In 2007, Matt Damon's Bourne trilogy wrapped up with "The Bourne Ultimatum." These 3 movies were all fantastic, and brought a new cleverness to the plot of a summer blockbuster. Ever since then we've been seeing a string of very clever stories popping up amidst the swarm of action and explosion ridden movies. Think an "Inception" among the Michael Bay Transformer movies. Bourne also redefined the spy genre in the same way, given that we were just coming out of the Roger Moore and Piece Brosnan Bond eras. "The Bourne Legacy," on the other hand, was seen as something of a step backwards by many, with the movie certainly not reaching the critical and commercial heights of the Damon trilogy. Thankfully, Matt Damon is back as Jason Bourne in the latest instalment of this franchise to uncover more conspiracies and take out a whole bunch of bad guys. Check out the trailer below.
Bourne is back kicking and shooting! This looks exactly like the original Bourne movies, which is by absolutely no means a bad thing. The action looks incredible here, from the heavily publicised one-punch knockout that can be seen once again at the end of the trailer to the car chase on the Las Vegas roads to the riot scene that takes place in Athens (in the movie, at least). All of the action sequences look to be keeping the brutal, realistic style that Bourne is known for, such as the quick cuts of Bourne knocking a random henchman into a chair. The swift and quick movements are also great to watch, like when Jason pulls a molotov cocktail straight out of a rioter's hands to use for himself. Basically, the action all looks incredible, which is helped by the fact that barely any CGI is on display here, if any at all. Practical effects will always look better than some computer-generated effects, and the movie should be highly commended if it focuses on the use of these techniques throughout the entire run time.
The plot of the movie looks to have been updated for the modern world, bringing in a story surrounding hacking and technology, with Scott Shepherd's character saying near the beginning of the trailer that a new breach of security could be "worse than Snowden." This kind of plot is unlike any that we've seen in a Bourne movie before but that's not the only difference between this and the other movies. The entire dynamic between the FBI and Bourne looks to have flipped in this newest instalment. Whereas it was only really Joan Allen's Pamela Landy who supported Bourne and believed that he was trying to help, it looks like Alicia Vikander and Tommy Lee Jones (the director of the CIA) will also be on the side of Bourne and help him track down the real villains of the story, potentially played by Vincent Cassel. I am happy to see these additions to the story this time round, rather than just a re-run of the stories that took place in Identity, Supremacy and Ultimatum.
This movie also looks to have had some real star power injected into it, with the aforementioned Tommy Lee Jones, Vincent Cassel and Alicia Vikander going the cast in addition to the returning Matt Damon and Julia Stiles. While Jones and Cassel are both great additions to the line up, the real member of the cast that I am most excited to see is Alicia Vikander, who has done some amazing work in both "Ex Machina" and "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." last year. Thankfully, she looks to be playing a strong female lead in the CIA opposite Tommy Lee Jones, and hopefully she'll be able to show off her talents to a mainstream audience in this role. All of the cinematography and production design also looks excellent, with the action all being very easy to see and understand despite it's fast-paced nature.
I love action movies. I love smart plots in movies. What I really love to see in a movie is an equal balance of strong, action sequences and an intelligent plot to drive the story forward. The Bourne franchise has always had this and Jason Bourne thankfully looks to have all of this. With some great-looking performances, set pieces which will be scattered throughout the world and some amazing technical work. It's definitely not hard to see why this is the movie many people are most excited for this summer and, thanks to this trailer, I am one of those people.
Jason Bourne is releasing on the 29th of July, 2016
Starring Matt Damon, Alicia Vikander, Tommy Lee Jones, Julia Stiles, Vincent Cassel, Scott Shepherd, and Riz Ahmed
As the years go on, it's becoming to look more and more like Hollywood are relying on remakes and reboots of old franchises to make money. This isn't always the case, but for some it's seen as ridiculous. So, when a remake of "The Magnificent Seven" was announced, it was met with a fair amount of scepticism. What was the need to remake this classic movie which has become an icon of pop culture since it's release in 1960? Two movies released last year even had titles which were pretty similar to this (Quentin Tarantino's successful Hateful Eight and Adam Sandler rightfully panned Ridiculous Six). Westerns, however, have been on the decline for a few years now, so perhaps MGM saw a chance to bring the genre back by remaking one of the most popular Westerns ever made, while making quite a bit of money on the side if it's successful. The first trailer has just been released, and it looks pretty encouraging for this reboot. Check it out below.
