When I found out Rogue one was being made and the story line being focussed around the Death Star- I worried when seeing Krennic as the main man in Mos Eisley. I wondered where and what Disney had done with Grand Moff Tarkin, even yielded to the possibility that they had bastardised his legacy and wouldn't bother with him.  I was wrong. [b]On Grand Moff Tarkin (GMT)[/b] He is in it, and yes - he is excellent. They have re created him using CGI and using the voice of Stephen Stanton (Who does the voice for the TV show Rebels too) to great effect, that for me - his appearance was the highlight and most likely so for many GMT fans. Unfortunately, there are still some concerns about the direction Disney et al are taking it. It seems they portray Tarkin (unlike the book) as merely just jumping on the bandwagon of the Death Star after it's first firing mission's success. This is a small point, the film wasn't ruined by it - but it does seem to undermine GMT's lore somewhat. That aside, it does still show you just how powerful GMT was in his peak. Krennic gets treated quite badly by Vader at one point after appearing desperate and power hungry - something that would never happen to GMT. Krennic is feeble in comparison actually and I think the film overall reflects that thankfully - in the end.   [b]The final Battle on Scarif [/b] The rebels go to Scarif and insert a small team of around 9 people on the ground to sabotage and search for the Death Star plans. These 9 soon turn in to 90 - a silly inconsistency, later rectified only after the shield around the planet (see later) is disabled. The Star Wars Universe seemed to of binned shields. You know those things that protect ships etc. In fact the only thing that does seem to be shielded is a planetary shield generator that is attached somewhat to the atmosphere of the planet itself and acts as a gate of sorts. AT-AT's get taken out by X- Wings incredibly easily -EA's battlefront players will be jealous of the easy kills that happen in the film. A sensor dome on a ISD gets blown up instantly without even using Ion canons...oh wait there's no need (until later when they use them on the ISD's??) because they do/don't have shields. Disney....make you're minds up and stick with it.  The engagement protocol of the Empire is severely lacking in anything, it takes them a long time to even mobalise Tie Fighters to counter attack the Rebel fleet that warps in over the planet. It's painful - the captains/Admirals of the two ISD's in the area......they need to go back to Presfbelt 4 Training Academy yesterday. The ISD's can't eve bee seen returning fire against the entire rebel fleet at all. If they did then I must have missed it blinking. Literally, our crew....on GMOD could do better. No joke.  [b]On Shore Troopers[/b] I said this before the film and they really don't seem to be that special at all. They mix in with ST's like they were born together. In all honesty - they serve no purpose and just seem like pointless 'merchandise' filler. Another model for kids to beg their parents/wives to buy.  [b]On Death Troopers[/b] They had slightly more presence that Shore Troopers and have more of a use. They do seem to be better trained too and this is reflected in their combat engagements. Much better shots than the regs - which is a shame because their were moments when I thought ST's were painted out to be pros, but this lasts for seconds.  [b]On the Darth Vader[/b] Thankfully, you see him as the death machine he really was. They capture the fear of him perfectly. If you saw him, in a meeting or in battle you would shit yourself. He's an animal and extremely powerful - like blow up your brains powerful.  All in all it was good. There were a few issues I had with it as explained above - but soooo much better than Episode 7. It sets you up to watch A new Hope right after it too - which I loved. It's a shame they didn't let the director of Rogue One (Gareth Edwards) do 7 too.  Also- yes I'm glad the T-15 has been replaced too. ;)  

Seen it but I didn't really think of it as a Star Wars film. It was more of a war film than a story teller. However I think it really did fill the gaps on how episode 4 started. Maybe its because it didn't have the opening crawl maybe?

I honestly have no idea how you came to the above conclusion, but fair enough. Darth Vader - Check. GMT- Check. Stormtrooper antics- check. Felt like Star Wars to me. :D

I personally thought the CGI on Tarkin and Leia was a bit off. Not quite prequels shitty CGI, but still not that great. Vader was amazing, although that cheesy joke he made when he choked Krennic seemed a bit OOC, but it's possible that was done to show a bit of the Anakin in him, the easter eggs in there were solid, a few favourites of mine were the appearance of the HAVW A6 Juggernaut, Ponda Baba and Evazan, and the fact that the planet Wobani, which features in the film for a short period of time near the beginning, is an anagram of "Obiwan". I definitely preferred the story of Rogue One to the story of TFA, but that might be because I'd seen the story of TFA before all those times when I watched A New Hope, but hey. Other than that, the fact that it didn't have an opening crawl surprised me a little and didn't make a great first impression for me. Generally I believe that if a Star Wars movie doesn't deafen you when it starts, you're doing it wrong, but they pulled it back in the actual movie. Overall, it was a solid 9/10 for me

Before watching it... honestly, wasn't expecting to be thrilled. But I was! I agree with you fully Pitch, that they showed Vader in his true form and that shoretroopers were misplaced. It might have been better if they had put a scene in where the use of shoretroopers were explained!  GMT's CGI was amazing but Liea's not so much!  Samo, I don't think that Vader's "Don't choke on your ambitions Director" line was OOC at all for Vader, I think that - as he was newly made Vader and still 'getting used to it' - he still is meant to show that tiny bit of anakin and that was well placed by Disney. Ryzan, I can't understand why you don't think it was Star Wars. What other movie has a monster of a robot walk down a corridor with a glowing red sabre throwing Rebels against a wall becuase 'they were in his way'? And what other movie has a droid that complains about not having a blaster? ACTUALLY! I think that the Imperial droid was a C3PO copy gone wrong! Yes, they re-programmed a tactical droid but would ANY kind of droid make some of the comments he did (apart from C3PO but he was custom build by a child). Overall, a solid movie and a great gap filler between Episodes III and IV. 9.5/10 - Lighten

[quote]What did you think of Donnie yens character chirrut Imwe and did you hear what he said "The strongest stars have hearts of Kyber" i think that is a massive Easter egg that will be important in all the films to come.Did you like the fact that he was force sensitive. i think the film was very good 9/10 sets up star wars (episode 4 as it was at first as i know it was called star wars )  perfect.I likeed how it was not a kids movie and there was no clear happy ending and all the rebels died getting the plans.   [/quote]

[quote]he was newly made Vader and still 'getting used to it[/quote] You say that, but this movie takes place mere days before ANH, and we don't see any sign of Anakin in New Hope Vader. 

I guest.... maybe when he was re-engineered, he changed or maybe Palpatine set him straight?