I felt like the first 30 was lacking but enjoyed the rest.

It was really good in 3d

Well at least we know why the Rebels didn't have much of a fleet in Ep4.

In RotJ the Emperor stated he had a legion of his best troops on the sentry moon. So where where the Death Troopers?

The Death troopers are so badass... that they killed the cameramen near them. Thus their footage never made it into the film.

Vader scene was fantastic. First time we see a sith as terrifying as they should be. Short of the scene being directed by Tarantino, I think I got as good as we will get for a long time. Though the supposed ending that was changed sounds like it would have been even better for imagery. I wonder about that being in the unrated/extended/whatever DVD.

Ok, since you guys made *cough* me this diehard with Armada. What is Admiral Caddus' flagship with the dong called? Not the class. The actual title.

Also, on a note with the flagship, glad to see the Star Wars and Trek tradition of the bridge being put in the dumbest possible location has been continued.

Just watched it with wife.

It was awesome. It was epic. It was dark. I loved it.

To the haters of CGI Tarkin, Liea. Take a moment to consider what they were trying to acheive. A full CGI recreation of a very distinctive actor that died decades ago. Consider how much better it was than CGI Jeff Bridges in TRON, when they had the actor to scan.

Bravo to them for not pulling the character into an off screen or obscured shot.

And Vader. That scene showed how terrifying he is perfectly. And his sanctuary on Mustafar is just the Emperor fraking with him again.

The movie made FA look like a pile of s**t.

And if you didn't walk out with a smile on your face, you need your head checked. So many great callbacks to so many sources...

I didn't mind the CGI at all. I mean unless you are blind you knew it was there. But it was probably the best way to achieve the look. I doubt you'd find people that look and sound like them. I'm also willing to bet they tried.

I am off work tomorrow and my only plan is whipping out the Pack© and going to town.

To the haters of CGI Tarkin, Liea. Take a moment to consider what they were trying to acheive. A full CGI recreation of a very distinctive actor that died decades ago. Consider how much better it was than CGI Jeff Bridges in TRON, when they had the actor to scan.

Bravo to them for not pulling the character into an off screen or obscured shot.

I think it was a mistake. It was extremely distracting and totally ruined my immersion into those scenes. Every time Tarkin was on-screen I was too busy inadvertently evaluating the CGI to really pay attention to what was happening in the scene. If he had appeared only in a hologram I think I would have been much happier with his inclusion. The CGI just isn't there yet, when it comes to doing a full representation of a persons face.

The point is that blue squadron is gone, red and gold are down on pilots, and the rebel fleet has been savaged.

We know what happens next, but cost was high indeed.

Well, the POINT is that they also achieved all their mission objectives, took down an entire Imperial facility (and we're not talking a minor research station here, this was a massive Imperial facility protected by nigh impregnable shielding and defensive assets) AND two ISDs at the same time. While they lost an unknown number of their own ships as well, I think they traded extremely well.

They didn't want to fight any battles, ever again. The council scene just hammered home how they would have no ability to continue the rebellion, what with no longer being able to concentrate their forces. They were all going to pack up, toss in the towel, either conceede to the Empire or slink away.

I think it's important to note that at this point, the senate is still active. And no doubt certain members of the rebel council believe that by presenting evidence to the senate, that they can have Palpatine removed from power without the need for a civil war. So you can understand why they were a bit less willing to commit to battle, since that totally blows the lid off the Rebellion and puts all these high-level politicians directly in the firing line. I think prior to this battle, the Rebellion would have very much been a clandestine, cloak-and-dagger afair, but afterwards it turns into a full-blown civil war. I like how the movie also exposes some of the political differences between people, with that general dude ordering Cassian to assassinate old-man Erso (Mads Mikklesen! I didn't even know he was in this! Awesome) instead of capturing him.

The book 'Catalyst' points out that the first Death Star was the Republic's "secret battle station" project, although several times in the book it was noted that the it was the Separatists that had started out with the plans for it, and that Dooku was almost certainly constructing his own battle station.

My guess would be - that is where the second Death Star came from. The Republic built the Geonosis Death Star, while the Separatists had started work on the Endor Death Star. Obviously, only one of them ever got completed (downside to 'losing' the war, I suppose) - but Palpatine would have known where both of them were, so could pick up construction on the second if the first was destroyed.

I always figured that, right up until that last moment, Dooku was actually working for Palpatine? So if the Seperatists were starting work on it, it was at the Emperors behest. Or was that what you meant? It's hard to tell on the internet sometimes.

