisizing a band for playing a popular hit song. It's all about whether they made a good Star Wars movie or not, and they most certainly did.

[–] CrbCrtx 8 years ago

fan service does not make for a good film.

[–] Hazekiah 8 years ago

by CrbCrtx » 1 day ago (Sat Jan 21 2017 22:23:38)
IMDb member since July 2005

fan service does not make for a good film.

No one in this thread ever suggested it did.

Let me guess...

You read a few sentences before "walking out" yet assumed your opinion of my entire post was somehow still relevant and worth sharing?

>_>

[–] Hazekiah 8 years ago

THESE GUYS GET IT:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m8_lXs-XuYM