Overall, this movie looks quite gritty but also a lot of fun. The one thing that the trailer has sold me on is the dynamic between Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt's characters. It looks like they should have some fun banter, with Washington playing the tough bounty hunter while Pratt is the relaxed, explosion-loving scoundrel. Hopefully, that was not just the one scene we're seeing here. However, my main worry from this trailer is that the remaining 5 members of the group will not be developed as well as these two, partly because of their star power. In a movie about a group of criminals, bounty hunters and killers banding together, there has to be some interesting conflicts and team dynamic throughout the movie. Wouldn't it be boring to see these characters, who are used to being on their own and against the law, immediately work together as a flawless unit? Just look at Suicide Squad. This is something that the movie needs to achieve, and will hopefully be a main focus in some of the later trailers.
That said, as a Western, the movie is not just about fun character interactions and drama, but also some lengthy action set pieces throughout. From what we see here, the movie seems to have given us everything we wanted in that regards. Bows and arrows, gatling guns, mini cannons, revolvers, and horses are all on display here, which will hopefully be spread throughout the movie. A lot of the action looks like it will be very claustrophobic and close combat despite the use of ranged weapons. Just look at the scene with Denzel Washington in the bar scene, where glass is exploding all around him and he is fighting some gang members in close proximity. If all of the action is as detailed and as well filmed as this scene, then action lovers have got something to look forward to.
Not only the cast and the action looks great though, but also the production value of the movie. All of the sets and costume design look pretty typical of a Western movie but it all still looks incredible. I'm also going to praise the trailer for it's editing work, with the clips being put together in such a way that it doesn't give away all of the story and set pieces but still gives enough to set the tone and give audiences an idea of what to expect. This, of course, does not always reflect the outcome of the movie itself, but trailer editors need to be recognised nonetheless for their incredible contribution to the final profits of the movie. Great marketing can make or break a production.
Look, reboots are a part of the modern film industry nowadays, whether we like it or not. There's no point in complaining about it, so we might as well accept it and try to enjoy it. That said, this version of the Magnificent Seven looks like a fun remake of the classic. As long as it doesn't discard drama and characterisation, this movie looks like it should have a great team dynamic, a stellar cast and some big action sequences, all of which should make it well worth a watch come September.
The Magnificent Seven is releasing on the 23rd of September, 2016
Starring Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio, Lee Byung-hun, Manuel Garcia Rulfo, Martin Sensmeier, Peter Sarsgaard, Haley Bennett
There are plenty of trends going around Hollywood nowadays, whether it is a constant stream of superhero movies, pointless sequels or terrible holiday movies directed by Garry Marshall. Disney have got their own trend going on right now, remaking many of their old animated classics into live action, such as Sleeping Beauty which became Maleficent or Cinderella which became...Cinderella. However, the decision to remake The Jungle Book into a live-action/CGI hybrid was met with a fair amount of scepticism. Mainly because there is only one human character in the movie. Released in 1967 and famously the last movie to receive the special touch of Walt Disney himself, The Jungle Book has remained a classic ever since it's released and brought us some of the most famous songs to come out of the company. Fortunately, the new version of the movie not only remains faithful to the original, but has been beautifully recreated in CGI to the point of realism.
Look, if you've seen the original Jungle Book (either the 1967 animated or the live action version) then you will know exactly how the plot of this one goes. The "man cub" Mowgli is raised in the jungle by a wolf pack and a wise panther called Bagheera. However, when the vengeful tiger Shere Khan arrives in his neck of the woods (or, in this case, jungle), Mowgli is forced to leave for the man village where he will be safe, encountering many fun and interesting characters along the way, including the relaxed bear Baloo. However, director Jon Favreau has made sure that enough new content has been added to keep sone surprises in store even for the biggest fan of the animated movie. The writing in the movie is excellent and adds some great development to many supporting characters, such as the main members of the wolf pack, Raksha and Akela. There are also a lot of emotional scenes in the movie, something I found quite surprising given the mainly humorous nature of the old movie.