Can we not **** on this amazing movie....please?

Was anyone else on the verge of tears at the point of Princess Lieas shot, because it was already over and it was awesome

The part with Leia on that ship just seemed weird to me. The way the last scene with Jimmy ended it made me think that she was on Alderan or otherwise doing Senator stuff and not taking part in that battle. Maybe a scene between the two would have made it work slightly better. Maybe we'll get some cool deleted scene in the bluray.

Oh, yeah, I loved both Tarkin and Vader. The whole 'choke' joke he made was hilarious and him just chewing through rebels is glorious. Could have used some more shots of the Ghost or even more ships.

Again, we see several ships Light Speed it out of there when the Death Star and Darth Vader's fleet materialises.Secondly, How can this be a Pyrrhic victory considering that the entire Galactic Cvil War hinges on it? How do you quantify a battle as having had too many casualties to have been worth it, considering that without the war would have been lost?

How do you think the Council would evaluate the battle? Just after, while not having seen the entire trilogy.

And a battle they didn't want to fight in the first place.

And when they finally got to see the plans...It was generally considered a fool's errand, no?

If it wasn't for that famboy...

So yeah, still phyrric.

It makes since that we don't see any other Rebel capital ships till the end of 5 (not counting transports) and an attack till 6. I was wondering with so many ships fighting that others just didn't download the plans too. Guess they forgot or were destroyed? Whoooooops?

Loved it. The Donnie Yen scene with the bag over the head had me laughing out loud. My theater was too quiet.

My favorite part of the movie was seeing the flotilla get wrecked by the Devastator.

The CGI was very .. CGI .. but honestly how else are you going to do it? Get that actor from RotS and put in the prosthetic cheek bones? I think that would have been far more distracting than the average CGI. That being said, they could have also just made a Tarkin hologram in the majority of his scenes and then really focused on perfect CGI for just one in-person scene, but whatever. If those are the criticisms people are making I guess that means it's a pretty good. My only issue is it's a bit long and there was an over-saturation of action scenes.. I just started to become numb to all the noises and explosions at one point.

Also c'mon, that Vader scene at the end has to be one of the greatest Star Wars scenes in history.

Was anyone else on the verge of tears at the point of Princess Lieas shot, because it was already over and it was awesome

I swear someone was cutting onions in the theatre. Especially when Jyn and Cassian were sitting on the beach.

-laughs- I was in a small town theatre with a pretty warm atmosphere. The bag bit got a lot of laughs, just like K2's Jedha 'identity' joke (okay, almost everything he said got some reaction).

I guess I was too focused on the plot (and in a small town theater), I didn't notice the CGI one bit. Didn't care. Still don't. The story was too much fun and the cameo appearances just made me smile*. I frankly expected a much lower production budget and way less action than we got. The only seemingly universal disappointment in the theatre was the title screen.

There were a few shots of the Ghost around, and what might have been a lasat (or something ugly-ish and similar for a second or two), but the space battle was surprisingly good, the land battles were nicely scaled for me.

All in all, it was a great movie as far as I'm concerned.

*I was amused for the whole thing. IE: in the the etymological sense 'without pondering'. I didn't actually think about why Tarkin looked like Tarkin until I came out of the theatre.

My vision must be god awful, or this group think would exile me, because I thought the Tarkin and Leia face swaps were FANTASTIC. I was legit mind blown. 10/10 for the whole movie as well. Best Star Wars ever!

If you're so fond of the word, use it correctly.

A Pyrrhic victory is one that accomplishes nothing and leaves you too exhausted to continue.

Scarif was the opposite of a pyrrhic victory; the Rebels took heavy losses but won the day.

I did think Leia's smile at the end was a little much considering she had just seen so many people sacrificed for the plans though.

Yeah, I agree. It was a little over the top actually. As if they really, really, really, REALLY needed to underscore the point. And add exclamation points. And bold type.

I mean, even the badguys all died. And the stormtroopers. And the rebel troopers. And all the pilots. Too much. Meh.

Anyway. Anyone recognize this?

(my emphasis)

"It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire."

This doesn't fit with Rogue One at all.

Yes, they got the plans...barely.

But their fleet was decimated, their best troops and pilots died (now we know why Porkins got to fly an X-wing), and only Jar Jar made it out alive.

If that's a victory, it was a Pyrrhic one.

Don't get me wrong, I liked the film (except the HORRIBLE CGI Tarkin/Leia), but I think they took it a step too far, trying to be all original and whatnot.

