Disney are the Rogue Ones.

Rating: 7/10 (16 December 2016)

When I found out Rogue one was being made and the story line being focused around the Death Star- I worried when seeing Krennic as the main man in Mos Eisley. I wondered where and what Disney had done with Grand Moff Tarkin, even yielded to the possibility that they had twisted his legacy and wouldn't bother with him.
I was wrong.
On Grand Moff Tarkin (GMT)
He is in it, and yes - he is excellent. They have re created him using CGI and using the voice of Stephen Stanton (Who does the voice for the TV show Rebels too) to great effect, that for me - his appearance was the highlight and most likely so for many GMT fans. Unfortunately, there are still some concerns about the direction Disney are taking it. It seems they portray Tarkin (unlike the book) as merely just jumping on the bandwagon of the Death Star after it's first firing mission's success. This is a small point, the film wasn't ruined by it - but it does seem to undermine GMT's lore somewhat.
That aside, it does still show you just how powerful GMT was in his peak. Krennic gets treated quite badly by Vader at one point after appearing desperate and power hungry - something that would never happen to GMT. Krennic is feeble in comparison actually and I think the film overall reflects that thankfully - in the end.
The final Battle on Scarif
The rebels go to Scarif and insert a small team of around 9 people on the ground to sabotage and search for the Death Star plans. These 9 soon turn in to 90 - a silly inconsistency, later rectified only after the shield around the planet (see later) is disabled.
The Star Wars Universe seemed to of binned shields. You know those things that protect ships etc. In fact the only thing that does seem to be shielded is a planetary shield generator that is attached somewhat to the atmosphere of the planet itself and acts as a gate of sorts. AT-AT's get taken out by X- Wings incredibly easily -EA's battlefront players will be jealous of the easy kills that happen in the film. A sensor dome on a ISD gets blown up instantly without even using Ion canons...oh wait there's no need (until later when they use them on the ISD's??) because they do/don't have shields. Disney....make you're minds up and stick with it.
The engagement protocol of the Empire is severely lacking in anything, it takes them a long time to even mobilise Tie Fighters to counter attack the Rebel fleet that warps in over the planet. It's painful - the captains/Admirals of the two ISD's in the area......they need to go back to Presfbelt 4 Training Academy yesterday. The ISD's can't even be seen returning fire against the entire rebel fleet at all. If they did then I must have missed it blinking. Literally, I could arrange the counter attack better than them. No joke.
On Shore Troopers
I said this before the film and they really don't seem to be that special at all. They mix in with ST's like they were born together. In all honesty - they serve no purpose and just seem like pointless 'merchandise' filler. Another model for kids to beg their parents/wives to buy.
On Death Troopers
They had slightly more presence that Shore Troopers and have more of a use. They do seem to be better trained too and this is reflected in their combat engagements. Much better shots than the regulars - which is a shame because their were moments when I thought ST's were painted out to be pros, but this lasts for seconds.
On the Darth Vader
Thankfully, you see him as the death machine he really was. They capture the fear he instills and power of him perfectly. If you saw him, in a meeting or in battle you would do something in your underwear. He's an animal and extremely powerful.
All in all it was good. There were a few issues I had with it as explained above - but so much better than Episode 7. It sets you up to watch A new Hope right after it too - which I loved. It's a shame they didn't let the director of Rogue One (Gareth Edwards) do 7 too.