A Risk But Now One of the Best
Its crazy to think that it has been a year since Rogue One came out, it also means its been a year since this website launched. Rogue One was Disney’s first risky bet in making Star Wars films, it was the first film that was separate from the main series movies. A lot of people were nervous that it wasn’t going to be very good and that it was unnecessary for a number of reasons. One of these reasons was that we already know what happens, we already know that the rebels get the Death Star plans and those plans end up helping them to destroy the death star in A New Hope. What Rogue One ended up being was something else entirely, it was a fantastic film filled with characters that you cared about and that you were rooting for.
Rogue One went from being this seemingly unnecessary film following a story that everyone thought they had already known. It ended up being the story of Jyn Erso and her ragtag crew of rebels who give their lives to get the Rebels the plans to the death star so they can destroy the empire’s main weapon. Rogue One was struck with reshoots which made fans everywhere worried that Disney had screwed up the film and although we might never know the actual ending in full all we do know is that the film ended up being one of the best Star Wars films.
There are two main differences for Rogue One compared to the other Star Wars movies and that’s the different composer so the music isn’t the same as it always is and the fact there is no opening crawl. These two changes added a new feeling to Rogue One, no opening crawl telling us the story we probably already knew which led to having to show the build-up of characters at the start of the movie added a lot of emotion to the film as you see the demise of the Erso family. The film manages to successfully fill one of the main plot holes in the Star Wars films, why theres a hole in the death star, and it uses the emotion behind the Erso family to make you care about it even more. The music, which is still criticized is actually quite excellent and easily some of the best Star Wars music yet as Michael Giacchino creates a score that lifts your emotion levels, your stress levels and your ability to root for the new heroes.
Rewatching Rogue One a year later has managed to cement the film as my second favourite Star Wars movie, after Empire Strikes Back of course. Although some lines don’t go as well as they did the first time I saw it, a lot of K2SO comedic lines are funnier when there is an audience, the film is still extremely well written and planned out. It’s quite astonishing that a film that had to re-film its entire third act ended up nailing it and it’s even more surprising that Disney let them do that. It shows the care and passion Disney is putting into it’s Star Wars films as any other studio probably would’ve just made them keep the ending and release it as usual. The fact that Disney went the extra mile to ensure a fantastic film is one of the many reasons why I was so excited that Disney bought Star Wars and not a studio like Fox or Warner Bros.
Rogue One, in the end, feels like one of the most Star Wars movies ever made. It could’ve easily felt like a B grade Star Wars movie that didn’t match the other movies and people would end up saying you don’t need to watch it but instead it is essential viewing when you’re watching them all. The difference between watching the prequels and then watching Rogue One afterwards is huge and it perfectly fills the gap between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope.
Filled with amazing visuals, music, acting and story Rogue One still fulfils every Star Wars fan’s dream in creating the first Star Wars film that is actually about war and shows the effect it has on people and shows the people lost in the fight against the Empire as opposed to simply celebrating those who lived. It is a film that fills the biggest plot hole in the Star Wars movies and it does it well. Rogue One is my second favourite Star Wars movie and the only way it’ll be knocked down is if The Last Jedi is the best Star Wars film yet, which I hope it is but still. Disney and Gareth Edwards should be proud of the film they have made.