Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Review

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Last Saturday I saw Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in theaters and loved it.  Possibly one of the best movies in the series.  Everyone who's seen A New Hope knows how this story ends but this movie is very much about the journey and not the destination, which is literally moments before the beginning of Episode 4.  Here is a quick list of things I liked about the movie.  Oh, and...

Just in case

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• The cast of characters!  For a movie that would work as the prologue of a George R.R. Martin novel but where you never see most of these characters again, the cast is great.  
• Donnie Yen as Chirrut Imwe is great as a supporting character and was probably my favorite of the bunch.  
• .Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso is a wonderful, strong character and I was rooting for her to win at several stages of the journey.  
• Alan Tudyk of Firefly fame was perfect as K2SO, the sarcastic reprogrammed Imperial Intelligence Droid, and many of the movies best beats of humor came from him.  
• Jiang Wen redeemed his Star Wars Celebration gaff by being a lovable jerk most of the movie as Baze Malbus, Imwe's 'guardian' with a big blaster repeater cannon (I love men with big guns).  
• Diego Luna plays the anti-hero Cassian Andor, who comes across cold at first and makes a Solo style turn to true good guy (and gets the girl... for like five minutes).  
• Ben Mendelsohn plays a great villain as Director Orsen Krennic, the man behind the Death Star's completion.  You learn how much of a bad apple he is right away.
• Mads Mikkelsen plays a likable character for once as Jyn's dad, Galen Erso, the brains behind the Death Star and the reason Star Wars fans can finally stop arguing about why the Death Star was designed with such a huge and obvious flaw!  REVENGE!
• Darth Vader.  He's in the movie for all of five minutes and almost steals the show.  Also, One Sith Lord vs any number of rebel soldiers is not a fair fight, just saying.  It's good to see Papa Skywalker actually being the badass we know he is for once.
• Set course for Nostalgia, Warp Factor 10 (I know, wrong sci-fi universe.  Moving on)  So many little gems!  R2-D2 and C-3PO make cameos at Yavin Base.  There are several Clone Wars nods including Saw Gerrera (played by Forrest Whitaker).  Carrie Fisher (May the Force be with her and her mother) even gets an appearance as Young Leia.  So good.  I don't care if they're cheap ways to win over fans, I love nostalgia.
• This was a War Movie.  Saving Private Ryan and Star Wars: A New Hope had a baby named Rogue One.  And there are no Jedi to save the day, no Force Users making lucky shots when time expires, and no cocky freighter captains to shot down pursuing TIE fighters.  Just normal soldiers fighting and dying.
• The Death Star is a nuke.  Yes, it can blow up planets at full power, but dialed down to 1 and it's a tactical nuclear weapon, to be brief.  Need a city wasted, not a whole planet?  Boom!  We saw in Return of the Jedi that it can be dialed back to take out capital ships, but seeing that unleashed on a planet?  Damn.

And some things I wasn't sold on.

• Watching the trailers again after seeing the movie, and it's clear someone made a different movie somewhere between April and December.  Several moments that seemed important or exciting from trailers were either cut or changed.  I'd love to see the original final cut of this movie before someone decided to reshoot most of it.  It was probably darker and grittier, and if it involved more Vader, I want it more.  Maybe the Blu-Ray special features?
• The beginning is choppy and jumpy.  They're trying to set up who Jyn is and get her to the Rebels, but it was not smooth.  Movie gets better past the 15 minute mark.
• One and Done.  All the main cast are not coming back.  Why?  Well, firstly SPOILERS!
  
  SPOILERS!
  
  SPOILERS!
  
  Okay, you've been warned.  They all die.  Yup.  No Rogue Two.  No popping up in other Anthology movies.  They died heroes.  The Force is with them, and they are with the Force.  So bummer, but hey, it was fun.

If you haven't seen it yet and got this far, well, sorry to spoil it for you, but go see it anyway!  It was very good and I loved watching it.  Definitely worthy of the Star Wars sage.  A- in my book.

