Rogue One Review

From its announcement, Rogue One was a very curious film. Set before Star Wars: A  New Hope, the film would reveal how the Rebels got their hands on the Death Star plans that truly kicked off the saga. But one had to wonder, just how far would it go with its story? How much would it tie into the prequels and the original trilogy? Would it hold up, even though most of these characters are not mentioned in the remaining films? The answer is yes, yes it does.

WARNING: Major Spoilers Ahead

It’s almost hard to think about where to start with this film. As there is so much to discuss. So we’ll start with the Rogue One team itself. Lead by Jyn Erso, and Cassian Andor, the team is very different from the usual teams we get in the Star Wars films. For Jyn, she’s the daughter of the man who basically helped make the Death Star what it was. Played by Mads Nikkelsen, Galen Erso is easily one of the most sympathetic characters ever see on a Star Wars screen. And those disappointed with his role in Doctor Strange should find more to love here. He is the fuel that takes Jyn from being a simple criminal, to a full on Rebel.

Which of course brings me to Cassian, a Rebel since basically birth, he’s been fighting the “good fight” for decades, and has taken the cost of doing so. His intro scene has him doing an act that you’d think is too harsh for a Rebel, but as he notes, not everything is simple when you’re at war. Yet, later on, he talks about the cost affects him, and other Rebels, and leads to a truly powerful scene.

Add to them a hilariously blunt droid named K-2SO, a defector pilot, a blind monk, an a heavy gunner, and you got a full on team of loveable Rebels/Rogues. Though their teamming up is quickly done, you do believe that they are a functioning unique. If for no other reason than their skills allow them to work because they all contribute. A true standout for me is Donnie Yen’s character, Chirrut Îmwe, who is not only a true believer of The Force, but one who can truly see beyond what is in front of him, so to speak. For my money, he’s the anchor that makes the team work, as his belief helps drive them in many instances. Oh, and he’s a totally wicked swordsman. So that helps.

That’s not to say there aren’t good villains here, as we not only get some returning favorites, but a new villain in the form of Director Krennic, who was one of the true architects of the Death Star alongside Galen Erso. What’s entertaining here is his lust for power and recognition, which puts him in direct conflict with not only Darth Vader, but Governor Tarkin. Yes, that Tarkin. For those curious, he’s a fully rendered CGI character, which is a problem to be honest. However, his presence is needed at times, as he’s a key part of the Death Star picture, and him not being there might have been a problem.

A huge joy for me was just how deep they went into the thoughts, feelings, and even politics of what the Empire and Rebel Alliance were back before New Hope. The original films didn’t really dive into how desperate the Rebels were at the time because they had to focus on the story. Here, we got that chance to see just how scared they honestly were. Which is great, because it allowed for some great character moments, as well as give them the courage to do what they needed to do when the time came. Seeing a lot of familiar faces from the original film (though not all the same actors to be fair), along with returning faces like Bail Organa, really helped add to these scenes.

Of course, there was also the darker side of the Rebellion that we got to see via Saw Gerrara, who led a very extremist group, one that didn’t care as much about casualties of civilians as long as the Empire suffered. Seeing how the Rebels felt about Saw was very important. More so, seeing certain generals within the Rebel Alliance take actions that others clearly didn’t approve of showed that not everyone was on the same page.

Then there’s the Empire. As previously noted, Krennic and Tarkin butt heads repeatedly over who controls what. But not just that, the Empire’s need to have the Death Star done, else face the wrath of the Emperor, was very much felt. It’s these little elements that helped make this a much better story that it might’ve been without. For example, a “test” of the Death Star should just how effective it was as a weapon, despite it being set at a low power level. Which of course didn’t backtrack its full power test that Alderaan felt in New Hope.

By the time we get to the main mission, which felt perfect in the context of what was happening in the Rebel Alliance at the time, you knew something big was about to happen, and that the momentum of the war, and by extension the point of the original films, was about to change. From start to finish, this was one of the coolest scenes I’ve ever witnessed. Yes, you knew they would “succeed”, but the cost will likely surprise many, I know I was.

I’m not sure why, but I honestly felt that some of the Rogue One team would live. If for no other reason than to possibly have them in a sequel in some form. But, as the scene rolled on, and tragic death, after tragic sacrifice, after shocking twist happened, you knew they wouldn’t make it. While some may question it, I applaud it, because too often you think that the main characters can’t die, because they’re the main characters. But in a war, a true war, everyone is expendable. Everyone.

Rogue One’s director, Garreth Edwards, made it known that he wanted to use as much real effects as possible for the film, a direct contrast to the prequels and part of Force Awakens. It’s for the best here, as the action is powerful, visceral, brutal, and very much like trench warfare. No fantasy elements here, this is straight up army vs. army. Now sure, the vehicles and battleships and such were mainly CGI, but that’s a small sacrifice to keep the Star Wars vibe in tact.

Speaking of which, I’m sure people will be dissecting just how many cameos and Easter Eggs this film has, I know I was. From returning characters, to name drops of planets along with past and future plotlines, there’s a lot to behold. Yet, with maybe or two exceptions, it really works. Remember, this is set right before New Hope, and at the end of the film, you’ll truly understand what that means by one single cameo. They could’ve gone way overboard, and they almost did, but they reigned themselves in just enough to ensure that it felt true to the stories both before and after this one took place in cannon.

Now, there were some small, but important, downpoints in the film. The use of Tarkin was nice, but his CGI body was very distracting. Especially when compared to another CGI cameo, and 2-KSO, it looks odd, as the latter two were rendered seemlessly, while Tarkin truly looks animated. Also, there are some characters that we honestly know like one or two things about, which is sad because they’re really cool characters. There are a few cases of over acting too, though not as bad as some of the trailers made it out to be. Not to mention, there are a few cannonical questions that will arise from this film. Small ones, but ones fans will notice upon reflection. Finally, this is not a film for those not familiar with Star Wars in any way. There’s so many references and nods to the series, that if this was your first Star Wars film, you’re likely to be lost by some of what’s happening.

All that said, this is a great film. The cast is very loveable, and by the ending, you’ll truly appreciate the original trilogy even more. Rogue One is an amazing film, and one that more than justifies its title as an anthology story.