However, good writing is nothing without great acting. Thankfully, this movie succeeds in that regard. Idris Elba in particular is menacing as the sinister Shere Khan. His entrance to the movie carries an atmosphere of fear and strength, which sets up his character brilliantly for the rest of the action. Bill Murray is also a perfect Baloo, and brings the majority of the movie's funny moments. However, one of the most underrated performances in the movie is Lupita Nyong'o as Raksha, the wolf mother. Despite not being in the movie a great deal, she does great in the scenes that she is in, especially the scene where Mowgli leaves the pack. She does very well conveying the motherly instincts you would expect from this character. Special mention must go to Neel Sethi as Mowgli who does well in the movie, despite interacting with nothing as he is acting in a computer generated environment. Adult actors with a lot of experience would struggle to do this, so it is very impressive to see a first-time actor succeeding in this role.
Of course, as it's based on the animated movie, the movie includes some of the old Disney songs are included. However, one of these is a little bit jarring, as there is no transition into it. The character just starts singing. Normally this would be fine, and it's not a big problem, but this is not a musical, and I was caught a bit off guard because of it. This particular song is " I Wan'na Be Like You," sung by Christopher Walken playing King Louie, who growls out his lines through the song like a mafia boss. "The Bare Necessities," on the other hand, is great in the movie. Bill Murray is great singing the song while floating down the river, and it is implemented in a smooth and well done way. The rest of the score, composed by John Debney, is great as well, particularly due to the how well it reflects each moment of the movie. Shere Khan's menacing melody is present in all of the movie's dark moments while the jazz tunes of the Bare Necessities provides some uplifting background music for the movie's most joyful scenes.
I've been building up to it, but the obvious big aspect of the movie I've not talked about yet is the visual effects of the animals and environments in the movie. The detail on characters like Baloo and Shere Khan are hyper realistic and deserve the recognition they are receiving. I read recently that the work on Baloo is so detailed that it required 5 hours of work for each frame of the movie. After seeing the movie, I can completely believe that. The other characters in the movie also look fantastic, with not a detail missed even in the most fast-paced action sequences. I would normally talk about set design, but the environment is all also completely CGI, besides for a few real-life sets. Fortunately, this is also so detailed that you will forget that everything you are seeing on screen was created using a computer. It is not crazy to suggest right now that the work done here is Oscar-worthy, even though we're only really 3 months into the movie year.
The movie does not only succeed in the visual effects department, but also every other technical aspect. The cinematography in the movie is very well done, with some amazing shots following the animals for long distances and the clear shots during the animal fights so that we can actually see what is happening during these intense sequences. Not only that, but the sound design and editing of the movie is also on point. Again, these were all crucial aspects for a movie so reliant on CGI and ensuring that a sense of realism is maintained throughout the movie and that the immersion of the audience in the world is not broken.
All in all, if you love the old Jungle Book so much that you don't want to see it changed in any way and are unwilling to accept something new, then you should stay far away from this. For the rest of us, I highly recommend this movie because it is fantastic. There is very little wrong with this entry in Disney's catalogue, with excellent writing and acting, with absolutely amazing visual effects and cinematography to boot. There have been quite a few movies out so far this year, and some great looking movies coming as we go into summer. However, you aren't likely to get as fun and uplifting an experience watching "Batman v Superman" than you are watching The Jungle Book.
Pros
Fantastic writing
Voice acting
Beautiful effects
Cinematography
The score
Cons
One strange song entry
Rating: 8/10
Release Date: 15th April, 2016
Starring Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong'o, Scarlett Johansson, Giancarlo Esposito, Christopher Walken
The Marvel Universe just keeps growing and, now that everybody's favourite web slinger is back home, my excitement just keeps building for the future. Now, after Marvel stupidly registered a URL a few weeks ago which seemed to reveal it's name, the title of the 2017 MCU Spider-Man movie has now been confirmed as "Spider-Man: Homecoming." Check out the official logo!
For me, that logo is amazing. I know some people have shown some distaste for it, but I love how it reflects the old cartoon series with it's comic-book style lettering. The small touch of the spider logo taking over the "O" in Homecoming is a nice touch too. That's not even mentioning how great it is to see the official Marvel logo sitting above a Spider-Man title for the first time rather than Sony! We've known for a while that this would be set in the Marvel Universe, but that doesn't make it any less great to see everything coming together. The colouring of the logo may also be quite important. If you take a look at the logos of the Sam Raimi and Marc Webb Spider-Man flicks, they are completely grey and silver. It might just be me looking too deep into it, but I think that the addition of more colour and character may be a suggestion of more humour and fun being added to this movie, making it potentially much closer to the comics than any of the other movies.
