ROGUE ONE Review: A War Movie Rooted in Hope That Will Tug on Your Star Wars Original Trilogy Heartstrings
***This is a SPOILER-FREE review.***
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY is a masterfully made movie and story which takes the best action bits and drama from STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI then rolls it all into an epic war movie. Although without lightsaber-on-lightsaber action, but that's not a problem in this film.
As the end credits rolled for ROGUE ONE, I was in my theater seat with my heart beating rapidly, in a state of euphoria with tears swelling in my eyes because I was so damn happy at what I had just watched.
As a fan who grew up with the Original Trilogy, I've been holding my breath for ROGUE ONE hoping it could live up to the Star Wars lineage and all the hype surrounding it being the first standalone Star Wars film. In all honesty, calling this film a standalone is a bit of a stretch because it is a true prequel to STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE but that's just a small nitpick. ROGUE ONE had a lot of hurdles to clear since it is the movie that comes directly before A NEW HOPE. A tough task, for sure. Yet Lucasfilm, director Gareth Edwards and his production team nailed it with ROGUE ONE.
The movie is absolutely fantastic and filled with tremendous amounts of hope and bravery to the point you feel all those emotions the characters are facing. It truly is THE prequel movie to me now and the best example of what I wanted and expected from the Prequel Trilogy. So even though you already know the outcome of the movie — the Rebels steal the plans to the Death Star — the thrills are real, the suspense and drama are visceral throughout. Also, as each new Star Wars film has opened up the galaxy far, far away to become a bigger place with new worlds, ROGUE ONE expands this even further with more new locations, cities and planets never before seen in previous movies.
If you have always wanted more action out of the Star Wars movies, this is for you. From hand-to-hand combat to blaster shootouts to vehicle mayhem to star fighter dogfights, ROGUE ONE has all of it. At times the action is in-your-face like you're right in the middle of a beach battle against the Empire or inside the cockpit of an X-Wing flying alongside your fellow Rebel pilots. I could have watched all of this action had this movie been five hours long (it's over two hours long). The tone of the movie is what makes the battles so great because they have the look and feel of the Original Trilogy movies with lots of added grit, dirt, sand, grime and everything else you would see on the front lines of a galactic battle.
Remember how cool it was in RETURN OF THE JEDI when there was both a space battle and ground attack happening at the same time on and above Endor? It was thrilling back in the 80s as the movie cut from one action scene to the next and you get more of this, and then some, in ROGUE ONE.
The performances are top notch all around and each character gets their respective moments. Jyn, Cassian, K2-SO, Chirrut and Director Krennic are all the highlight performances. And a quick shout-out to Darth Vader. He's not in the movie as much as you would like but his limited scenes are so powerful and perhaps the most jaw-dropping, but I digress.
The real standout of the film is the story and its feeling of hope and bravery for the Rebellion as well as the last battle leading into its ending. You may find yourself with happy tears swelling in your eyes at the end, too, because the film's connection to the A NEW HOPE tugs at your heartstrings in the best possible way.
Finally, there's some fun cameos you didn't know about and that have been kept secret. So keep your eyes peeled for them.
Finally, there's some fun cameos you didn't know about and that have been kept secret. So keep your eyes peeled for them.
While STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS was a great adventure filled with some nostalgia to bring fans everywhere into the next chapters of the Star Wars Saga, ROGUE ONE takes all of that several steps further by also having a direct connection to the start of the Original Trilogy. Because of this connection I think I have to say that I enjoyed ROGUE ONE a bit more than STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS. I said it and I have no regrets saying it since ROGUE ONE is that good.
[UPDATE MPAA Questions: Some have asked about bringing young kids to see ROGUE ONE and I would have to say that you should be fully aware that this is a PG-13 rated film which is so much more intense than THE FORCE AWAKENS. And I would have to say this is more intense than any other Star Wars movie with moments that might be a bit too much to handle for younger kids. But it's your kids so you be the judge although this is in fact a legit war movie, so let this also be a disclaimer.]
[UPDATE MPAA Questions: Some have asked about bringing young kids to see ROGUE ONE and I would have to say that you should be fully aware that this is a PG-13 rated film which is so much more intense than THE FORCE AWAKENS. And I would have to say this is more intense than any other Star Wars movie with moments that might be a bit too much to handle for younger kids. But it's your kids so you be the judge although this is in fact a legit war movie, so let this also be a disclaimer.]
Related Posts:
Bothans Will Not Be Dying in ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY Because That's From the Second Death StarFunko Star Wars Smuggler's Bounty ROGUE ONE Subscription Box Contents Revealed
Donald Glover Has Been Cast as Young Lando Calrissian in the HAN SOLO Standalone Star Wars Movie
Writer Lawrence Kasdan Hints at HAN SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY Plot