Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

[TheDustyZebra]

They aren't from the movies. They are cartoon characters.

Yet another thing I haven't seen. I have a feeling I should have just sat this one out.

 

[BAYLOR]

I loved it. Thought it was way better than The Force Awakens (though I now think 'the Franchise Awakens' with a grin, thanks Hanabi!). The sense of threat and real danger was so much better than TFA, the players had way more grit, and yes it was darker. Going to see it again tomorrow.

Wonderfully gritty,dark and suspenseful. Well realized characters. Yes, way better then The Force Awakens which I also enjoyed.

 

[Parson]

@TheDustyZebra ... You don't seriously mean you haven't seen the original trilogy?

 

[TheDustyZebra]

@TheDustyZebra ... You don't seriously mean you haven't seen the original trilogy?

Originals, yes. I saw those in the theater the first time. But those are 4-5-6. I haven't seen 1-2-3, nor whatever the cartoons are, nor 7 yet but I did get it for us for Christmas so I can see it one of these days.

 

[Droflet]

Avoid 1,2 and three, Dusty. For your own sanity.

 

[Phyrebrat]

Pops Drof on the nose.

'Hush'.

pH

 

[Droflet]

Oi, that hurt, you, you, brat.

 

[Bick]

Just saw Rogue One today - I rather liked it. Much, much, much, much better than Episode 7, which was rubbish. This was quite good. I would say it is the third best SW film after episodes 4 and 5.

 

[Dave]

I immediately knew that Tarkin was CGI, but mainly because I knew that Peter Cushing was long dead. It could have been unused film stock, but he was almost a main character, so unlikely. Some of the performance did take me out of my suspension of disbelief, so that is not great, even though it didn't spoil it at all. I hadn't realised that there was actually another actor involved - in effect, he was an actor wearing a disguise - and that that actor is much taller. That probably explains it the oddness. I also thought that Leia looked wooden - almost like a doll.

Two points to note:

1. This fantastic technology and I'm sure it will improve further. The discussion about whether this is a good thing or not probably deserves a new thread. There are all kinds of issues about respect for the dead, opportunities for new actors, retconning old movies and lack of imagination. I'm not against it used in moderation, but I wouldn't want all films to be made using totally CGI actors.
2. I can't be the only person who immediately knew Tarkin was CGI. I respect that the people here saying that they had no idea, are not just being unobservant, so maybe it is a new kind of skill that some people have and others don't. Maybe in the future, audiences will be divided between those that do and don't. If film-makers are going to use technique this more then they should think about that. One should be enjoying the story, not wondering about how it was made. Of course, the technology could improve further to such a point that it becomes completely indistinguishable from the real thing.

 

[Bugg]

I knew Tarkin was CGI immediately, and it threw me out of the experience every time he appeared. I saw it in 3-D - perhaps that made it look worse?

 

[Culhwch]

I knew Tarkin was CGI immediately, and it threw me out of the experience every time he appeared. I saw it in 3-D - perhaps that made it look worse?

I knew immediately, and I didn't see it in 3D. And it definitely took me out of it. I look forward to the day that Dave alludes to when they perfect this tech and re-release this film with a photo-realistic Tarkin and Leia. Though I can live with Leia.

I basically grew up gaming, so I have seen plenty of CGI - good and bad - in my day. May that be the difference in picking it, I wonder?

 

[Parson]

Originals, yes. I saw those in the theater the first time. But those are 4-5-6. I haven't seen 1-2-3, nor whatever the cartoons are, nor 7 yet but I did get it for us for Christmas so I can see it one of these days.

Whew! that a relief. I would watch 1, 2, and 3, but do not expect them to rise to the level of 4,5, and 6, and likely not 7, 8, and 9 either. They are 3 to 4 star films on a 5 star scale.

I basically grew up gaming, so I have seen plenty of CGI - good and bad - in my day. May that be the difference in picking it, I wonder?

This might be the difference. I have done virtually (pun unintended) no gaming in the last 20 years. I hadn't a clue that either of them were CGI. I had to go look it up before I believed it.

 

[Phyrebrat]

I have done virtually (pun unintended) no gaming in the last 20 years. I hadn't a clue that either of them were CGI. I had to go look it up before I believed it.

I've gamed since childhood and whilst I knew PC was long dead it didn't make me feel any such reservations. I mean, I know x-wings and Star Destroyers aren't real, and even seeing my ex wandering around the holy city in a red robe didn't drop me out of the movie experience.

I'm possibly the most naïve or gullible chrons member

pH

 

[Parson]

I want to like that post, but I can't because I don't believe you are either the most naive or gullible chrons member. ---- I might be in the running however.

