Carries Baggage, Yet Carries it Well

Rating: 8/10 (17 December 2016)

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a compelling and visually appealing Star Wars backstory. Don't misunderstand, Rogue one is exactly that, a back story which aims to take the franchise in a direction which it has yet to go.
This paired with the best visual effects of 2016 makes Rogue One a truly necessary movie going experience. While character death is often lacking, the film makes up for it in it's use of such characters to create some truly moving moments.
The downside to Rogue One is of course that it carries both "prequel baggage" and the weight of trying to introduce fans to a new cast of characters for now the fourth time.
All in all the positives far outweigh the negatives and Rogue One manages to fashion a story which points Star Wars in a new thematic direction.