The second most beautiful Star Wars film to date!

Rating: 9/10 (22 January 2017)

Personally, Rogue One falls second to The Empire Strikes Back in my list of the best Star Wars films. This film was meant for the fans, but after watching it again, I feel anyone can enjoy the story without having seen a SW film. The various nods to both the original and prequel trilogies will make any fan jump with joy, but they're not crucial to the plot; so, again, as a standalone film, the average movie-goer will not be lost.
The first half contains a great deal of exposition; with so many diverse characters to introduce, the film can't help but quickly and plainly explain what it needs to. The pace is rushed here and there and some issues solved effortlessly, but the story picks up as it goes. The third act is simply incredible. The love for the franchise becomes crystal-clear here. You can feel the film's eagerness to reach this point in the story and have fun, offering satisfying character/ story arcs. The action scenes, especially the space battles, are wonderfully shot, providing striking cinematography not seen (or fully enjoyed) in other SW films.
I cannot praise the film's use of practical effects enough, and Rogue One ties-in flawlessly with A New Hope. It's a great time to be a Star Wars fan.