rogue one, pulling away
So, it was a war movie.
I did my best to remain unspoiled going into it, but I actually sorta wish I had known that bit, so I could have avoided the near-anxiety attack as the tension ratcheted up as they started assaulting Scarif.
I hate war movies. So the fact that I didn't hate this is a testament to how good it was.
I didn't entirely love it though? I think that's because it was, as previously mentioned, a war movie. But the pacing also felt off to me - like, up until they retrieve Jyn from Imperial custody and get her to Yavin IV, I felt like random setup scenes were just being thrown at me with no particular regard for pacing or story flow.
Also, jesus christ, the dialogue was incomprehensible for the first third of the movie. Loud soundtrack + loud noises + some thick accents = Eleanor is sitting there going "i have no fucking clue what's going on". The stuff on Jedha with Bodhi and then Saw was particularly bad for that.
I liked the Jyn/Cassian team-up, and I especially liked that Jyn -- who spends the first half of the movie only important in terms of her relationships to men (her father, Captain Andor, Saw Gerrera) -- becomes significantly more badass and awesome after she steps forward in her own right.
That said, it was an awesome addition to Star Wars canon, and I'm very glad it exists, even if it's less to my taste than I'd hoped. Baze and Chirrut were both awesome. (Chirrut's death scene made me cry.) The characters were great in general. CGI Tarkin was ...okay. (Though still a bit too cartoony.) CGI Leia was a nice touch (although it did lack any of her edge or spark - I guess that's another technological leap away).
Also, I fucking love the thing I saw on Tumblr -
ok so Leia was heading to Obi-wan before the Battle of Scarif, and before she ever knew she or anyone would have the plans. It wasn’t just a last resort, “vader’s bout to get us we gotta go somewhere” decision. the fact that she was going to Obi-wan is probably the reason she was with the rebels and not on Alderaan.
so think in the context that a) Bail was knowingly sending his daughter, who has the genes of one of the most powerful force users ever, to go get a Jedi, b) Bail knew that he was sending the biological child of Anakin to Anakin’s former master and friend, c) Obi-wan definitely would knows who Leia is, d) Bail knows that Obi-wan is keeping an eye on Luke.
I’m not saying Bail Organa knowingly sent his force sensitive daughter to the only fully trained Jedi he knew how to get in touch with and also her force sensitive brother, but Bail Organa knowingly sent his force sensitive daughter to the only fully trained Jedi he knew how to get in touch with and also her force sensitive brother. Because he and Mon Mothma decided things had gotten to this point.
Someone in the tags said “Bail didn’t send the plans to Obi-wan. Bail sent Leia.”
YES. The Death Star plans were a last minute bonus. Bail’s actual plans for dealing with the Empire and the Death Star was LEIA
So, yeah. I loved it, but not unreservedly, but I'm very glad it exists and I will probably love it more next time.
I did my best to remain unspoiled going into it, but I actually sorta wish I had known that bit, so I could have avoided the near-anxiety attack as the tension ratcheted up as they started assaulting Scarif.
I hate war movies. So the fact that I didn't hate this is a testament to how good it was.
I didn't entirely love it though? I think that's because it was, as previously mentioned, a war movie. But the pacing also felt off to me - like, up until they retrieve Jyn from Imperial custody and get her to Yavin IV, I felt like random setup scenes were just being thrown at me with no particular regard for pacing or story flow.
Also, jesus christ, the dialogue was incomprehensible for the first third of the movie. Loud soundtrack + loud noises + some thick accents = Eleanor is sitting there going "i have no fucking clue what's going on". The stuff on Jedha with Bodhi and then Saw was particularly bad for that.
I liked the Jyn/Cassian team-up, and I especially liked that Jyn -- who spends the first half of the movie only important in terms of her relationships to men (her father, Captain Andor, Saw Gerrera) -- becomes significantly more badass and awesome after she steps forward in her own right.
That said, it was an awesome addition to Star Wars canon, and I'm very glad it exists, even if it's less to my taste than I'd hoped. Baze and Chirrut were both awesome. (Chirrut's death scene made me cry.) The characters were great in general. CGI Tarkin was ...okay. (Though still a bit too cartoony.) CGI Leia was a nice touch (although it did lack any of her edge or spark - I guess that's another technological leap away).
Also, I fucking love the thing I saw on Tumblr -
ok so Leia was heading to Obi-wan before the Battle of Scarif, and before she ever knew she or anyone would have the plans. It wasn’t just a last resort, “vader’s bout to get us we gotta go somewhere” decision. the fact that she was going to Obi-wan is probably the reason she was with the rebels and not on Alderaan.
so think in the context that a) Bail was knowingly sending his daughter, who has the genes of one of the most powerful force users ever, to go get a Jedi, b) Bail knew that he was sending the biological child of Anakin to Anakin’s former master and friend, c) Obi-wan definitely would knows who Leia is, d) Bail knows that Obi-wan is keeping an eye on Luke.
I’m not saying Bail Organa knowingly sent his force sensitive daughter to the only fully trained Jedi he knew how to get in touch with and also her force sensitive brother, but Bail Organa knowingly sent his force sensitive daughter to the only fully trained Jedi he knew how to get in touch with and also her force sensitive brother. Because he and Mon Mothma decided things had gotten to this point.
Someone in the tags said “Bail didn’t send the plans to Obi-wan. Bail sent Leia.”
YES. The Death Star plans were a last minute bonus. Bail’s actual plans for dealing with the Empire and the Death Star was LEIA
So, yeah. I loved it, but not unreservedly, but I'm very glad it exists and I will probably love it more next time.