A Satisfying Spin-Off to the Saga!

Rating: 9/10 (24 January 2017)

This "Star Wars" spin-off tells one of the back stories to the fourth "Star Wars" episode, "A New Hope." It tells the story of the origins of the Death Star and of how the Rebellion acquired the plans to the Death Star. The film focuses on a group of characters who do not appear in any of the first six "Star Wars" films.
This first "Star Wars" spin-off film had many things going for it. Unlike the previous year's "The Force Awakens," this film had very little to prove, which meant that it was allowed to focus more on good storytelling. The media's emphasis on the regular episodes of the main "Star Wars" saga meant that far less about the plot of this film was divulged to the public. This movie featured more than one surprise, none of which will be disclosed here.
Although this movie was a spin-off, it was every bit as engaging as the regular episodes of the "Star Wars" saga. The characters were interesting and likable. The film featured a nice mixture of humor and drama. The space battle sequence as well as many other visuals in the film were spectacular.
While this film was not one of the episodes of the main saga, fans will undoubtedly find the film to be a very satisfying viewing experience. The characters engage the audience on an emotional level; and, the story is always exciting. It nicely fills the gap between episodes III and IV of the "Star Wars" saga. The film is highly recommended!