Red Shirt One: A Star Wars Throw Away

Rating: 5/10 (19 December 2016)

Lets start off with what is good. Special affects for anything not a person. Attention to detail from the original Star Wars film which I saw 12 times in the theater as a child. So there were some nice moments of nostalgia. And Alan Tudyk as K-2SO.. By far the best character, with some solid character development arc for a supporting droid. Loved him!!
What was bad: That it appears they never wrote of cut some key character development to keep this a 2 hour movie so they could turn more theater seats and make more money faster. At times especially with the fast cuts and planet / city names it felt more like
"Rogue One" A History Channel Dramatization of the Death Star Incident"
There were some characters I wanted to understand that were just used as supporting roles and tossed away. Chirrut Îmwe and Saw Gerrera both just begged for more development and more back story vs being lazy plot devices.
And there was a poor job of understanding the character arc of Jyn Erso
But in the end it feels like there was a pact made with those who now own the main Star Wars saga story line. "Don't create anything in this movie we have to deal with later, got it!"
Like the odd numbered Star Trek films this one stinks of studio strategy vs a passion for story telling. It had a lot to do in 2 hours and no more.
* Launch the idea of "Star Wars Story" movies - Check maybe? * Shows us lots of things that feel like the original Star Wars - Check * Plug an attractive actress into a formula tragic story. - Check * Show off how we resurrect some key characters from the original film - Check * Make the original Star Wars universe more diverse - Check * What ever you do, don't create any real ties to the main story line for any of these one-off characters - Check * Make us money in-between "real" Star Wars movie - CHECK is in the mail.
It was not worth the $15-$20 a person or more one spends to see a movie. I wish I would have waited for video. It is the first Star Wars movies I feel that way about. It was better than the "Star Wars: Holiday Special." But it felt like it was born of the same crass greed that misses why we love Star Wars.. because we love the characters.. and when they are designed to be disposable.. well one might feel cheated at the end.
I think one change at the ending would have made this movie feel like we got a buried treasure rather than a lump of burned out crystal.
Scene "Rebel Base just before attack run on the Death Star"
Setting: It is controlled chaos as every one of the remaining fighters is readied after so many have been lost recently.
Jyn Erso: My father died to give us this chance. You have to hit that port.
Mon Mothma: Many died to give us this chance. These are our best and bravest.
Camera Pull back: Han Solo and Luke Skywalker are seen from the back, but where know them and their voices.
Luke: Who is she?
Han: Forget it kid. She is out of your league?
Luke: Maybe, maybe not
Close Up: Jyn Erso she looks Luke's Way and smiles.
Fade to black...
Now we have a possible hint about Rey's parents that we can debate for a year... vs well...The Red Shirt Fire Storm..