Why R1 is One of My FAVORITE Star Wars Movies!
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.