The Mystery of the Snakes and the Upside-Down Ziggurat: Part 1

Or, The Case of the Walking Corpse

A Short Story from my D&D Bachelor Party, in Parts

Daggers and Stew Tavern

It was a normal day at Daggers and Stew, a quirky tavern on the outskirts of Feyguard.  As a cold wind blew down from the north, the customers within were kept warm while enjoying food and drink.  A gold-scaled Dragonborn sat at one table eating the lion share of a steaming meat pie, flanked by two halfling lasses, one a cleric dressed in a sailor's coat, the other a wizard in a cozy green robe.  Elsewhere a tiefling bearing the habit of an Oghman lore-hunter sat enjoying a warm cup of tea, her tail gently leafing through the pages of a new book.  Across the room, a dwarven battle mistress sat alongside a shady fellow, leaning back in his chair while gently relieving a neighboring patron of a few coppers.  Meanwhile, a half-elf ascetic begged for coin outside the door dressed in a robe and loincloth.  It was a normal day until Cheldic walked in.

The Ascetic saw him first, wandering down the path toward the tavern with a large sack on his back, though he thought little of Cheldic.  Rolen was more concerned with his ritual begging, despite being quite capable of paying for the bowl of rice he was longing for.  After all, self-deprivation was the path to enlightenment.  He simply watched Cheldic waddle past, struggling under his load.

The door of Daggers and Stew opened with a creak, drawing the attention of everyone within.  Shiff the Dragonborn Avenger, Daisy the Green (Wizard), Anagik the Storm Herald, Temerity the teifling lore-hunter, Vara the Strong, and Jondar the Swift all turned to see the human take a deep breath, stand up straight, reveal the numerous wounds and blood stains, open his mouth, and fall flat on his face, spilling the contents of his sack across the the tavern's floor.

Like buzzards descending upon a discarded carcass, everyone in the tavern rushed to scattered items on the floor.  The Dragonborn dragged the body to the side, taking with it a shabby looking sword.  The hobbit-wizard grabbed a bizarre pair of goggles and a scroll.  The teifling made off with a wand and another sword.

Everyone grabbed something before the Daggers, the barkeep, sent for a guard.  "That's enough," Daggers said, pulling people off the pile (as well as a handful of coins).  "Back to your seats until the guards arrive!"  He turned to return to the bar, when he looked and stooped down, coming up with a book.  "Hmm, what's this.  A book?"  He started flipping through it, before shrugging and holding it up.  "Any of you adventurers interested?  Otherwise, I'm giving it to the guards."

Temerity spoke up.  "A book?  I'll take a look."  Her tail swooshing behind her, the teifling dove into the book with zeal.

"What's it say?" Daisy said, tugging gently on Temerity's robe.  "Any spells?"

Outside, the monk Rolen was listening to the commotion happening inside, while Shiff was gingerly holding the sword he found, wondering who travels the world with a weapon so flimsy and uncomfortable to wield.

Temerity and Daisy sat quietly for several minutes, Daisy looking like she cast enlarge on her eyes from wearing the strange goggles she looted.  "I can see everything!" she announced, goofily looking at the book and trying to turn pages before Temerity was done reading them.  "Oh, sorry!" she'd say, then impatiently wait.  Daisy eventually took the goggles off, rubbing her temples.  "Wow, those give me a headache."

"Me too," Temerity said, but then she smiled at Daisy, and the two continued studying the tome.

"Anything interesting?" Anagik came over to ask, stepping around two patrons wrestling over a gold ring, each winking in and out of sight as they tried to put it on.

"It's a journal of a-," Temerity squinted at the book, then showed it to Daisy who held up one lens of the goggles shouted, "Cheldric!"  "Yes, Cheldric.  Seems he heard of some town overflowing with treasure and went to investigate.  I think he was waiting for someone when he decided to go alone."

"Overflowing with treasure, you say?"  The human Jondar was all ears.

"He doesn't go into it much further," Temerity said, "but instead starts talking about the town itself.  It seems to be the home of some sort of apocalypse cult."

This caught the Dragonborn's interest.  His life as a sworn warrior of Tempus made him wary of groups devoted to potential destruction, and he would bring divine wrath to any endangering the innocent.  "What is this cult up to?"

"Well, the apocalypse," Temerity repeated, tail twitching in Shiff's direction.  "But there isn't much more about what they do, though he does say something about people just showing up there.  This man seemed more interested in treasure.  Though seeing how he's dead-"  Temerity left the rest unsaid.

