Rogue One: A Star Wars Story premiered for a group of lucky critics and stars at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles on Saturday night. Full reviews are still under embargo (we reviewed 30 minutes of footage here), but brief, spoiler-free reactions are already popping up on Twitter. The film is tracking for a huge opening but may exceed even those estimates based on the reactions so far.
If there were worries about the reshoots being a problem, it sounds like they were for the better, with many viewers praising the exciting last half / third act / ending:
With all the talk of reshoots and production problems the final cut of Rogue One is worth the wait. Man that 3rd act….so so good.
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) December 11, 2016
All everyone is talking about at the Rogue One after party is the 3rd act. Still thinking about it myself. So awesome.
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) December 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/THRMattBelloni/status/807814114437308418
https://twitter.com/alicialutes/status/807822398506471424
People also praised the cast, including Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), Chirrut Îmwe (Donnie Yen), and — as predicted — Alan Tudyk’s sassy robot character, former Imperial enforcer droid K-2SO.
Star Wars fans will be very happy with #RogueOne. It's fun, action packed, doesn't feel neutered by reshoots. Donnie Yen and K2so standouts.
— /Film (@slashfilm) December 11, 2016
Perfect Felicity Jones an action heroine I would follow into space battle any day, in a film full of great hero turns #rogueone
— jen yamato (@jenyamato) December 11, 2016
It’s been no secret that director Gareth Edwards was making a war movie — and reshoots were rumored to be making the tone more in line with other Star Wars movies — and it sounds like Rogue One is still a gritty war movie, but still definitely Star Wars:
#RogueOne is FANTASTIC. Incredible action, both planetary and interstellar, and looks GORGEOUS. Most importantly, it feels like Star Wars.
— Terri Schwartz (@Terri_Schwartz) December 11, 2016
Obviously no spoilers, but Gareth Edwards completely nailed the tone and feel of #StarWars. It's dark and dirty, violent, and totally works.
— Terri Schwartz (@Terri_Schwartz) December 11, 2016
Gotta emphasize that it's dark, dark, dark. This is a war movie. It puts the Wars in Star Wars, to make a bad pun. #RogueOne
— Terri Schwartz (@Terri_Schwartz) December 11, 2016
… @m_giacchino score is a great mix of unique adaptation of Williams Star Wars score and the emotional strings we love from his work.
— /Film (@slashfilm) December 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/ConnerWS/status/807814904035950592
There were a few complaints, and borderline spoiler-ish tweets. Skip ahead to the next paragraph if you don’t want to know even vague details about the plot.
Theres an amazing amount of footage/dialogue in the #RogueOne trailers and marketing that are not in the film, including Troopers in water.
— /Film (@slashfilm) December 11, 2016
While there are definitely some pacing issues, #RogueOne's payoff feels spectacular. Gorgeously shot, a dynamite cast, and very #StarWars.
— Dan Casey (@DanCasey) December 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/kylebuchanan/status/807815240926646276
https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/807823738221625344
https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/807824300002537472
https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/807824540852047872
In general, people in attendance were effusive with praise:
ROGUE ONE had me from the opening to the very end. Incredible action mixed with a script fans are going to love. Going to make people happy.
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) December 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/amy_geek/status/807818961391788032
Holy crap did I love Rogue One. It’s gonna take days to wipe the smile off my face. So many surprises and so much fun. Get excited.
— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) December 11, 2016
So… #RogueOne? It's freaking great! So many crowd-pleasing moments! It's emotional, exciting and incredibly satisfying. Loved it!
— Eric Goldman (@TheEricGoldman) December 11, 2016
Crazy happy to say that Rogue One is tremendous. Great mix of classic and brand new, and it's fun and thrilling throughout. Be excited!
— Eric Eisenberg (@eeisenberg) December 11, 2016
Holy craps @starwars #RogueOne was absolutely incredible. See it as soon as you can!!! Gareth Edwards I LOVE YOU. https://t.co/84ap5m3rwb
— ʞɔiwbɿɒH ꙅiɿʜƆ (@hardwick) December 11, 2016
One word: WOW! I was absolutely enthralled! #RogueOne
— Umberto Gonzalez (@elmayimbe) December 11, 2016
So much cheering during the movie. Audience loved it pic.twitter.com/WvLgW7OQWJ
— Aaron Couch (@AaronCouch) December 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/kyle_newman/status/807815545340903424
https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/807823366103044096
#RogueOne is pretty much everything I was hoping for & then some. So moving/satisfying for so many reasons. Already dying for a 2nd viewing.
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) December 11, 2016
And plenty of people wanted to rank Rogue One in comparison to other Star Wars movies or talk about how well it connects to A New Hope:
https://twitter.com/wilw/status/807827014887452676
1sr Rogue One review. It was actually AMAZING!!! Super fun & exciting. Ties in w/episode 4 perfectly. #StarWars
— RainnWilson (@rainnwilson) December 11, 2016
It's so AMAZING how #StarWars #RogueOne ties into #ANewHope!! GREAT SURPRISES & many "HOW'D THEY DO THAT?" moments!! 100% FUN! Great ACTION!
— Scott Mantz 🖖 (@MovieMantz) December 11, 2016
All I will say for now is that I enjoyed #RogueOne more than #TheForceAwakens. For what that's worth… #StarWars
— Scott Mendelson (@ScottMendelson) December 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/ScottFeinberg/status/807815295305846784
https://twitter.com/andyblewis/status/807852522199101440
#StarWars #RogueOne is AWESOME!! SO GREAT!! LOVED it even MORE than #TheForceAwakens!! Fans are going to LOSE THEIR SHIT!!!!!
— Scott Mantz 🖖 (@MovieMantz) December 11, 2016
Hmm, people seem excited.
https://twitter.com/ThePeteAwakens/status/807817509248217088
When you start hearing good things about #RogueOne and realize you'll probably have to stay off Twitter for 5 days to avoid spoilers. pic.twitter.com/vi2QJPWwbA
— Brendan Spreder (@IE_Gekkoninja) December 11, 2016
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story opens December 16th.
(Via #RogueOne, the Hollywood Reporter, Cinema Blend, Screen Rant, The Wrap, The Mary Sue, and CBM)
