*This is a spoiler free review.
The sequel prequel spinoff, that is what Rogue One is in terms of it’s placement in the Star Wars universe. Despite what sounds like very obvious forthcoming franchise fatigue Rogue One is more Star Wars than we’ve ever seen before. Finally it is simply about the Star Wars and it’s not the same Star Wars you know. It’s jarring at first but once you’re settled you’re set on a long ride of a story that you already know but don’t realise the magnitude of. Rogue One essentially raises the stakes of the original trilogy and that is what makes it so good. It’s a crazy starting point in your next watch through of the original trilogy as the film will clearly add a sense of desperation and action on top of the great but sometimes slow A New Hope.
What about the film on it’s own though? Well Rogue One is beautiful and the attention to detail is incredible. The scenery is incredible to look at and the cinematography is different to any other Star Wars film before it, which really allows it to further stand out on it’s own. The spaceship scenes are reminiscent of the great action in Return of the Jedi and isn’t CGI filled like Revenge of the Sith. The action is brutal, every hit counts it’s nice to see a level ground between the shooting of the rebels and the stormtroopers because at it’s core this film is a war film and it’s not necessarily the slightly kid friendly Star Wars that we know and love. It’s the Star Wars that fans have been craving with the action that isn’t like your average blockbuster where the home planet is being destroyed and a few people need to save everything. The film is about everyone, about the whole galaxy and about urgency in saving everyone from the Empire. Lots of rebels die and lots of stormtroopers die and thats the way it should be for this type of story. The story is very basic and thats not a bad thing but something a little more would’ve been nice however you already kind of know what happens so it is good that they focused on other parts of the film. I’m glad that they set out to make this a war film because the emotions both of this film and the emotions to come in the following films, original trilogy, make the film a better journey to partake in.
The characters, despite not a lot of development, are memorable and fun. The new droid K-2SO, Donnie Yen’s Chirrut and Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso are clear standouts in a very packed film. There are other stand out performances but I’d rather not say them as the surprise and the fact that they’re there is so exciting when you see them. This is one of the ways where the film exceeds greatly against other Star Wars films and other blockbuster franchise films. The inclusion of easter eggs not just as cool tibits for fans but making them part of the story, part of the universe is oddly refreshing. When a character shows up it adds another chapter to their story. That character could be someones favourite and that is where the film is not just for everyone but for individual fans who love every aspect of Star Wars, from random pilots to favourite aliens to parts of the animated ‘kids’ shows. Rogue One excels in what it sets out to achieve which is a film that joins the originals and the prequels whilst also being a fantastic film on its own. The force is strong with the film and the Disney have proved again that they know what they’re doing with the force.
Expectation Level: Extremely High
Expectations Achieved
Score: 4.5/5 – Director Gareth Edwards can take pride in knowing that he has created a film that is more Star Wars than ever before. This new chapter for Star Wars is a fantastic and emotional journey that looks beautiful and reminds you of what makes the Star Wars universe and overall story so great.