A Phenomenal and Emotional Star Wars Film

Rating: 10/10 (17 December 2016)

Quite frankly I was blown away by "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story".
To start off, the new characters are intriguing and original. The introduction to these characters can be viewed as slow-moving at first, but once they all come together the plot really gets moving, and it is fantastic! Unlike last year's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens", the story-line of "Rogue One" does not borrow any plot points from other Star Wars films. It makes the movie less predictable and more captivating for cinema audiences. The dialogue is great; no cheesy lines akin to the prequel trilogy, and there are some speeches by characters that are very moving and emotional. The visual effects and the action in "Rogue One" are glorious and exciting. Some shots, especially in the third act, can be considered as the best in not just any Star Wars film, but any film period.
One thing that "Rogue One" did better than "The Force Awakens" did was the original story-line; which as mentioned earlier kept audiences guessing and engaged. Conversely, "The Force Awakens" hit the ground running, and did not need a slower build-up like "Rogue One did". The beginning of "Rogue One" is a bit choppy at times, but once everything gets rolling the film turns into a captivating, emotional, and overall phenomenal Star Wars experience.
There were plenty of emotional moments "Rogue One"; arguably more of them than in any other Star Wars film. The film's ending is shocking and extremely emotional, which I rather enjoyed given that so many films these days play things safe and refuse to take risks. The fact that the audience feels a connection between themselves and the main characters really magnifies the film's ending.
Overall, "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" is a phenomenal and emotional Star Wars film. In my opinion, it is the best film of 2016, is on par with last year's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens", and is a serious contender for one of the best Star Wars films ever made.