Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - directed by Gareth Edwards
**** spoiler free ****
Rogue One manages to be both a Star Wars film and not a Star Wars film and it does both things so brilliantly well that it isn't hard to see why many early reviews are calling it not only better than last years excellent "The Force Awakens" but better than what is widely considered the absolute finest entry to date - "The Empire Strikes Back".
I will come to whether I agree or not in a bit but regardless there is absolutely no doubt that this is a fantastic movie and more to the point - a great Star Wars one.
Seriously - if you were at all concerned about the re-shoots and the rumours of Disney executives being unhappy and demanding extensive re-working... do not be.
Everything works with this movie.
I described this as both a Star Wars film and also not.
By this I mean that while of course it is a Star Wars film - it has the ships, the locations, the events and several of the characters from originals and the prequels it also has a tone and a style that is very different.
It is more in line with a World War 2 movie than a science fantasy film.
This story about a group of Rebel Alliance soldiers attempting to steal the plans to the Death Star - the very same plans that started the whole ballgame off way back in 1977 - can be compared at a basic plotting level to "Return of the Jedi".
Both have missions involving ground troops, large scale space battles and the need to deactivate a protective shield.
But that is where the similarities end.
In fact this movie feels not one little bit like any of the Star Wars movies that preceded it.
And yet somehow it fits oh so seamlessly into the timeline that it gives one a rush of nostalgia as the final moments play out.
Director Gareth Edwards has forged a genuine modern classic here and pulled off a neat trick in balancing the very best that modern special effects have to offer without making the entire project seem out of place with the forty year old original or even the ten year old "Revenge of the Sith".
It is no surprise to learn that he is a lifelong Star Wars fan - his film constantly bears the fruit of the genuine love he clearly feels for the series.
And yet he is not playing things too safe.
A lot of new stuff is brought into play - characters, equipment and locations.
Each and every person, place or thing still feels like part of the same universe.
Sure- there are numerous cameos and extended cameos (which I will not spoil) but to the last they are wonderfully done.
None of them feels cheap or like simple fan service (or at least poorly done fan service)
It is the core cast however that really shine.
Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso is likely to draw the same sort of fan affection and adoration that Daisy Ridley did as Rey in "The Force Awakens".
She is beautiful, resourceful, smart, heroic and very very handy in a fight.
Prior to this she will be most famous for roles in "Like Crazy", "Theory of Everything" and "Inferno" - the recent Dan Brown flick.
She has also made her fair share of period dramas where she is required to play the English Rose type.
Jyn is a million miles (probably literally) from that type of character.
Jones proves more than up to the task and the talented actresses casting was inspired.
Likewise Mexican actor Diego Luna as Cassian Andor manages to recall Han Solo without actually being anything like him.
He is a little roguish and certainly ruthless on occasion (He would definitely shoot first - trust me!) but at heart he is a soldier and totally committed to the Rebel cause.
Often in a cold blooded fashion.
The introduction of K2SO - a reprogrammed Imperial droid who is the default comic relief could have gone completely wrong (Jar-Jar wrong) but proves to be another strength.
His funny moments seem in character and it is a character that not only works on a comedic level but exists for valid story reasons.
K2So even gets a superb hero moment.
In fact so much works so well that it took me until the end of the second viewing before I realised that there are no Jedis and barely a look at force powers or a lightsabre.
And yet- I'll say it again - this movie is absolutely and without any doubt a Star Wars film.
And it is pretty much my second favourite one of all time.
So good it is that it makes "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope" a better movie.
I kid you not... you will immediately want to watch it after you see "Rogue One".
To say any more would be to spoil things and I will not do that but rest assured this standalone movie feels more fitting in the overall Star Wars universe than at least two of the prequels (which I do for the record still love)
I am reserving a special paragraph for the effects and the look of this movie.
It is stunning!
The final half hour is basically one huge battle fought on several fronts.
There are AT-ATs (in fact AT-ACT - the cargo variant), dozens of X-Wings, B-Wings, Tie Fighters, Frigates, Blockade Runners, Star Destroyers and many more.
The action is filmed in the style of a war movie with a constant barrage of explosions and shooting.
It is adrenaline pumping stuff.
The dogfighting action is terrific and even more so in 3D (IMAX is particularly great)
The visual effects are beautifully rendered and provide several moments that you probably never realised you had always wanted to see.
You will know these when you see them.
I found myself beaming with joy as this film ended.
For all of its darkness and death it is uplifting and is guaranteed to make you happy.
It is aimed at adults more than children but is likely to be embraced by all.
It will further reinvigorate your love for Star Wars (as if it needed doing after The Force Awakens)
And for anyone who feels that Darth Vader is no longer relevant he has a couple of scenes in this film and one of them is genuinely horrific.
Vader in full flight is quite a thing to see.
I loved this movie.
Totally and completely loved it.
Yes, I am a huge Star Wars fan and I am more than a little biased but the reaction of people at both screenings tonight tells me that I am not alone.
"Rogue One" is a superb film and yet more evidence that Disney's Lucasfilm buyout was not only worth every penny but was a great move for not only the studio but the entire Star Wars franchise and it's many millions of fans.