 

[Bick]

I don't understand any issues with the CGI characters. The film ran right up to Episode IV, so Tarkin had to be in it. The actor's been dead for years, and would be over a 100 even if he was still alive. They had no option, and did the best they could.

I thought Darth Vader's voice was less convincing actually. JEJ is too old now, and his voice has lost some of its crispness. Would have been better to use a voice actor mimicking a younger JEJ I think. Very minor thing though. Overall I thought it was well done. The robot humour was old school Star Wars.

 

[RX-79G]

I don't understand any issues with the CGI characters. The film ran right up to Episode IV, so Tarkin had to be in it. The actor's been dead for years, and would be over a 100 even if he was still alive. They had no option, and did the best they could.

Of course they had a choice - they could cast a different actor, or simply not have the character appear directly or continuously, as was done with Jor El in Superman Returns. Same with Leia.

Instead, Tarkin looks like Golum and Leia looks like a realistic sex doll.

I was amused to note that Peter Cushing starred in the 1977 movie Uncanny, and here he is again in the uncanny valley.

 

[StuartBurchell]

Recasting Tarkin was what I was originally expecting when they announced the plot of this, however, I am happy with CGIing Peter Cushing.

Saying that, I don't want them to do the same for Carrie Fisher in episode nine, she had completed filming for episode eight, so this year's Star Wars film should be her last.

How about CGI Errol Flynn as the next Skywalker in episodes 10 - 12?

 

[RX-79G]

How about CGI Errol Flynn as the next Skywalker in episodes 10 - 12?

This is what I'm afraid of: With Hollywood's love of sequals and remakes because they are more of a sure thing, I don't want to see a bunch of new Bogart, Bruce Lee, Leonard Nemoy or Christopher Reeves movies come out. At some point, it will be relatively easy to have a computer sample old film and sound and recreate anyone, and that would be terrible for the art of filmmaking - especially for acting. The dead eyed, rubber mouthed CGI Tarkin and the ill fitting CGI re-edits of the original trilogy are things we should be up in arms about, not celebrating.

Tarkin was not a necessary character for Rogue One. None of the action even took place on the Death Star. Tarkin was included for fan nostalgia, not to patch some otherwise unworkable plot hole.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Instead, Tarkin looks like Golum and Leia looks like a realistic sex doll.

I'm sorry, you've lost me here. I'm struggling to see Peter Cushing as Golum and absolutely bemused how Leia looked like a sex doll, covered head to foot in white and looking mostly like Princess Leia (although, of course, female, good looking and young) Perhaps I missed something.

 

[Phyrebrat]

The evolution of special effects has been a wonderful journey when you think of Georges Melie's moon, to where we are now.

I wonder if the kids who saw R1 thought Ugh, what horrible Tarkin and Leia FX, how misguided and fanboyish of the producers. Or is it possible they didn't even register the scenes? I was with a group of huge Star Wars fans when I saw it, two of whom are very demanding in their expectations, and we were all blown away by the accomplishment of Tarkin and Leia. Indeed by the film in general (although I did find a lot of the opening pointless).

I can't speak for my friends but I had avoided all media on R1 except the two trailers so when those characters appeared, my reaction was to grin from ear to ear, and appreciate it. There seems to often be a predisposition of malcontent towards the new SW releases, whether sequels or prequels, from many people whose complaints come down to artistic choice as opposed to anything seriously lacking in the movies. It's like there's a wilful cynicism where we're looking for the bad to celebrate rather than the good. I don't know; we all feel what we feel, so maybe these complaints are valid. But as someone who has been involved in the arts all my career, I like to think I'm objective. For example, I know Jar Jar is annoying to people, and perpetuates a racial stereotype as do the Neimoidians; that TFA is a rehash of ANH; that TPM is a little too politic-y for an action movie, etc, but I have enjoyed them all, thoroughly. And if I were to list my order of preference, ESB would be bottom as it is my least favourite film.

One thing that I don't support, or see, is the almost trolling rationale of an implicit besmirching of those who rate the things like Tarkin with disparaging comments like 'fanboy service' and so on.

There seems to me to be a lot of effort in decrying stuff that you don't like, instead of just ignoring it, spending your dollar or pound elsewhere, and moving on.

What a horrible world to live in where the first thing you see is the negative. Aren't books, films and so on meant to be a form of escapism? Are we so jaded that we're afraid to let the current take us?

I'm reminded of the maxim; you can please some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time, etc. But then, I'm also reminded of: If you look hard enough for the bad, you'll surely find it.

pH