Puts the Wars in Star Wars

Rating: 9/10 (27 December 2016)

Star Wars! It is one of the biggest franchises around, spreading its tentacles to films, video games, cartoons and books. The films have been a dynastic saga about the Skywalker clan, until now! Rogue One is the first spin-off film and a bolder film then The Force Awakens which was a repeat of A New Hope.
Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) saw her father (Mads Mikkelsen) being captured by the Empire and mother killed. 15 years later she had become a criminal with no allegiances until the Rebels free her so she can do a mission for them, meet a rebel extremist and Jyn's former guardian, Saw Gerrera (Forest Whittaker) who has vital intelligence about the Empire's new weapon.
Rogue One is a direct prequel to A New Hope, tying into the events of the first film and the writers, director and producers pulled off a marvellous trick, making something fresh and original, expand the universe for people who only the on screen version of Star Wars and tell a story that people know the outcome to. Director Gareth Edwards perfectly recaptures the look of the original trilogy in its set-design and costumes and puts his own directional stamp on the series. Rogue One takes away the famous opening crawl and trademarks like the screen swipes: it was a risk and it paid off.
Rogue One was what the prequel trilogy should have been - it was a darker tone like the prequels were meant to be and there is a clear emphasis on the 'Wars' part of the Star Wars title. It told a story where audience members knew the outcome to but still felt unique and not a carbon copy of other Star Wars film plots. It is an original story that is cleverly tied to A New Hope thanks to the screenwriters Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy. The film also expands the mythology and science in the universe without being complete stupid i.e. midichlorians. Rogue One showed more of the culture and religion of the Jedis, with the Empire raiding their temples.
Another risk of prequels is that they could be seen nothing but fan service. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them were examples of being films obsessed with fan services and references for the sake of it. Rogue One had references to the series as a whole, some are recurring lines that are said in all the films, references that are tired into the wider series, like a certain Jedi and a few little nods for the fans. They are not forced and some even have a dramatic purpose.
Rogue One also marks the first time a live-action Star Wars film has been composed by someone other than John Williams: Michael Giacchino. Giacchino is one of the most celebrated composers around, working on films like the Mission: Impossible series, the rebooted Star Trek films and many Pixar films and he was able to recreate Williams' sound - it could easily work within the other Star Wars films.
The Star War series is a brand that supersedes any big name actors and Rogue One cast a collection of actors on the edge of hitting the big time, respected character actors and genre actors. Jones was cast after she was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in The Theory of Everything and along with her roles in Inferno and A Monster Calls she had a terrific year. She was convincing in the action scenes and being the jaded young woman who isn't that interested in the rebellion but deep down got a good heart. One of her biggest moments was when she sees a message her father left for the resistance and sees him for the first time in 15 years. She was overwhelmed just by a hologram.
The big stand out performance was Alan Tudyk as a reprogrammed droid K2-SO. He had a dry, sarcastic delivery that was sometimes pessimistic and always bitting. Tudyk sounded similar to Anthony Daniels and his character came across as a more confident version of 3-CPO. Despite his pessimism K2-SO was loyal to Cassian Andor and was quite the badass in battle.
One of the biggest controversies about the film was using technology to bring Peter Cushing back from the dead - some commentators have said it was in poor taste despite his family allowing the film to use his likeness and the effect is seamless. The use of Cushing's Grand Moff Tarkin was used sparingly. Whilst the film could have used a new character but it does add to a sense of continuity in the series, as well Jimmy Smits to reprising his role as Bail Organa from the prequels.
There were rumours that Rogue One was a troubled production - it was reported that there was a large amount of reshoots and that director Edwards was kicked off the project. If any of these rumours are true it doesn't show in the final product. Edwards is establishing himself to be one of the best sci-fi directors around, having already made Monsters and Godzilla and easily one of the best special effects directors around. He was able recreate the look and feel of the original trilogy and but his own stamp on the series, making a darker war film that uses some WWII iconography. The final battle can easily go down as one of the best in the whole franchise.
Whilst Rogue One had a great opening and closing act it was in the middle were the film suffered from a saggy middle. The film was just stalling to extend its runtime and try and add some extra emotional drama.
Rogue One works both as a sci-fi fantasy action for casual moviegoers and as an extension to the Star Wars series, showing that the films can move beyond the Skywalkers and Solos. It was truly an epic space opera.