RATING: 95 / 100
CONCLUSION: Astoundingly good. Packed with action of many varieties and without a single even remotely bad performance this one is going to go down very, very well indeed.
**** spoiler free ****
Starring: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Forest Whitaker, Mads Mikkelsen, Riz Ahmed, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen, Wen Jiang, Jimmy Smits, Genevieve O'Reilly, Alistair Petrie, Warwick Davis
Screenplay: Chris Weitz & Tony Gilroy
Music Score by: Michael Giacchino
Cinematography: Greig Fraser
Cinematography: Greig Fraser
Edited by: John Gilroy, Colin Goudie & Jabez Olssen
Running Time: 133 minutes
Language: English
Rated: M - Violence
Running Time: 133 minutes
Language: English
Rated: M - Violence
I will come to whether I agree or not in a bit but regardless there is absolutely no doubt that this is a fantastic movie and more to the point - a great Star Wars one.
Seriously - if you were at all concerned about the re-shoots and the rumours of Disney executives being unhappy and demanding extensive re-working... do not be.
Everything works with this movie.
I described this as both a Star Wars film and also not.
By this I mean that while of course it is a Star Wars film - it has the ships, the locations, the events and several of the characters from originals and the prequels it also has a tone and a style that is very different.
It is more in line with a World War 2 movie than a science fantasy film.
This story about a group of Rebel Alliance soldiers attempting to steal the plans to the Death Star - the very same plans that started the whole ballgame off way back in 1977 - can be compared at a basic plotting level to "Return of the Jedi".
Both have missions involving ground troops, large scale space battles and the need to deactivate a protective shield.
But that is where the similarities end.
In fact this movie feels not one little bit like any of the Star Wars movies that preceded it.
And yet somehow it fits oh so seamlessly into the timeline that it gives one a rush of nostalgia as the final moments play out.
It is no surprise to learn that he is a lifelong Star Wars fan - his film constantly bears the fruit of the genuine love he clearly feels for the series.
And yet he is not playing things too safe.
A lot of new stuff is brought into play - characters, equipment and locations.
Each and every person, place or thing still feels like part of the same universe.
Sure- there are numerous cameos and extended cameos (which I will not spoil) but to the last they are wonderfully done.
None of them feels cheap or like simple fan service (or at least poorly done fan service)
It is the core cast however that really shine.
Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso is likely to draw the same sort of fan affection and adoration that Daisy Ridley did as Rey in "The Force Awakens".
She is beautiful, resourceful, smart, heroic and very very handy in a fight.
Prior to this she will be most famous for roles in "Like Crazy", "Theory of Everything" and "Inferno" - the recent Dan Brown flick.
She has also made her fair share of period dramas where she is required to play the English Rose type.
Jyn is a million miles (probably literally) from that type of character.
Jones proves more than up to the task and the talented actresses casting was inspired.
Likewise Mexican actor Diego Luna as Cassian Andor manages to recall Han Solo without actually being anything like him.
He is a little roguish and certainly ruthless on occasion (He would definitely shoot first - trust me!) but at heart he is a soldier and totally committed to the Rebel cause.
Often in a cold blooded fashion.
His funny moments seem in character and it is a character that not only works on a comedic level but exists for valid story reasons.
K2So even gets a superb hero moment.
In fact so much works so well that it took me until the end of the second viewing before I realised that there are no Jedis and barely a look at force powers or a lightsabre.
And yet- I'll say it again - this movie is absolutely and without any doubt a Star Wars film.
And it is pretty much my second favourite one of all time.
So good it is that it makes "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope" a better movie.
I kid you not... you will immediately want to watch it after you see "Rogue One".
To say any more would be to spoil things and I will not do that but rest assured this standalone movie feels more fitting in the overall Star Wars universe than at least two of the prequels (which I do for the record still love)
I am reserving a special paragraph for the effects and the look of this movie.
It is stunning!
The final half hour is basically one huge battle fought on several fronts.
There are AT-ATs (in fact AT-ACT - the cargo variant), dozens of X-Wings, B-Wings, Tie Fighters, Frigates, Blockade Runners, Star Destroyers and many more.
The action is filmed in the style of a war movie with a constant barrage of explosions and shooting.
It is adrenaline pumping stuff.
The dogfighting action is terrific and even more so in 3D (IMAX is particularly great)
The visual effects are beautifully rendered and provide several moments that you probably never realised you had always wanted to see.
You will know these when you see them.
I found myself beaming with joy as this film ended.
For all of its darkness and death it is uplifting and is guaranteed to make you happy.
It is aimed at adults more than children but is likely to be embraced by all.
It will further reinvigorate your love for Star Wars (as if it needed doing after The Force Awakens)
And for anyone who feels that Darth Vader is no longer relevant he has a couple of scenes in this film and one of them is genuinely horrific.
Vader in full flight is quite a thing to see.
I loved this movie.
Totally and completely loved it.
Yes, I am a huge Star Wars fan and I am more than a little biased but the reaction of people at both screenings tonight tells me that I am not alone.
"Rogue One" is a superb film and yet more evidence that Disney's Lucasfilm buyout was not only worth every penny but was a great move for not only the studio but the entire Star Wars franchise and it's many millions of fans.
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