Day 1847 - Rogue One

Rogue One

Or as many people are going to call it - Star Wars: Episode 3.5.  It's pretty great.  But before I talk about about it, I really want to stress that I'm going to be as spoiler-free as possible.  There's a lot of fun stuff in this movie, and I really want people to experience that for themselves. 

Okay, down to brass tacks.  This movie takes places right before Episode 4, and it details how the Rebels ended up with the plans to the Death Star.  What's that, you say?  You haven't watched any of the previous Star Wars movies, and everything I've just written is just nonsense.  Well, let's amend that.

The movie starts off with Mads Mikkelsen playing a farmer (Galen Urso), who's visited by representatives of the Empire.  They want him to work on a weapon of mass destruction for them.  Apparently he's a super-smart scientist, and has been in hiding.  He sends his family off to safety, so the Empire can't use them as leverage against him.  It doesn't go well.  Fast-forward 15 years, and Galen's daughter, Jyn (as played by Felicity Jones), is forcibly recruited by the Rebels to find her father, and get information on the Death Star (that weapon of mass destruction).  All of this leads her to become inspiration for a small group of followers who believe in her mission to help fight the tyranny of the Empire.  And here's where the movie really shines.

Earlier in the year, there was a forgettable remake of The Magnificent Seven.  This movie appropriates a lot of the same plot, but it does so in a way that succeeds where the Seven remake failed.  It introduces characters slowly and deliberately.  Each character becomes fully formed throughout the film (even the main bad guy).  You have Jyn, who is on a quest to follow in her father's footsteps, but also trying to find him, so she can get some much needed closure.  Then there's Diego Luna's Cassian - a daring rebel fighter who still has moments of humanity, even amidst the terrible decisions he has to make.  And I can't forget about the reprogrammed Imperial Droid K-2SO.  In, what could have been a very dark and dour film, K-2SO provides the much needed comic relief.  And it all stems from his character.  It's never forced, and that's an accomplishment.  Riz Ahmed does a great job of taking what could have been a throwaway role of defecting Imperial pilot Bohdi Rook, and turning him into a character that you have real empathy for.  And finally, there's the fantastic duo of Donnie Yen and Wen Jiang, as they portray a blind man (Jedi?), and his best friend/protector.  This magnificent six are given so much room to grow as characters, that when all the action really starts to come, we have become fully invested in them. 

And that action.  For me, the last forty minutes were so involving and breathtaking, that I barely breathed.  We all know what's going to happen.  But we don't know how.  I still remember watching Return of the Jedi and being stunned by all the space ships doing battle.  This movie takes all of that and leaves it in the dust.  When a squadron of tie fighters fly out of a hanger, you can do nothing but be both amazed and terrified for the Rebels that have to face them.

This reminds me of an older style of movie, because of all the emphasis on the characters.  And also, because of its reliance on practical effects.  Don't get me wrong, there's a ton of digital effects (especially during scenes that I don't want to talk about), but when the movie creates alien creatures that are people in costume, it just feels comforting.  And it makes things seem more real.  Like real characters are sacrificing themselves for the greater good.

So, yeah, I liked it.  It has heart, great characterization, and treats aplenty for those of you who have actually seen any of the six movies that have come before.  It's worth avoiding the spoilers and seeing it as soon as possible.

***1/2 (maybe even ****)

Day 1476 - Star Wars Spoiler Etiquette

There are a number of people who are going to Star Wars: The Force Awakens this weekend, and because some of them have a life, they won't be seeing it until as late as Sunday.  (I'm seeing it Thursday - I don't have a life.)  In order to help those people who won't be seeing it until a little later, I have devised this handy dandy little blog to help those of us who have seen the movie not ruin it for those who haven't seen it yet.  These should all apply until 11:59 Sunday evening.  After that, all bets are off and you're on your own.

1. No spoilers at all.  Nothing big, nothing small, nothing like "Could you believe it when Batman showed up?!?"  Full credit to where it's due - my "friend" David Hansen posted this - "Dudes!  Just knowing it's good is a spoiler."  Truer words have never been spoken.

2. Watch what you "like."  This is for Facebook users only.  Facebook is the devil.  You'll be innocently scrolling along only to have Facebook tell you that one of your friends "liked" this article where the headline is "Can you believe that Chewbacca and R2D2 had a baby?"  It doesn't matter if it's true or not.  You didn't want to go into the movie waiting for that plot point to rear its ugly head.  So, at least until Sunday night, maybe don't "like" any Star Wars posts at all.

3.  I know nothing about Twitter, so somebody can make their own etiquette guide for that.  That being said - no spoilers on Twitter.

4. Be understanding.  And polite.

5.  I know you're going to be excited when you leave the movie and are going to want to write something, anything about it.  Just remember to temper yourself.  I'm thinking a post filled with all adjectives describing the movie, not the scenes, should be fine.  Amazing, awesome, spectacular, fantastic - all acceptable words, mostly because you could also be describing that last meal you had.

6.  However, in this case, the opposite is true.  We don't want to see any posts about how you didn't like the movie.  Or were indifferent to it.  We're excited. Don't bring us down, man.  If the movie turns out to be the second coming of The Phantom Menace we'll know soon enough.  (please, please, please don't be the second coming of The Phantom Menace.)  We don't need your snark.

7.  Watch where you are.  I can't even imagine people in line outside of The Empire Strikes Back having to deal with those who came out of the previous showing saying, "Can you believe that Darth Vader was Luke Skywalker's father?"  Heck, before having a conversation about the movie, ask around if it's okay to talk about it in detail.  Some people legitimately don't care.  (Those people are the crazy ones.)  But for those that do, politeness and respect go a long way.

8. Don't be that person who tells someone who hasn't seen it - "I know you haven't seen it, and this doesn't spoil anything, but it was amazing when Batman gave his lightsaber to Han Solo."  You're spoiling something.  It's not hard.  Just don't talk to that person about the movie.

9. Remember - these (arbitrary) rules are only in effect for four days.  On Monday, let the floodgates open.  If you haven't seen it by then, and were planning to, it might be best to get off all social media until you do see it.

The Force will be with you.  Always.