'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' Film Review
'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' tells the story of the Rebellion, who make the risky decision to steal the plans for the Death Star.
‘Rogue One’ is a thoroughly enjoyable enhancement to the 'Star Wars' franchise, and one that establishes an original trilogy to follow. There is no denying the fact that the film is a hit, despite the pressure it faced to live up to the quality of the episodic saga so well known and loved by fans. The tone of this instalment is a lot darker than its predecessors, but it sits well between Episode III and Episode IV.
A contributing factor to its standalone success is its ability to focus on war-orientated content without completely ostracising the franchise’s younger audience. It's a film for mature audiences at heart, with less focus on a ‘force user’ like that of the Skywalkers. It is nice to see a more locking of heads between the Rebellion and the Empire - an aspect that was predominately a backstory in the 'Star Wars' franchise as characters like Luke, Anakin or Rey discovered their force-related powers.
English director Gareth Edwards handles the project well, resulting in a well-rounded feature film. 'Rogue One' is a balanced film with heart, a clear goal, and a simple structure that isn’t overly cluttered. It features memorable characters, and one-liners delivered with precision by K2SO (voiced by Alan Tudyk), as he provides the gentle comedic relief in an otherwise serious film. It is because of such aspects that the viewer is drawn to K2SO, and establishing him as a standout character.
While K2SO is a well-developed character, many others appear limited and the audience cannot foresee them lasting beyond this outing. Though each character served their purpose in the film, Felicity Jones' Jyn Erso was by far the weakest with K2SO, and Donnie Yen’s Chirrut a close second in his connection to the force and 'Star Wars' law.
SPOILER ALERT!
Notably, the finale is crammed with nostalgia, pushing any 'Star Wars' fan to cry from sheer delight; this is one of the main reasons ‘Rogue One’ is so enjoyable; the acknowledgement that the original trilogy remains an integral part of its fans’ lives. In the film’s final seconds, a CGI Princess Leia ('A New Hope') appears onscreen - first seen from the back in her iconic costume before turning to face the camera in a draw dropping re-creation. It is a truly a breathtaking moment, especially following Carrie Fisher’s untimely passing.
'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' is worth the time and money. It isn’t abundant in lightsabers and the Skywalkers’ role in the universe. As a film, it enhances 'A New Hope' and immediately incites viewers to revisit the original as soon as the lights fade to black.
'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' is released in cinemas around Australia 14th of December 2016, and the U.K. 16th December 2016.
