Review of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) by Dan E — 21 Jul 2018

"Rogue One" expands the Star Wars universe by adding a brand new, solo chapter to the saga and succeeds in every way. This adventure film is mostly set days before the opening scene of "A New Hope" and its own ending is only seconds before the events of the 1977 film.

As the Galactic Empire is looking to complete their superweapon, the Death Star, research scientist Galen Erso is taken away from his home, pressed to work for the Empire. Several years later, Erso's daughter, Jyn, is asked to help the rebellion steal the plans of the Death Star, in order for them to defeat the Empire.

Being promised her freedom and a potential chance to see her father again, she decides to join the rebels. More than any "Star Wars" movie before it, "Rogue One" is largely focused on the themes of war.

It is also the first film in the franchise where there is one main focus and that's the Rebel's mission. This difference to the other films that it has helps the film distinguish itself from the Skywalker saga and give it the feeling of being its own story, even though it has several connections to past movies.

We are introduced to a group of characters that we will never see again, but we're invested on and that success is the result of the combination of the brilliant casting - particularly for Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn and Donnie Yen - and the writing.

Each one of these characters gets their moment in the spotlight. As expected, it's a visual masterpiece and includes some of the best and most breathtaking action sequences in the entire franchise.

This time around, Michael Giacchino is behind the score, a first time composer for the series and he does an incredible job. "Rogue One" succeeds on every level and it's to me the best Star Wars film outside of the original trilogy.