Move Over J.J.

Rating: 9/10 (17 December 2016)

I would have given this 8.5, but they won't let you do that, so I gave it a 9. Why not?
I was very pleased with Rogue One, especially after walking out of the theater feeling a little disappointed last year. If nothing else, Rogue One tries some new things, which The Force Awakens didn't do much of at all. It also features an arguably better balance of old and new characters, and one of the best scenes in Star Wars history near the end. The special effects (both CGI and practical) are also amazing, some of the best I've ever seen in fact, and one particular aspect of them may change the way movies (especially sequels/prequels) are made FOREVER. I'll be shocked if Rogue One doesn't win Best Visual Effects at the Oscars this year, because it totally deserves it, even though Doctor Strange is a worthy contender.
As for negatives, there aren't many. Some may argue that the new characters are largely flat, but I would point out that this is a standalone story, not part of the main series. These characters will not be featured in any other movies in the foreseeable future, so not focusing on them as much left some time for the old characters, as well as what we all came for, the epic battle scenes, which are much better than those in TFA. And I actually grew to like several of the new characters more than I thought I would. The first act is a bit hectic, jumping around all over the place very quickly. There are also a couple scenes that are quite strange, even for Star Wars standards, but these are all fairly minor complaints.
Rogue One is a new hope for Star Wars fans that were disappointed with The Force Awakens. It's definitely not perfect, but it's a heck of a lot better than it had any right to be, especially considering that any fan of Star Wars knows exactly what's going to happen. It stays grounded in what we know and love while branching into just enough new territory simultaneously. I will eagerly be awaiting the next Star Wars story!