I Fill My Free Time Reading Other People’s "Rogue One" Blogs

OK, not really. But I figure this is the most fun a fan can have each time a Star Wars movie is released. You know, reading up on fan theories, hidden eggs in the flick, “connecting the dots” between interviews with cast and crew, seeing the links with past movies, books, etc.

This isn’t so much an overdue review as much as it is a backing of the consensus that has developed around “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”

It’s hard to keep up with the latest theorized and essentially confirmed tie-ins from “Rogue One” (I’ll do my best to spare you clear spoilers): 

*That Supreme Leader Snoke DID cross paths here with Darth Vader.

*There are references to characters and ships from “Star Wars Rebels.” (Well, one character crossover is very clear.)

*The Kyber crystals date back to pre-script treatment for “A New Hope.”

*The Force REALLY HAS been one with the entire rebellion and the entire rebellion has really been one with The Force.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. It all provides hours of thrills for fans whose imaginations are broadened by this expanding Star Wars universe (expanding, finally, on the big screen). 

Star Wars has made me cry three times now: 

*The very end of “Return of the Jedi” when I was age 9 and I truly thought it was - back then - the end of the Star Wars saga. 

*A few tears shed in the end of “Rogue One.” The rebels’ sacrifice is fully realized and it’s a breathtaking, dark affair.

*Jar Jar Binks. Because Jar Jar’s appearance essentially symbolizes nearly all of George Lucas’ miscalculations in the prequels.

“Rogue One” is hope, that this enlarging “Star Wars” cinematic universe will only get even better. It will gives more engrossing characters, incredible worlds, engaging scenes of adventure, romance and drama, and fantastic action set pieces.

Was “Rogue One’s” script sublime? No. By no means did it contain the boredom and clunkiness of Lucas’ writing for the prequels. Nor was it a straight call-back to Episode IV or The Force Awakens. 

And yes, Vox, it is a war movie. Because “Star Wars” is about warfare against the backdrop of glorious, strange worlds. Perhaps unlike past SW flicks, “Rogue One” explores the moral complexity of the Rebel Alliance - that the rebels are practically terrorists who do more than they’re willing to admit for a “greater good.”  

Could there have been stronger character development? Sure. But you could say that for most movies. 

All in all, there’s a tremendous story - the end of which we knew already. But how we get there is thrilling and urgent with a dash of disconsolation thrown in. With its expected - and unexpected connections - to other “Star Wars” iterations, it’s a wonderful addition to the SW cinematic family. 

"The Force Awakens" is not the "Star Wars" film we want, but the one we need

We Star Wars fans have built up in our minds incredible expectations -- variations of what should be said and done in the new Disney-fied Star Wars universe, especially now that the canon of post-Return of the Jedi books won't be a source of material.

I know the new canon disappoints those who wanted to spoil The Force Awakens for many, out of spite for JJ Abrams, Disney and the new vision that we'll be seeing in the new films, TV series, books, etc.

The rest of us wanted to be connected once more to the original trilogy, because it was that special. The original films changed Hollywood and pop culture forever. A grand, epic, classic battle of good vs. evil seen through the eyes of a few memorable characters. A story told with a flourish and with special effects and sets that, at the time, seemed beyond their time.

The problem with the prequel Star Wars trilogy, is that George Lucas overthought things. He has been a good storyteller and had his heart in the right place. But given a tremendous budget and technology that he could have only dreamed of as a younger filmmaker, Lucas crafted a needlessly convoluted subplot, provided clunky dialogue, and at times offered awkward direction. It was hard to connect to a young Anakin Sykwalker, Padme Amidala, a younger Obi Wan Kenob, etc. At times, the prequel films looked gaudy and the story, the outcome of which we already knew, took a backseat.

With all of this, JJ Abrams and Disney had the work cut out for them in restoring in Star Wars fans their faith, and giving new, younger fans a reason to look forward to a universe that finally expands on the big screen.

Is Abrams an excellent filmmaker and storyteller? No. But like Lucas, he respects the cinematic material that inspired him. Abrams grew up on Star Wars and recognizes exactly what made the entire franchise special, with a special inspiration from the original movies. In planning Episode 7, Abrams did well in enlisting help from producer Kathleen Kennedy, infusing a touch of Spielberg, and from Lawrence Kasdan, who wrote The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

I hear complaints that The Force Awakens is no different than Episode 4? Is that entirely a bad thing? Weren't we supposed to have all the feels upon seeing Han Solo, Leia Organa, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2 and Luke Skywalker for the first time in forever? Fans in the theater cheered and applauded with each reveal. When the Millennium Falcon takes flight once more, weren't we supposed to feel nostalgic for when the Falcon soared into our minds and hearts in the original films?

But at the same time, the new younger characters of Rey, Finn, Poe and Kylo Ren -- all based on Han, Leia, Luke and Darth Vader loosely in their own ways -- we're meant to connect to them. I found it much easier to connect with Rey, Finn and Poe, from the start, then the primary characters of the prequels. John Boyega, Daisy Ridley and Oscar Isaac played the roles of a lifetime, and are capitalizing on their opportunity to have their characters become memorable like Luke, Han and Leia.

Rey's strength and tenacity, Finn's reluctant hero, Poe's swagger and confidence, and Kylo's ambition to be more than a Vader wannabe, all seem more tangible, more relatable, than Padme, and younger Anakin and Obi Wan appeared in the prequels. The practical special effects and sets balance the CGI. The dialogue, while not the strongest and award-winning, is easy to grasp. The action is well paced.

But perhaps more importantly, The Force Awakens feels like a complete story while opening the door to that aforementioned wider Star Wars universe. We're invested in seeing who Rey really is. We're curious about how Poe and Finn evolve. We want to know more about this First Order, how exactly Kylo came to be who he is. I want to see more Captain Phasma and BB-8.

The Force Awakens is a joy to watch, not a chore like it is to view Episodes 1 and 2. That's all most of us really wanted. (And the racial and gender diversity only makes sense because, after all, it's a frigging big galaxy out there.) Plus, the Easter eggs embedded in Episode 7, guessing which cameo actors portray Stormtroopers, and all of the actors who supplied voices -- watch the end credits -- that's fun, too.

That's the fun. The fun is back. I look forward to not only the development of Finn, Rey, Poe and Ren's universe, but the spinoffs...the other Star Wars stories that are out there: Young Han Solo, young Boba Fett, how the Rebels stole the plans for the first Death Star, God knows what else is coming. Some folks will complain that under Disney, Star Wars stories really won't take much risks. With different directors and writers contributing, we don't know that for sure.

What I do feel is that finally, it's Star Wars for a wider audience and I for one can't be more excited. I do feel like a kid again.

And I still hope one of you gifts me lightsaber or BB-8 this Christmas/festivus.