From the movie re-watched in headphones, to the bonus disc features and on to Battlefront multiplayer... and away with Zen Pinball on mobile... Just some ways to get a solid hit from Rogue One.
A Better Appreciation
It's easy to feel underwhelmed initially by some movies on first viewing, but then you accept them for what they are and enjoy them much more on second or further viewings. Happily, it was the case for me here.
Dark times
The story contains solid themes of finally taking on 'the cause' of the rebellion (to be echoed by Han Solo later), plus the emotional damage to families being pulled into the Empire's reign, and some ruthless ambition in the Empire's commanders blowing up in their faces (always nice to see, if a little too drawn out here). But there is ruthlessness on both sides and for a moment we enter a grey area, where Cassian Andor of the Alliance almost 'becomes a storm trooper' in attempting to follow orders to assassinate the Death Star designer (Jyn's father).
Ultimately we get to see how Jyn Erso in her short life rises to her destiny (another nice Star Warsy theme) but eventually sacrifices everything for this big cause. It's a harsh lesson in realising what it really means to be a rebel in this universe.
Cassian Andor: "Suddenly the rebellion is real for you."
Death Star Plans
"Many Bothan spies died to bring us this information."
But this quote is from 'Return of the Jedi', about the second Death Star, which is why (luckily) we get no Bothan aliens popping up (unless this is reserved a Rogue Two?!) But it was still maybe the inspiration for the case for this 'rogue' star wars movie; one that is well realised and fully justified here.
I'm very impressed actually with Rogue One. They managed to create this signature Star Wars episode to fill in some space between the prequels and the originals. The look and feel is all in keeping with this time frame, as well as including some interesting new elements in weapons, robots, spaceships and locations. I think it will age well.
The characters have a unique strength (and enough humour) - fulfilled by all the actors - thrown together yet united and the ending is powerfully dramatic to tie in to the beginning of 'A New Hope', without being too cheesy. There are even some intriguing hints at potential backstories, of the struggle of the rebels under Saw Gerrera (a little underused) on Jedha, and the blind, semi-Jedi monk who is one of the Guardians of the Whills.
Criticism is maybe that it could all have been a little shorter, with touches of more editing or clever direction to rely less on facial expressions, particularly of the heroine, including at the final confrontation scenes. Something, perhaps, to lessen the exhaustion of the audience. It's like we got the Extended Cut, before we got the fast-paced (see Empire Strikes Back) version.
Still, a good job all round, and here's hoping the upcoming Solo can do the same, with some of this extra, even more relevant flare or panache. But what themes can truly work for Han Solo, now we know such a big part of his late history? Stay tuned... !
The Experience Extended: 'Battle of Scarif'
When it had finished, I just had to fire up Battlefront on PS4 and extend the experience in multiplayer. I actually found out I hadn't downloaded the (free) expansion 'Battle of Scarif'.
Zen Pinball Rogue One table
Yes, I had to move on to this particular table in the ongoing Star Wars Zen Pinball tables (some of the best distractions on any mobile device). The Last Jedi table is recently out, by the way, but that's another story. This Rogue One table is pretty good, and allows you to re-live the film moments via this uniquely addictive art-form, the beautifully simple and yet complex task of ball flipping.
What should a good Pinball table provide? (I think 'Aliens' is one of the best tables I've played that takes you back to the excitement of the James Cameron classic.) In any order, the top tables (such as the Empire Strikes Back one) should:
- illustrate and highlight juicy themes of the movie
- re-live great scenes and moments from it
- have nice design+layout and unlock features that relate to the defining moments
- generate an excitement to progress deeper into the table
- be fun, satisfying and not too frustrating
- have a surprising mini-mode
- enable you to discover things about the movie you'd not appreciated (rare).
Here's a good demo, so you can get an idea of the table (skip ahead to save time). Also available for PS4, PC etc.
Music and more
Don't forget to hear my Star Wars-inspired driving tack: The Funk Force Awakens...
Stay Tuned for my upcoming brief thoughts on The Last Jedi (not seen the darn film yet, not read anything about it, just waiting for the Blu-ray to arrive!)
Rebel Crypto-Alliance...
... and when the markets are down, are we not all rogue rebels bound together by crypto, challenging the centralised might of the old and first orders? Keep calm, and May the Force Be With You!
Got any rogue comments about Rogue One?