Can't Wait For the Sequel..."Rogue One"

Rogue One (2016)

Rated PG-13

Starring Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen, Wen Jiang, Ben Mendelsohn, Forest Whitaker, Mads Mikkelsen,

Directed by Gareth Edwards

The Story:

Galen Erso (Mikkelsen) is an engineer brought back by force to the Empire to continue building an elaborate weapon known as the "Death Star". His daughter, Jyn (Jones) is sent into hiding. As the years pass, she ends up tangling with members of the Rebellion. Their hope is that sending a group of mercenaries to steal plans for the weapon, they have a chance of destroying it, and defeating the Empire.

May the Force be with them.

Well, if you're going to tell a prequel to Star Wars about how the Rebel Alliance stole the plans for the Death Star, this is about the best movie you could hope for.

A great assemblage of new characters that by the time...

Spoiler Alert...

They all die...

You'll be sad and wish most of them would have been spared somehow and could come back in future, past installments.

But alas...

You know it's not possible because you've already seen Star Wars.

Standout favorites from Jyn's supporting team include Cassian Andor (Luna) as this film's scoundrel; K-2SO (Tudyk) as the reprogrammed Empirical droid with a sarcastic bent; and Chirrut Imwe (Yen) the coolest addition to the Star Wars mythos since the original series premiered.

And speaking of the original series...

Yes, I'm going to nitpick and say that I did indeed miss the opening crawl of the Star Wars saga.

It's part of what gives the whole saga an interlocked feel, and by keeping that opening, just drop the "Episode #" if nothing else, I think it would have added to the film, especially since they throw the bone of "A Long Time Ago..." at the beginning.

Also missing, John Williams score.

It's amazing how much that music influences the series, and little bits of it pop up here and there as appropriate, but it's quite unfair to hold any other composers to the John Williams standard...

But this is Star Wars we're talking about, prequel or not.

Final Grade: B

"Doctor Strange" Is Not Covered By Your Affordable Healthcare Plan

Doctor Strange (2016)

Rated PG-13

Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tilda Swinton, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Mads Mikkelsen,

Directed by Scott Derrickson

The Story:

Doctor Strange (Cumberbatch) is an extremely accomplished neurosurgeon who is as brilliant as his ego suggests he is. In an instant, his world comes crashing down, and he loses everything. In a last-ditch effort to regain the full use of his hands, he heads east in the hopes of healing, and winds up learning ancient mystic arts. Of course, when another former pupil is trying to learn a dark spell that will wind up destroying the earth, it will fall upon Strange's shoulders to see if he's learned enough to stop the threat.

Full disclosure, I never really cared for Doctor Strange when I was growing up. Aside from guest starring in the books that I read, I never sought his own comic out to read.

Just a character I never truly cared for.

However, much like Daredevil, give him to the right hands, and I might find myself really digging the character.

When I saw the trailer(s) for Doctor Strange, I was also less than overwhelmed.

They did nothing to alleviate my fears, unlike the killer trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy that made me realize THAT movie is going to be amazing, and I MUST see it in theaters.

Nope, this looked like one I could probably miss in theaters and catch on DVD, much like I did with Age of Ultron.

However, I wound up at the theater with one of my kids Friday afternoon, and we sat down to watch.

Neither of us hoping for much, other than to not be let down.

Part of me wonders why we even worry about anything Marvel touches anymore.

: )

In short, it exceeded any and every expectation that we had.

There was great characterizations, there was fun, Marvel dialogue.

The special effects are nothing short of amazing, and they keep the fight sequences fresh and visually stunning.

I've seen handfuls of reviews, both professional and not that actually recommend this one be seen in 3-D if possible.

I can only imagine how crazy that's got to look!

The final "boss battle" in the movie is really good, and keeps within the character that Doctor Strange has been and becomes as the movie progresses.

What else?

Doctor Strange sounds an awful lot like Dr. House. Apparently that is the default voice for grumpy brilliant doctors. : )

And if the Academy ever decides to create a Best Supporting Prop category, I nominate the Cloak of Levitation.

: )

Go see it.

You'll be glad you did.

Final Grade: A-