The title itself, however, is just fine. It's not horrible, it's not spectacular, just fine. Of course, it doesn't give any real indication of the plot. It likely refers to Spider-Man returning to his job as a hero after the events that take place in Civil War, but with the addition of more heroes, as has been confirmed by Marvel. It certainly won't be based on the comic book of the same name, because it took place when Spidey returned to Earth after an event called "Secret Wars," and he came back with the black symbiotic which would eventually become fan favourite Venom. For any fans reading this hoping for Venom, don't get your hopes up because Sony are reportedly still making a Venom movie which will not be part of the MCU. The only villain that is even rumoured at this point is Vulture, who may just be the opening fight for Spidey.
There is undoubtedly plenty to look forward to when it comes to Spider-Man in the MCU, including this movie. I love the logo and hope that it does indicate more fun for this character, but the title does not excite me. It doesn't give any indication of villains, plot or what to expect. I'm sure it will be something to be excited about when it is revealed, but right now, I'm more excited for the hero to make his appearance in Civil War.
Spider-Man: Homecoming is releasing on July 7th, 2017.
It currently stars Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Marisa Tomei as Aunt May with more cast members to be added in the future
It's hard to believe that we're only two and a half weeks away from Captain America: Civil War (at least in the UK), a movie set to completely change the Marvel Universe as we know it. However, that's not the only movie primed to shake up that universe this year. The second comes in the form of "Doctor Strange," which follows the journey of Doctor Stephen Strange, a brilliant neurosurgeon who discovers the world of magic after a car accident ruins what he believes to be the tools of his trade: his hands. We now have the first trailer for the movie, and it does look to be a suitably mind boggling affair. Check out the trailer below.
The big difference between this movie and other movies in the MCU is the tone. Straight from the ominous opening showing Strange's overturned car to the new black Marvel logo to the music of the trailer. Something else that's complete absent from the trailer although I'm sure there'll be some: jokes. Light-hearted banter has become a staple of the Marvel franchise, so it was odd for me to see none of that in the teaser. Among the darkness, though, Marvel still manage to achieve a sense of wonder and mysticism, something quite essential in a movie about magic.
The teaser does not show every character in the movie (thankfully, I'm enjoying the guessing game going on on the Internet right now about the identity of Mads Mikkelsen's villain. I'm thinking Nightmare). However, it does show a fair bit of 3 main characters. Let's start with a fairly obvious one: Stephen Strange. Benedict Cumberbatch already seems like the perfect fit for this role, and he seems to be doing a great job of showing his arrogant nature before the accident (at least from the few scenes we saw), his determination to find a solution to his problem afterwards, and his shock at what he finds in doing so. Another smaller detail: his American accent is on point. The next character is the Ancient One, played by Tilda Swinton. This was a role originally filled by an old, Asian man in the comics, but has been switched to a woman for the movie. Nobody is complaining about this, and for good reason, as Swinton has got the mystical and mysterious nature of the character down to a tee. At least from this trailer, she comes across as one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel universe and the kind of person even the arrogant Strange might beg for tutelage. The third character we see considerably less of is Chiwetel Ejiofir's Baron Mordo. One of Strange's most famous villains, it doesn't look like Mordo will be starting off as a villain here, but will be one of Strange's allies. If this is done right, Mordo could eventually become one of the best developed villains in the MCU.
In addition to the tone I mentioned before, one of the most crucial things a movie about magic needs to get right is the visual effects. There aren't a lot of magic acts on display here since it is the set up trailer but we do see some, such as the kaleidoscope visuals of the scene featuring Mads Mikkelsen's villain. The scene with the Ancient One pushing Strange into seemingly another dimension (known as the Astral Plane in the comics) is also very impressive. However, they both have nothing on the money shot of the trailer featuring the 4 versions of New York (probably) and seeing a tiny Strange fall through the middle and back into the Ancient One's chamber. Director Scott Derrickson and his team seem to have achieved something special technically here, with not just the visuals, but also the cinematography looking amazing (especially those shots of Tibet from above).
I cannot emphasise enough how much I enjoyed this trailer. Director Scott Derrickson looks to have used his background in horror to his advantage to create an ominous atmosphere for this trailer and, from the concept art seen, to build a terrifying world for these characters to inhabit. From the trailer itself though, the acting and technical work of the movie seems on point with every other movie in the Marvel saga and can hopefully become one of their best since Guardians of the Galaxy. In short, bring on November! I'm ready to open my mind.
