The Star Wars Movie Adult Fans Have Been Waiting For

Rating: 10/10 (22 March 2017)

Rogue One: easily the most adult of ALL Star Wars movies. To some, saying "adult" would mean "boring", "unexciting" or "lifeless". "Rogue One" is none of those adjectives but it's fair to say it is the most "kid unfriendly" of all the Star Wars movies. Director Gareth Edwards made it his quest to make a Star Wars movie for the middle aged fans, the ones who were, 8, 9, 10 or even 15 years old when they first got introduced to George Lucas' space opera. Yes, I'm one of those fans. It's unavoidable comparing this movie with the prequels. While the prequels had their charm (and were made by the CREATOR himself, Mr. Lucas), it wasn't really what I was expecting. I don't hate them at all, but I don't like them as much as the originals (I do think however, "Revenge Of The Sith" is superior to "Return Of The Jedi"). Gareth Edwards completely understood that there was a huge need for a more "serious" Star Wars movie. "The Force Awakens" was a move in the right direction, despite what the unfaithful might think or say. "Force Awakens" had a perfect balance of serious, dramatic parts with more lighthearted fare (without ever falling into Jar Jar or "ani" territory). With "Rogue One", Gareth Edwards went all out to make a grim, bleak looking movie. Certain scenes reminded me of "Bladerunner" and "Alien", two masterpieces of adult science fiction. We get to feel the rough edges of the rebellion, that it's not all peachy and good and that sometimes violent decisions must be made for the sake of the cause. Reviewers that have also mentioned similarities to "Saving Private Ryan" are also right. The fights are violent, the storm troopers are scarier (something that JJ Abrams got positively right in "The Force Awakens"), the rebels have their defects. It's not all "good" or "bad", there are grays, there's a middle ground.
What we basically have with "Rogue One" is a prequel. The most "prequels" of the prequels, if there's an adjective to describe Gareth Edwards work here. The movie truly ends with the beginning of "A New Hope". We finally know how the rebels "stole" the plans to the Death Star: a lot of casualties, a lot of deaths, a lot of sacrifice. "Rogue One" was the REAL suicide squad. Jyn Erso, Cassian Andor and their band of mercenaries are heroes as much as Han Solo, Leia Organa or Luke Skywalker. While the latter three lived to celebrate the destruction of the Death Star, I wonder how many of the rebels know the sacrifice that went into stealing the plans.
The acting, the pacing, the effects: everything was brilliant about "Rogue One". It was a daring project that could've backfired but it did not. Yes, I too missed the intro scroll with the triumphant Star Wars theme playing loud in the background. Yes, I missed the familiar themes of John Williams. Composer Michael Giaccino had one hell of a task but he pulled it of. The main prevalent musical motif in "Rogue One" (could be "Jyn Erso's" theme) is similar to "Rey's Theme" in "The Force Awakens". It could be a friendly nod from Giaccino to Williams. Only a couple of Williams' classic cues were used: The Imperial March, the Imperial theme from Star Wars, the Force theme and of course, the end credits have a good portion of classic Star Wars music, but almost 90% of the score is brand new music. It had to be done and Giaccino was the right choice.
I have nothing but praises for "Rogue One". If you were expecting something like "The Phantom Menace", this movie is NOT for you, I'm sorry to say. For me, "Rogue One" hit all the right buttons. It was the Star Wars movie I was waiting for.