The last time I loved a Star Wars movie as much as I loved Rogue One, it was 1977.

That's a full-sized TIE Fighter!
That’s a full-sized TIE Fighter!

I wanted to take today off from the blog, but that would be counter to the goals I set out in Daily December, so here I am.

Anne and I went to the world premiere of Rogue One last night, because we apparently live in a world where we get invited to the world premiere of a Star Wars movie, which I still can’t believe actually happened.

I wanted to experience a Star Wars movie the way I did when I was a kid, so I deliberately avoided everything about this movie. All I knew was that it was a stand alone story that involved the plans for the Death Star that were such an important part of Star Wars. I didn’t even know that one of my friends was in the freaking thing!

I’m not going to discuss the film in depth, because that would be cheating, so I’m just going to repeat the title of this post, which is what I said on Twitter last night: The last time I loved a Star Wars movie as much as I loved , it was 1977.

Yes, I know that Empire came out in 1980. I chose my words carefully, and deliberately.

I’ll say a little more on the other side of the jump, so those of you who want to avoid hearing a little more until you’ve seen the movie can do that.

I didn’t expect to like Force Awakens as much as I did. In fact, after the prequels (which I hated so much I wanted to Men In Black my memory of the one and a half that I saw), I felt like maybe Star Wars had moved on from something I was going to love and want in my life. And, honestly, that was okay. I’ll always have my original trilogy, my despecialized editions, and the memories of playing with Star Wars figures, playing Star Wars games, building Star Wars LEGO, and all of that stuff that was such an important part of my childhood.

So I didn’t even try to see Force Awakens until it had been in theaters for like 8 or 9 weeks. I also went into it knowing as little as I could, and I ended up really liking it. I’d probably give it 4 out of 5 lightsabers, and I recall thinking that it was what I’d hoped the prequels would have been.

I give you that background so this comes in context: I give Rogue One 5 out of 5 lightsabers, and a 99%. It would get 100% if not for a single (very small) thing that I understand was put into the film on a reshoot. I don’t need to see Force Awakens again, but I will go see Rogue One as many times as I can before it is out of theaters, and the day I can buy it to add to my collection, I’ll be in line to make that happen.

I’m going to quote Hardwick’s Instagram from last night:

Rogue One is a STUNNING film. I cannot recommend it enough. It’s dark, beautiful and satisfying. If you didn’t know Star Wars you’d love it, and knowing it makes it that much better. The references to things you recognize aren’t just member berries, they are justified and strengthen the story. Gareth Edwards has created an absolute gem in the Star Wars universe that will blow your brain out of your head. By the time the end credits hit, the theater was SCREAMING with unbridled excitement. See it as soon as you can before anything gets spoiled!!!

The most important part of that, I think, is “if you didn’t know Star Wars you’d love it, and knowing it makes it that much better.”

I want to add a couple thoughts to Chris’s: Rogue One is not just a great Star Wars movie, it’s a great movie. If Star Wars were being made for the first time, right now, in 2016, Rogue One is the movie they would make. It isn’t just that Gareth Edwards put together an amazing cast and shot this film in exactly the right way. The visual effects team will win every award possible, and they will deserve it. There are things done in this movie with visual effects that fundamentally change the rules of filmmaking. The script is brilliant. Gary Witta’s story is relatable on so many different levels, and it is beautifully told.

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38 thoughts on “The last time I loved a Star Wars movie as much as I loved Rogue One, it was 1977.”

  1. Did you see Kevin Smith and Joss Whedon at the premiere? I nerded out so incredibly.

    Also the was amazing loved K2SO as a different kind of droid, in the mold of HK47 from knights of the Old Republic sort of.

  3. Thanks for sharing! I was hoping you would talk about your viewing on your blog… I’m soooo looking forward to the movie! I’m also glad you got an invite to the premier- that is soooo cool! Wil, you and I don’t really agree politically. I respect your opinions and read you because you speak from your heart. I love what you have created on the internet and thankful you speak about you personal battle with your brain very publicly. It helps me understand what’s going on with members of my family and friends that fight that battle. I was born in 1970 and love all things Star Wars… If the movie is a 99 of 100 for you- my worry of a bad Rogue One is no more!

  4. I am excite. Yes, so much so that I couldn’t type the D. Even more so with your thoughts. I am not seeing until Saturday, so I guess I will be taking an interwebs break. Ha!

  8. The first Star Wars came out during my second year in the US Navy. Only one “large screen” theater in San Diego was showing it. I paid to see it 14 times at that theater. Then I bought the VHS, then the DVD (a few times), then the BluRay (twice).

    No other movie in my life has had as many views. And I have lots of other favorite movies.

    Despite recently turning 60, and despite not yet having seen Rogue One, I think I’m about to squee like a little girl.

    Squeeeeeeeee!

  9. Thank you kindly for the run-down. I was already excited, I am hoping I will finally be getting the prequel I wanted but didn’t get. Now with these comments I’m, if possible, even more excited to see it!!

  10. Thanks for the heads up Wil.

    I was going to read some reviews, but yours, spoiler-free, will suffice (although I may still read UK DoG’s, those are always good too). And I will try to stay away from trailers and other preview.

    Already have my tickets for me and my daughter (she’s 9). Can’t wait!

    Thanks again.

