Today I took my daughter to see Rogue One, a Star Wars Story. I differ only slightly from Alex Jones’s stellar recommendation. The best in decades? I’m not sure. It was very good though it was not your typical Star Wars fare. Then again, it wasn’t typical, modern Disney either. And that was good.
I read some hype that it was an over-the-top PC flick, anti-white even. I read A LOT of stuff though. That’s not at all what I saw. The cast was rather “diverse”. However, there was no discernible agenda of any kind – other than to get the schematics for the Death Star.
Jones is correct in that, with this movie, they have finally mastered the CGI stuff. Amazing without any cartoon detraction. Then there was the digital resurrection of old, even dead characters. If you’re young or never saw the original, then you probably could not pick them out. I did but the technology is scarily convincing.
I wish there had been more Darth Vader kicking butt. He showed up once in the middle (with James Earl Jones showing [sounding] his age). And then he stole the final few minutes with some pure Sith evil. I loved it but it all seemed too easy for him (it was).
They did a great job at the end teeing up for the opening of the original, now called “A New Hope, Episode IV”.
Overall, I liked it. All of it. Very well done. The PC scare-mongering was utterly, laughably unfounded. Everything worked – though differently than we’re used to in that Galaxy. Bravo, Disney.
Then, I got home and found out that Carrie Fisher died shortly before my movie had even started.
20th Century Fox / Lucas / Disney / The Rebellion.
This is my first experience with a childhood crush passing on. And I do not like it.
Every boy and adolescent male (most mature men, I would imagine too) had the hots for the young and daring Princess Leia in 1977. Or they did at least by 1980. If you weren’t a Fisher fan in 1983 (yes, Jabba’s party barge), then there was something seriously wrong with you.
Fisher starred in last year’s Episode VII and will appear in next year’s VIII. She helps provide continuity across the series and the ages.
Young, digital Carrie appears in Rogue One. It’s set immediately before the opening scene of the original. A Rebel officer asks her what’s in the transmission their little ship has received, the information Darth Vader is murderously interested in arresting. She answers that it brings “hope”. That’s the ending of Rogue One.
I hope Fisher’s ending was peaceful. I hope she has eternal rest and happy salvation. I hope to meet her someday (where and when I suppose I’ll have to wait in line to reveal my crush). I hope and I know her memory will now live on virtually forever or, at least as long as the movies endure. Forever the junior Senator from Alderaan is Star Wars royalty.
Goodbye, Princess. Goodbye, Carrie Fisher.
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