Spoilers The Mandalorian and Grogu

[Morrus]

Well. That was certainly a film.

I wouldn’t call it a good film. But it was definitely a film.

I found it quite exhausting. CGI monster fight after CGI monster fight after CGI monster fight. Only two human faces in the whole thing—Sigourney Weaver in a bit part and the warlord they nabbed in the first half. Well, I suppose we saw Pedro’s face for a couple of minutes when they took his helmet off briefly. Otherwise, it’s all CGI aliens and a puppet. It’s almost an animated film.

Which is fine. But it probably makes the movie skew too hectic and cartoony for my tastes. Two thirds through I was checking my watch.

For me, a contender for worst Star War yet (not counting Holiday Special). Then again Rise of Skywalker is still out there, so they vie for last place. Oh wait, Attack of the Clones. The three can fight it out on a CGI monsterfest.

The worst thing though is that nothing happened. It ends in the same place it began with no effect on the Star Wars universe. And yes, I suppose small siloed stories can be fine, but they have to also be good.

Ah well. Lots of explosions and CGI monsters. My nephew will love it, I’m sure.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

It was fun. Very linear story, no real character development, not much in the way of universe expansion (lore-wise; there was lots of new "stuff"), but entertaining. Better insertions and throwbacks than the obvious stuff from Solo; it's a toss-up for me whether this or Solo is better.

My wife's observation: "Needed fewer special effects and more acting." I'd say better dialog writing: why would a Hutt refer to himself as a "man"?

It'll provide more source material for Star Wars games, so there's that.

If I re-tier my Star Wars Movies, right now I think:

1. Empire Strikes Back
2. Star Wars (A New Hope for the young 'uns)
3. Rogue One
4. Return of the Jedi
5. Revenge of the Sith
6. The Force Awakens
7. Attack of the Clones
8. The Phantom Menace
9. Solo
10. Mandalorian & Grogu
11. The Last Jedi
1313. Rise of Skywalker

I could go either way on a few of those pairs. Edit: After more reflection I've flipped Solo and M&G. Better story arc and universe lore development in the former IMO.

 

[Morrus]

My wife's observation: "Needed fewer special effects and more acting." I'd say better dialog writing: why would a Hutt refer to himself as a "man"?

Just some dialogue would help. When your two main characters are a taciturn faceless man and a puppet who can't talk... they can't even make faces at each other!

 

[Stalker0]

I also thought it was “fine”. The Star Wars version of a summer action movie. Fun, flashy, and forgettable.

I was surprised they gave grogu such a lengthy section, probably the biggest aspect of the show was showing what grogu could do without mando

I did like Ratta the Hut, that was a solid character

 

[Morrus]

I did like Ratta the Hut, that was a solid character

All throughout, the way Mando talks I thought his name was "Rada the Hutt" (rhymes with larder). Turns out it's "Rotta" (rhymes with rotter).

 

[Whisper-Kitten]

Well. That was certainly a film.

I wouldn’t call it a good film. But it was definitely a film.

I found it quite exhausting. CGI monster fight after CGI monster fight after CGI monster fight. Only two human faces in the whole thing—Sigourney Weaver in a bit part and the warlord they nabbed in the first half. Well, I suppose we saw Pedro’s face for a couple of minutes when they took his helmet off briefly. Otherwise, it’s all CGI aliens and a puppet. It’s almost an animated film.

Which is fine. But it probably makes the movie skew too hectic and cartoony for my tastes. Two thirds through I was checking my watch.

For me, a contender for worst Star War yet (not counting Holiday Special). Then again Rise of Skywalker is still out there, so they vie for last place. Oh wait, Attack of the Clones. The three can fight it out on a CGI monsterfest.

The worst thing though is that nothing happened. It ends in the same place it began with no effect on the Star Wars universe. And yes, I suppose small siloed stories can be fine, but they have to also be good.

Ah well. Lots of explosions and CGI monsters. My nephew will love it, I’m sure.

Wooo.....glad we cleared that up, I was afraid it would be a musical.

 

[Morrus]

Wooo.....glad we cleared that up, I was afraid it would be a musical.

I’m sure you’ll get used to my sense of humour.

At least I make myself laugh.

 

[Whisper-Kitten]

I’m sure you’ll get used to my sense of humour.

At least I make myself laugh.

You make the world laugh my friend.

 

[Whisper-Kitten]

It was fun. Very linear story, no real character development, not much in the way of universe expansion (lore-wise; there was lots of new "stuff"), but entertaining. Better insertions and throwbacks than the obvious stuff from Solo; it's a toss-up for me whether this or Solo is better.

My wife's observation: "Needed fewer special effects and more acting." I'd say better dialog writing: why would a Hutt refer to himself as a "man"?

It'll provide more source material for Star Wars games, so there's that.

If I re-tier my Star Wars Movies, right now I think:

1. Empire Strikes Back
2. Star Wars (A New Hope for the young 'uns)
3. Rogue One
4. Return of the Jedi
5. Revenge of the Sith
6. The Force Awakens
7. Attack of the Clones
8. The Phantom Menace
9. Solo
10. Mandalorian & Grogu
11. The Last Jedi
1313. Rise of Skywalker

I could go either way on a few of those pairs. Edit: After more reflection I've flipped Solo and M&G. Better story arc and universe lore development in the former IMO.

Man it's so bad that it is under AoTc. Nice!

 

[Deset Gled]

That was everything I needed it to be. Mando was a Mandalorian doing Mandalorian things. Grogu acted like Grogu and did Grogu things. Action. Adventure. Loved the puppetry.

What I appreciated the most was the things the movie didn't have. It didn't have a homework assignment of deep lore dives requiring knowledge of 5 separate TV shows to understand. It didn't have ridiculous tie ins with the main movie lines to show us that Mando actually built Poe's X-wing or Grogu ate Rey's pet frog.

It also had enough call backs that were inconsequential, but made it feel like the Star Wars universe. The space cows on Nevarro are the same space cattle we saw in Battle for Endor. Zeb looks suspiciously like unused early McQuarrie concept art of Chewie. Detailed enough to make it feel like a Star Wars movie without being a chore.

I do think the pacing was odd at a few points. Mando getting gassed to being in a pit fight was jarringly fast, as was the lack of work by the New Republic to clean up Nal Hutta after bombing it. It was way to easy to take Mando's helmet off. Lots of little things like that could have used a little more time, but the movie was in a hurry, and was long enough, so

Overall, it was good. Not great. Enjoyable filler.