Rogue One treats the prequels with respect. [Spoilers]

( /s First off, I won't deny the terrible lines and scenes and memes that make up the prequels. There is a lot of shit in there that is shit.Yet what I appreciated most by the production team is they made a conscious decision to make a movie set in the design, aesthetics and climate of ANH, but is FROM the prequels and is not at all ashamed of it. They didn't have to do this: In TFA, JJ and co were blithe, disinterested, and even changed flags/banners with prequel and EU designs in the final cut to minimize distractions and speculation.With Rogue One, they decided toShow Coruscant in a flashback of happier times. I choked up, that skyline is unmistakable. I miss that planet and the happy moments. Before the dark times. Before the empire.Jimmy Smits' character Bail Organa is now a an even more important lore bridge. Not just a little line here or there, but he's tired. He's older, and he's heartbroken the entire movie. He knew the designs and beauty, the good times, the Jedi, and raised a spitfire in the trust she would rise like her mother. He knew both Padme and Leia, and that he's prominent in the movie that dwells in that between timeline...chills.The line where Krennic says the Death Star has stalled... It worried me they would gloss or over the fact we saw a Death Star in EpIII, or use the whole "it's in the books/comic". I'm aware of those sources, but mainly from Reddit. That little line must suffice for the millions who have no access or interest in those stories.Mustafar! I knew the location the second they showed it, and didn't title it. We know this planet, that Vader chooses it in this canon is somehow appropriately dark and melodramatic (a Skywalker specialty).Saw, of course.In all, to many Star Wars fans who grew up on the prequels, these decisions are as important as adding Tarkin or Yavin or R2 to the old timers who grew up with the OT. It gives many prequel decisions and their existence legitimacy and care, and that enriches the overall story. They didn't act as if they were embarrassing or adding all quick one-line callback to an obvious theme; time and money and care went into legitimizing what the prequels are. And Gareth and team knocked it out of the park and the shared world we all enjoy is much better for it) via /r/StarWars http://ift.tt/2h542Zp