Oh, and the PA system on Yavin calling for General Sendula was a good catch

Yeah, I agree. It was a little over the top actually. As if they really, really, really, REALLY needed to underscore the point. And add exclamation points. And bold type.

I mean, even the badguys all died. And the stormtroopers. And the rebel troopers. And all the pilots. Too much. Meh.

Anyway. Anyone recognize this?

(my emphasis)

"It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire."

This doesn't fit with Rogue One at all.

Yes, they got the plans...barely.

But their fleet was decimated, their best troops and pilots died (now we know why Porkins got to fly an X-wing), and only Jar Jar made it out alive.

If that's a victory, it was a Pyrrhic one.

Don't get me wrong, I liked the film (except the HORRIBLE CGI Tarkin/Leia), but I think they took it a step too far, trying to be all original and whatnot.

They won, because they accomplished their objective. At a high cost....

If that's a victory, it was a Pyrrhic one.

So a 6-5 then?

To get away from this debate on the degree of victory/loss:

Did anyone else happen to catch a bit of background calling during one of the Rebel base scenes. There was a call for a 'General Syndulla' over the PA system. I thought that was a nice touch. I just wonder if it was Hera or Cham.

In my view, this is the second best star wars movie out there, right beneath a new Hope. It went more places and accomplished more things than Empire Strikes Back did, as Empire was really propelling on things set up in ANH and has anticipation for the resolution in Jedi. As a stand-alone installment (next to ANH, Phantom Menace, and Force Awakens for the sequel trillogy) this competes with the one that started it all.

What I appreciated the most I think was the attention to detail. ISD-Is were faithfully recreated in many major details, though they did update the gun turrets some. Vader's red eye lenses were present and I think he did have the inner cloak that only appears in ANH.

I need to find the time to go again, because I think it's a better ride than Ep 7 actually.

If you're so fond of the word, use it correctly.

A Pyrrhic victory is one that accomplishes nothing and leaves you too exhausted to continue.

Scarif was the opposite of a pyrrhic victory; the Rebels took heavy losses but won the day.

I did think Leia's smile at the end was a little much considering she had just seen so many people sacrificed for the plans though.

Yeah, I agree. It was a little over the top actually. As if they really, really, really, REALLY needed to underscore the point. And add exclamation points. And bold type.

I mean, even the badguys all died. And the stormtroopers. And the rebel troopers. And all the pilots. Too much. Meh.

Anyway. Anyone recognize this?

(my emphasis)

"It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire."

This doesn't fit with Rogue One at all.

Yes, they got the plans...barely.

But their fleet was decimated, their best troops and pilots died (now we know why Porkins got to fly an X-wing), and only Jar Jar made it out alive.

If that's a victory, it was a Pyrrhic one.

Don't get me wrong, I liked the film (except the HORRIBLE CGI Tarkin/Leia), but I think they took it a step too far, trying to be all original and whatnot.

They achieved their objective, true.

But the cost wasn't just high, it was catastrophic.

They were forced into the open, to confront the empire directly (that was really Dad's thing). That cost them their precious fleet and a good number of their fighter pilots.

Now the cat is out of the bag, and Vader is hot on Leia's tail. All that remains is to track down the hidden rebel base and wipe out the remaining rebels.

And that's exactly what happens.

The plans are essentially useless, as their target is a miniscule ray shielded exhaust port. They need to hit out with torpedoes. It simply can't be done.

Except for force fanboy Luke.

So from a certain viewpoint the victory is very much phyrric.

But rebellions are built on hope. And they will take one chance, and the next, until they've won - or are out of chances.

To get away from this debate on the degree of victory/loss:

Did anyone else happen to catch a bit of background calling during one of the Rebel base scenes. There was a call for a 'General Syndulla' over the PA system. I thought that was a nice touch. I just wonder if it was Hera or Cham.

I bet they left it ambiguous on purpose.

I'd go for Hera. Her father is very Ryloth focused.

And Ghost was parked on the Yavin pad.

To get away from this debate on the degree of victory/loss:

Did anyone else happen to catch a bit of background calling during one of the Rebel base scenes. There was a call for a 'General Syndulla' over the PA system. I thought that was a nice touch. I just wonder if it was Hera or Cham.

I did like the call for General Syndulla, and while I don't know if we'll get anything more from that scene, the VCX they showed before that (if I recall it was before that when they just arrived on base) looked like the front of the Ghost rather than just a sterile transport.