Doctor Strange is releasing on November 4th, 2016.
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tilda Swinton, Benedict Wong, Scott Adkins, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amy Landecker and Mads Mikkelsen.
I am a huge fan of the Harry Potter series, both books and movies, along with millions of other fans around the world. So when rumours came about that suggested that we may be seeing some more movies in the Harry Potter universe, I was very excited. My attitude changed to one of scepticism, however, when it was announced that this new movie would be focusing on the book "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," a textbook from the Potter universe and released for Comic Relief. My concerns only grew after the glorified logo reveal late last year. This new trailer, on the other hand, has changed my attitude back to before the title was revealed. Check it out below, and then I'll give you my thoughts.
There's a lot of things to love here. However, the thing that really made this trailer special for me is the use of the music. Incorporating the main Harry Potter theme into a prequel to the series has come across as a bit off to some people, but it really works as a way to tie this movie into the other films and let general audiences know that they will be returning to the world of Harry Potter. That and the great reference to Dumbledore, delivered by Colin Farrell's Percival Graves.
Speaking of Graves, the trailer gave us a great look at all of the different characters that we'll be seeing in the movie. Colin Farrell may not be the star of the show, and may in fact be one of the antagonists (come on, the guy's name is Graves), but at least he doesn't look to be giving one of his over-the-top performances (I still remember Daredevil) and seems to fit right into this world. The main man here is Eddie Redmayne's Newt Scamander, the wizard carrying a case which contains all of the titular beasts. I don't have a lot of problems with this trailer, but Redmayne is one of them, and from what I can tell he is playing the same character once again: the socially awkward but very clever character. Hopefully, he can make the character something special nonetheless. The rest of the cast seem fine just now, but I need to see more of them in later trailers before I know what to think of them.
As a movie featuring magical creatures running rampant in 1920s New York, visual effects are pretty important. The trailer generally keeps the magical creatures themselves under wraps, besides a flying blue bird is an underground tunnel and a brief shot of a small, mole-like creature (potentially identified as a Niffler by die-hard Potterheads). However, just cause the beasts aren't on display, there best of the magic and effects are. The spells from wands and other magic such as the flying napkins and plates briefly glimpsed all look incredible. However, the CGI background of New York that Newt can briefly be seen walking through does not look real at all. This is probably not a finished effect though, so they've got 7 months to fix these small sections. The practical sets and costume designs of the movie also look phenomenal, but this has been a staple of the Harry Potter franchise since day one.
I had my concerns about this movie before seeing this trailer, and some of those concerns are still present (like why a small children's book with no plot has been split into a trilogy before the first movie has been released). However, this trailer has reassured me on a few levels, including the effects and acting. I don't know how this movie is going to turn out, but if this trailer is any indication, it has the potential to be on the same level as the best of the Harry Potter movies.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is releasing November 18th, 2016.
Starring Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Colin Farrell, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler, Samantha Morton, Jon Voight, Ron Perlman
Look, Batman v Superman wasn't the best it could have been. There's no getting around that. A lot of that was down to DC's apparent "no-jokes" policy, something heavily rumoured before the release of the movie. A lack of humour and fun hurt that movie dearly. Thankfully, David Ayer seems to be taking Suicide Squad in a completely different direction. Jokes, silliness, and a great team dynamic are everywhere to be found in this new trailer, which only continues to build my excitement for the next entry in the DCEU (the DC Extended Universe, which is what Warner Bros have named their cinematic universe). Wondering why it's called the Blitz trailer? Check it out below. You'll know soon enough.
The main thing that I'm taking away from this trailer is that it looks like more of the same from the last couple of trailers. Which is by no means a bad thing. Let's start with the main thing that differentiates this movie from Batman v Superman: the tone. As I previously stated, the use of jokes already sets it apart. However, so do all of the smaller touches in the trailer do as well, such as the use of Sweet's "Ballroom Blitz" for the main trailer theme. By using such a fun 70s song, rather than the dark and ominous music that came to be associated with BvS, the movie is already likely to draw a bigger audience due to it's comedic nature.