Outside, the monk Rolen began gathering up his few things.

"Looks like poison!" Anagik said, stooping beside the body, poking at the corpse's wounds.  "Arrows, most likely, and one dagger wound."

"Well, that settles it!"  Shiff said, thrusting the loose blade of the shabby sword into the floor with a mild yelp.  Composing himself, and looking at the small cut now on his hand, he continued.  "Regardless of this man's motivation, he must be avenged.  Poison is the weapon of cowards and cutthroats."

"You want to go there?" Daisy looked up at her large, draconian companion.

"Do we even know where it is?"  The dwarven lass Vara stepped forward.

Temerity and Daisy glanced at each other.  With a sigh, the little wizard put the goggles over her eyes and joined the teifling in examing the book once again to glean their destination from whatever clues the journal contained.

By now the rest of the bar's patrons had returned to their pre-looting activities, albeit slightly richer.

"Not far!" blurted Daisy, turning her bug-eyed visage from the journal.

"Seems to be about a days travel north," Temerity clarified.

"Interesting," Shiff said, nodding.  "We should leave at once and camp once within a few hours of this place.  Would prevent us from attracting too much attention before we have had a chance to rest."

"Good plan," Vara said.  "Would also allow us a chance to scout the area."

"Treasure!  Adventure!  Excitement!"  Jondar clapped Vara on the shoulder, joining the group gathering around the table.  "Where do I sign?"

Rolen also approached, much to everyone's amazement.  As Jondar gave the nearly naked man a concerned look, the monk spoke.  "I feel as if I must go with you.  These occurrences intrigue me."

"You coming, sis?" Daisy asked Anagik.  She still had the goggles on, and started staring at her sister's prayer wheel.  "Oh.... pretty..."

"Sure, why not?" she said, smiling.  "The Storm never lingers in one place too long anyway, and this tavern has gotten boring."

Temerity snapped the book closed, snapping Daisy out of her daze.  "Better get going then.  Can't miss a chance to make a record on the rituals of a cult."

With that, the group paid their tabs and prepared to go, but first, they had to deal with what waited for them outside the tavern.

The Northern Wilds of Elifor

Tune in next time for the continuation of this story that I haven't had enough time to write as one post!

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So it's been two weeks since our friends hosted a bachelor/bachelorette party for my then fiance and I, and in the meantime we've gotten married!  Meant to get this out with a week of the party but alas, such was not to be.  So here is part one!  The action will start next time!  Looking forward to writing it!  Hope you enjoy reading it!

Movie Review: Doctor Strange & Fantastic Beasts; Blog Update

In case you needed one...

Cause, you know, movie reviews.

Doctor Strange Review

• Benedict Cumberbatch is perfect as the cocky, self-important master surgeon turned world saving sorcerer.  But he's perfect as anything so that's no surprise.
• Mads Mikkelsen has been busy lately.  As the disillusioned former apprentice of the Sorcerer Supreme, Kaecilius, he gives a good performance considering the minor role the character played in the comics.
• Tilda Swinton works as the Ancient One!  In the comics, the Sorcerer Supreme is your generic, cliche Chinese/Asian Mystic with the fu-manchu mustache.  While one might consider it a white-wash using an English woman to play the role of a mystic in Tibet/Nepal, the fact they address her origin in the movie placates me.  Besides, her performance is great.  You will leave the theatre wanting more.
• The movie's central theme of Time is so well done it did not become obvious to me until after I thought about it for a while (and watched this Youtube video).  Honestly, it was so obvious in retrospect that I was embarrassed it took me that long to figure out.  Especially considering what the Eye of Agamotto does and contains.
• Baron Mordo in the house!  The adaptation of one of Strange's chief villains into an ally is great considering we saw his turn coming.  But how and why works so well that you are ready for Strange to square off with him in the inevitable sequels, especially once Strange becomes Sorcerer Supreme.
• The movie surprised me with its climax.  I expected some magical slugfest with Kaecilius (which you get) but instead its a test of sheer will between a mortal and a cosmic deity trapped in a time loop.  All I have to say is, "How does Strange remember what happens after the loop resets each time?"  Props to the Doctor for diagnosing Dormammu's ills.
• By the way, the movie has a strong 'time heals all wounds' theme beside the much stronger theme of time itself.  Pay attention to Strange's watch.  If you don't get it by the end, watch that video I linked.
• Overall a good movie, clearly linked to the others.  Thor makes a guest appearance to set up Thor: Ragnarok during the credits.  Also, the Infinity Stone name drop at the end connects it squarely to the Avengers: Infinity War movie(s) as well.  Expect to see Cumberbatch slinging spells alongside Chris Evans slinging shield at some point.  

Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them Review

• More Harry Potter related movies?  Shut up and take my money!  (Wish I had the Eye of Agamotto so I could watch it a few times...)
• Before I looked up their names, I enjoyed all the performances despite not knowing any of the cast besides Colin Farrell (I didn't realize Ezra Miller was in the movie until the credits).  Johnny Depp, too, though he's part of the plot twist at the end.
• Eddie Redmayne is adorable as Newt Scamander.  I loved the conservationist trying desperately to preserve creatures that early 20th Century wizards disregarded and wanted to destroy.  
• The backdrop of pre-Depression era US alongside the spectre of Grindelwald spreading terror in Europe is the real meat of the movie.  While the beasts stole the show for the second act, the third act connected Newt's story to the larger conflict presented by Grindelwald which will undoubtedly be the focus of the series, since Fantastic Beasts is reportedly getting five sequels.  How and if Newt will remain a part of the story is up in the air, but this all excites me.  Though I can't help but feel like Rowling is stretching out a prequel for Harry Potter much like Peter Jackson/Warner Brothers stretched out The Hobbit movies.  We shall see if Rowling and Co. are better at pacing and storytelling than whoever thought turning one short novel into three epic movies was the way to go.  
• Speaking of the Depression, I wonder if we'll see a Wizard World War II?  I mean it's coming.  They're both coming!  While we never saw 9/11 get woven into the books (having taken place in England and having the only US reference be during the Quidditch World Cup at the beginning of Goblet of Fire), if Fantastic Beasts remains historically grounded in our timeline, these two events/eras could provide interesting flavor to the Wizard World.  Guess I'll be waiting on a lot from this series.
• I think Rowling may have bent her own world's rules somewhere in this movie.  Not sure if it has to do with the Obscurial/Obscurus business of killing young wizards or how almost none of the adult wizards need to utter 'the magic words' for most of their spells but, hey, who am I to judge?  I never got my letter to.... uh... What's the American Magic Academy called?
• Great movie.  Welcome addition to the Wizard World on the silver screen.  Novels would be stellar but I'd rather Rowling enjoy making the movies instead of having to fast track novelizations.  Would see again.

Blog Update

Hey, everyone!  I'm still alive, still trying to blog, and mostly failing!  My list of unpublished drafts grows as I get new ideas I have no time to do anything with!  But not this time.  Got a spark of 'get stuff done' and not wasting it!

A lot is going on for me right now.  I am getting married on the 17th of this month and my fiance and I recently had a co-bachelor/bachelorette party with our wedding party playing D&D, but apart from that, my two jobs have me pinned to a cycle of work-eat-sleep-eat-work-sleep every day.  Barely have an hour to myself or to get anything done, which makes blogging impossible when you have other more pressing matters to attend to.  That won't stop me, though, as you can see.  

That said, NaNoWriMo was a failure last month.  I believe I eked out less that 100 words all month, though I wrote novels on my Facebook page about the American Presidential Election.  Won't drag that here, though, so don't worry.  But since it wasn't novel related, all those word counts went to waste.  That said, this recent spark has me adding to my book, even if only in drips.  I shall not be deterred!  I will be a novelist!  Someday (TM).

My plans for the new year of blogging is going to be posting at least once a month, and try to work a decent amount into that one post.  I'll prefer to keep posts about related topics, instead of a bunch of disparate ones.  For December, I'm anticipating posts about football and Star Wars: Rogue One.  January will probably be more football if the Dallas Cowboys have a playoff run.  And maybe someday I'll actually finish the backlogged posts I have lurking around.

Keep an eye out for a story I am going to post, based on the D&D adventure we played as our bachelor/ette party.  Til then, take care and best wishes!