Review of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) by Rathael — 17 Dec 2016

ROGUE ONE REVIEW.

Star Wars is back and Star Wars is now real force! Where to begin reviewing this movie. It achieves so much within its simplicity and a rather narrow scope of a mission, but manages to expand on the known Star wars Lore byROGUE ONE REVIEW.

Star Wars is back and Star Wars is now real force!

Where to begin reviewing this movie. It achieves so much within its simplicity and a rather narrow scope of a mission, but manages to expand on the known Star wars Lore by doing so, and introducing us to many new and reminding us of a quite a few old characters, in different scopes of screen time, some important to the plot, others more of fan service, letting us know they do exist in this ever expanding universe.

Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso, Alan Tyduk as K2S0 and Forest Whitaker as Saw Gerrera steal the show. Yes that is that Saw Gerrera to who ever watched Clone Wars animated series. Felicity Jones carries the entire movie with her conviction and fearlessness. K-2SO provides the most of the part of the comic relief but not in a way that anyone has seen before, think of him as of more cynical version of C-3PO, that way I do not go into much details or spoil much of his character. Forest Whitaker is fantastic as war grizzled Saw Gerrera that shows us just exactly how much war can change anyone, regardless of what side you are on.

Another big surprise in this movie was just how much screen-time was dedicated to the Empire and its characters with Ben Mendelsohn as Commander Krennic, puts a real face to the Empire, and how the people behind it, were as divided and human as any of the other rebel characters. That is probably partially true, as he's one of the only real Imperial characters really developed on screen other than Vader/Palpatine before, and it was very interesting to see that side of the war as well. This is where the movie really shines as well, as it shows that even Imperial officers like him, have their own agendas and dreams.

Rest of the cast is very very capable as well with Mads Mikellsen leading the cast as the imperial science officer, and Donnie Yen (Yeah!) as a blind staff wielding warrior, and its Donnie Yen in Star Wars movie, that's all that really needs to be said about that! Rest of the cast is also very capable and the charisma and the connection between these characters is very well established.

Gareth Edwards manages to make an adult version of Star Wars not saying the others were not adult oriented movies, but this one is not really relying on humor but establishing the true struggle that rebellion had to do against the Empire. And Edwards manages to do so, without making the movie dreary all the way, managing levity just enough to keep the story fun and exciting.

Another big departure here is that this is the first Star Wars movie not composed by John Williams but Michael Giacchino whose music fits to the feel of this movie, even though there are some famous Star Wars beats in the movie, most of this soundtrack feels very original, and he has put his stamp on the Star Wars universe, which is an amazing accomplishment.

Everything about this movie feels authentic, and its really the small things from the aesthetic feel of the movie and how certain shots were framed and how certain sequences were established is done very well, almost as a painting at some points, and there was that scene that was scene with a Star Destroyer, that I believe was shown in trailers, that scene gives you goosebumps.

Overall this movie does what a very very few movies can succeed at and that is take established universe, remove most of the main characters from that universe and make a compelling movie, make the universe feel more lived in. Manage to expand on the known universe in such a way that is meaningful, introduce us to some of the new characters that we can cheer for: Either Rebel or Imperial, and as I could believe this is first time that both Rebel Alliance hierarchy is kind of explained, and that adds to their plight. And this last statement I am going to probably catch a lot of crap for, but I believe it to be true. This movie managed to do an impossible, make an original trilogy even better movies.

4 out of 4 stars.