On the other hand, this movie continues DC's streak of perfect casting (besides Lex Luthor, for which there were much better choices than Jesse Eisenberg). Will Smith actually looks to be playing a character rather than just a reflection of himself, as has been argued by many critics over the last few years. Margot Robbie has proven herself to be a fantastic actress, having wowed critics in "The Wolf of Wall Street" and "Focus" (also starring Smith), and definitely looks to be a faithful version of fan favourite character Harley Quinn. The trailer focuses heavily on El Diablo (the one shooting fire from his hands) and suggesting that he may not be as evil as some of his teammates. Hopefully the whole squad is developed like this.
However, the most divisive casting choice is the Joker, played by Jared Leto. This seemed like perfect casting and nobody has a problem with Leto, but it was the first image that caused the Internet to explode. All of the images have caused the controversy to continue to grow and more fan theories to come up suggesting that he is not the real Joker. I had problems myself with the tattoos (particularly "Damaged" on the forehead). The more I see of him actually acting and speaking, the more I am sold on this completely different iteration of one of my favourite comic book characters. From what I can tell, this Joker shows up in the middle of their mission for no reason other than to cause utter chaos. Seems like classic Joker to me.
Everything else about the movie also seems to be on point, the makeup in particular. Ayer has ensured that these characters look exactly like their comic counterparts. Joker and Harley Quinn look like they go hand in hand, while the full body makeup on Killer Croc is extremely realistic. The visual effects of the movie are equally excellent, such as Diablo's fire and the helicopter crash. Overall, though, the movie looks to be prioritising practical effects, with only really the aforementioned fire, the helicopter crash and the destruction of the subway featuring a heavy reliance on CGI. This is not bad, and the use of practical effects in modern Hollywood is something to be admired.
There are some people refusing to see this movie because they did not like Batman v Superman. That is completely absurd to me, especially with this trailer. They are welcome to do what they want, but with a completely different director and tone, Suicide Squad is shaping up to be a completely fresh take on the superhero genre and a far cry from the dreariness of Batman v Superman.
Suicide Squad is releasing on August 5th, 2016.
Starring Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Cara Delevingne, Karen Fukuhara, Ben Affleck
I never reviewed it, but I did actually see "The Force Awakens" last year, and it would have been a very high rating, a 9 at the lowest. While we still have year and a half away until the continuation of that story, Disney have got us covered with their new annual Star Wars model. What that means is that we now get treated to a Star Wars movie a year, with Gareth Edwards' anthology movie "Rogue One" taking the primetime Christmas spot this year. Check out the first trailer below.
In case this wasn't already clear, this is very different to any Star Wars movie we've seen before. The trailer has a noticeable absence of lightsabers and force powers, two of the main staples of this franchise. Gareth Edwards is obviously taking this series in a completely different direction, and I am on board. This is not just the usual sci-fi, fantasy flick that we're used to. This looks more like a war movie, somewhat unsurprising given that one of the inspirations for the movie was Saving Private Ryan. This is presenting a side of this universe that we have never seen below, when the Empire destroyed all opposition swiftly and the Rebellion was struggling in their efforts. A large part of that was down to Darth Vader, and if rumours prove true, we will see the brutality of the Sith lord against the helpless Rebel forces.
That's not to say that the movie is completely separate from what has come before though, at least from what we're seeing here. The effects and aesthetic of the sets and worlds created fit right in with the Star Wars mythos. That's not even talking about the incredible new black Stormtrooper designs and the return of the imposing Imperial Walkers. Costume design also seems spot on. All of this will look familiar to fans of the original trilogy, with the rusted technology and dark sets only emphasising the state of this war-torn universe.
One final thing I'll say is that the casting looks excellent for this band of misfits as well as the Imperial general they are going up against. This general (possibly Ben Mendelsohn but it is difficult to tell) is already an intimidating and sinister character just from his few short appearances in the trailer while the lead (played by Felicity Jones) appears to be being set up to add some humour into the mix, while also having the obligatory emotional backstory.
I had my concerns like most fans of the Star Wars licence when these so-called Anthology films were announced to be in production. Would they be fine additions to the series, or simple cash-grabs using the Star Wars name. From the looks of Rogue One so far, it's definitely the former. An interesting story, great visuals and a stellar cast, this looks like the perfect movie to tide fans over to Episode VIII next year.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is releasing on December 16th, 2016.
Starring Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Riz Ahmed, Ben Mendelsohn, Mads Mikkelson, Donnie Yen and Forest Whitaker.