  11. You have completely wiped away any fear I may have had about Rogue One. Glad to see you so happy and I can’t wait to see it!

    2. Personally, I wouldn’t see any movie in an “IMAX” theater unless a substantial portion was shot in IMAX. Very few seats provide ideal viewing in an “IMAX” theater (very few IMAX-branded theaters even offer genuine IMAX screens). But here’s the best rule of thumb: watch the movie the way it was displayed during its world premieres (and especially how it was shown to critics). If they showed it to critics in 2-D, don’t get suckered into 3-D. If they showed it to the world premiere audiences in regular format, don’t pay extra for IMAX. The way it’s shown at those events is the way the filmmaker/studio prefers it to be shown, the ideal presentation. I just saw R1 last night at Lincoln Square in NYC: 2-D, no IMAX. (And Lincoln Square actually has a genuine IMAX screen, not just IMAX-branded.) So that’s the way I think Edwards would prefer you see it as well. Then, as JSc suggests, you can always go see it again in another format 🙂

      1. The reason I’m seeing it in IMAX is that our theater offers reserved seating for the IMAX showings. Last year I had friend wait in line for 12 hours to get a decent seat in a regular non-IMAX theater. I walked up about 30 minutes before our movie and visited with them while they were in line for a later showing than mine. I told them I had reserved seating and they all just sort of stared at me in disbelief. Yes… no lines!

        For that extra $6… it saved me 12 hours waiting in line and I had one of the best seats in the house! I’m doing RO the same way. 🙂

  15. “It would get 100% if not for a single (very small) thing that I understand was put into the film on a reshoot. ” Clearly this is the information I’m curious about. Without spoiling can you just tell us a little more about this shot? Why do you think it was added? What scene kept this movie from being perfect. I’m so curious now!

  18. I’m glad it was good, I hope I will get to see it in the theater. We got 10 inches of snow yesterday so we played with the kids outside and then settled in for another annoying episode of the walking dead. Snow day today. Maybe tomorrow too. Let’s hope they clean the roads before I get cabin fever from being home alone with all 3 littles.

  19. Wil, it was great talking to you and I apologize for taking you away from Anne and friends. I really appreciate your time. You sir are a real gentleman!

    1. I think your thoughts on the movie have made me more excited for it than the trailers. I, too, am a prequel hater. In my opinion, the last really great SW movie was ROTJ. TFA was just Ok to me… I liked the first half but not so much the second half. RO looks to restore the greatness of SW that many of us have waited half a lifetime to experience again!

  20. Hello Will Wheaton

    I am a fan of you and your work from Star Trek TNG to even Toy Soldiers. I love reading your blog entries which have a nice insight of your views and of the business in general. I loved reading that you had a great time watching Rogue One but i just couldn ‘t finish your blog entry. Time and Time again in your videos and writings you mention your deep hatred for the Prequels and i get that. I for one love all the Star Wars movies and cartoons but i can see why people such as yourself and other fans are not into the Prequels like the OT or ST. I must say though please let this go. Is it really necessary to point out how much you hate the Prequels while playing a Star Wars board game on YouTube or when you write a really entertaining article? I know playing a once reviled character like Wesley Crusher gives you an insight on how much a fanbase can care about their franchise and how those same fans can somehow concentrate on just 1 character and come to the conclusion that it all sucks but i really do think you have said everything you can possibly say on this subject and it’s time to move on. Not just about the prequels but about the Special Editions as well. I know you will probably not read this or care about my opinion but i am fan of not just the Prequels but of Wesley Crusher too. I have defended Wesley Crusher just as much as the Prequels and will continue to do so. Keep up the great work and good luck to you.

  21. I had to google “member berry” because I’d never hear that before. I’m so out of touch apparently.

  22. Practical query: is there a kicker or anything in the credits one should wait for? Or is that a spoiler? Thanks for posting passionately about pop culture AND politics.

      1. Thanks WABBIT89! I love end credit music too, but sometimes the folks you’re with are antsy and I love having the excuse of a kicker to stay. And I noticed one hateful comment was deleted. Wil, I’m gay but I’ve no doubt you’ve heard for more gay slurs directed at you (ironically) than I ever will. So thanks also for dealing with all that with grace and dignity.

  25. I am excited for this movie. I wish i had done what I had done for episode 7, which was avoid all trailers or reviews. But I am ready for a great time tomorrow night either way.

  26. I was impressed, and I’m even more pleased that you are. I would also echo the request for which scene. A lot of times you can say something that’s clear and indicative without spoiling. For instance, I really liked Red Leader and Gold Leader, despite the lack of screen time or lines.

  29. So, without getting into spoilers – Wil, as an actor and an artist, I am very interested in hearing your thoughts about the appearance of That Character in the film. I don’t know if any film has done anything quite like that, to quite a degree as it happens in this film. I think it’s really interesting, and a potential game changer in filmmaking, and possibly also acting. I’m not expecting a response here, and I think there’s enough to talk about here to make it worth a blog post in a few weeks after more people have seen the film.

  30. I managed to avoid all reviews, trailers, spoilers, completely – except for your post. Of course it stuck in my brain and I spent the whole movie wondering which was the small part that Wil Wheaton didn’t like. And I still don’t know! There was one thing that sorta jarred me, having to do with a droid or two. But I couldn’t think of anything else.

    What was it??????

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