A true war film, meticulously planned film for Star Wars fans, who will have the chance to vibrate with the battles and Imperial Ships, as well as connections with A New Hope.

Rating: 8/10 (20 May 2020)

At the same time that Disney started a new trilogy with the main saga in "The Awakening of the Force", it also decided to invest in parallel stories that take place in the same universe of Star Wars, and may even collide directly with some of the main stories seen in the series until today. "Rogue One" is part of and is the first in a new series of spin-offs produced by Walt Disney and its narrative is established between the events of "Revenge of the Sith" and "A New Hope", beginning thirteen years before the explosion of the first Death Star. Six years had passed since the extinction of the Order of the Jedi Knights, the disappearance of the young Jedi Anakin Skywalker, the appearance of the cruel Sith Lord Darth Vader as well as the fact that Emperor Palpatine transformed the Galactic Republic into the fearsome Galactic Empire. In a few minutes, the story moves forward and runs almost simultaneously with the events of "A New Hope".
In Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) was estranged from her father, Galen (Mads Mikkelsen), as a child, due to director Krennic's (Ben Mendelsohn) requirement that he works on building the most powerful weapon in the Empire, the Death Star. Created by Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker), she had to learn to survive on her own when she turned 16. As an adult, Jyn is rescued from prison by the Rebel Alliance, who wants access to a message sent by her father to Gerrera. With the promise of freedom at the end of the mission, she agrees to work alongside Captain Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and the K-2SO robot.
The idea of the film was born from a detail present in the classic "Star Wars" of 1977: in the initial signs, it was said that the plans of the Death Star had been stolen by Rogue One, allowing the Rebel Alliance to have new hope. Who they were, none of the films released responded ... until now. Director Gareth Edwards brings many of the much loved elements of the universe created by George Lucas. We see different types of beings (many of them are created only with the intelligent use of makeup and prostheses and when there is a fusion of digital effects, they work in a transparent way), robots with their own personality that offer a certain dose of humor and the duality of good against evil encouraged by idealistic issues. "Rogue One" brings a heavier climate inherent to the growing threat posed by the Empire, on the eve of inaugurating its most powerful weapon, the Death Star. However, more than just appropriating revisited icons, the script is concerned with bringing new contexts.
Of course, watching Rogue One knowing the original trilogy allows for another layer of appreciation, but in a well-written script sign, no reference to the universe already known to fans is intrusive or in any way disrupts the narrative, something that is a real relief to the world we live in today, where scripts are practically written around references. And the best part of this observation is that Rogue One, if we stop to think, is nothing more than an immense unique reference, but that, so well-structured and developed, works independently. In addition, the Force approach in this film is also quite different from what we are used to. The plot shows the various levels of belief in this almost magical power that is able to influence that universe in different ways and how it can motivate, or not, someone on their journey.
Gareth Edwards delivers a true war film, a mission with little chance of succeeding, with constant losses, battles on the ground and also in the stars, defeats and moral conflicts that add much more colors to those who are considered the heroes. The characters in "Rogue One" are excellent and assume with all the lyrics that they have already made damn moral and ethical decisions, but assume as part of who they have become and what they are willing to do in the name of a cause. There are good bows for Cassian Andor, a son of war who puts Rebel interests above all else, Chirrut Îmwe (Donnie Yen) and Baze Malbus (Wen Jiang), remnants of times when the Force and the Jedi were not just legends, Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed), the Empire's deserter looking for redemption, and even K-2SO (Alan Tudyk), the sincere reprogrammed droid. Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), who should unite them all, seems to be forgotten. Felicity Jones is a charismatic actress and quickly manages to overcome her character's conflicts, especially in her broken relationship with her father and how she has a chance to fulfill her greatest desire. Presenting weaknesses, the protagonist is also extremely courageous. On the other hand, Forest Whitaker's Saw Gerrera also brings new nuances by presenting an extremist rebel, something hitherto little explored within the Star Wars universe. Unfortunately, an actor of the Whitaker level is used to put the plot in motion, only, not having a relevant role in the next acts of the plot.
Only two digital appearances are a little uncomfortable for the experience: Tarkin and Princess Leia. Tarkin was played by Peter Cushing in "A New Hope". With the death of the actor, the appraisal of Tarkin - extremely necessary so that Rogue One could be "fitted" in the mythology already established since the villain was the one who would destroy Alderaan - was all digitally inserted with the result falling short of the expected. The same can be said about Princess Leia, even though her face is seen for only three seconds and at the end of the projection, the moment is a shock to the viewer. And the worst thing is that, unlike Tarkin, his presence was unnecessary to the plot. Your presence from the front, I say. It was enough to have seen the heroine from the back for the whole message to be passed on.
There are excellent action sequences, such as the scenes on the planet Jedha, at the Imperial research facilities and especially on the planet Scarif, where the group of protagonists invades the database and obtain plans that show the vulnerability in the newly built Death Star. The work of the photographer Greig Fraser helps in his composition of the different planets that we travel through the projection. From a green planet in the prelude to a commercial warehouse crowded with people in an asteroid belt, passing through a semi-desert planet, another with rocks and torrential rains, culminating in a Caribbean paradise, we see their work completely change and adapt to the demands of narrative. General plans are contrasted with medium and American plans used to work on the threat tone and the proportion of the military power of the Empire with the small Rebel Alliance.
"Rogue One" does not fail to explore elements and characters well known to fans. Darth Vader's few appearances are always striking, there are several comic situations involving stormtroopers in order to give them some personality and even the Death Star appears imposing, allowing the viewer to follow the damage caused by its destructive ray from the planet itself achieved - something also unprecedented in the series, as well as the combat carried out in the midst of a paradisiacal scenario. The soundtrack, written by Michael Giacchino, wisely uses excerpts from the iconic compositions made by John Williams.
With more action and battle scenes than any of its seven predecessors, "Rogue One" serves as a prep for the events of the original 1977 film. It combines nostalgia and ingenuity to fill gaps in the canon and reveal other sides of the galaxy, with soundtrack, characters, creatures, vehicles and new, but familiar planets. While the good guys get more nuanced, the Empire's attacks become more brutal. The destruction is seen much more closely than has already been portrayed, and surprisingly it is more beautiful precisely because of this more personal view. It is not something that is happening only in a galaxy so, so distant, it is something that affects places that have just been visited, that you knew the routine and some of its inhabitants. But what makes it especially special is how it fits perfectly into the Star Wars timeline and connects events we already know by heart with others we've never considered. It makes us question how many other untold stories are in the dark corners of the galaxy far removed from George Lucas. With an electrifying ending, we see exactly how valuable a film derived from Star Wars is. He can walk on his own legs, he doesn't have to worry about leaving countless details prepared for what comes next and he can surprise the audience as it hasn't been seen in the franchise in a long time. It is a meticulously planned film for Star Wars fans, who will have the chance to vibrate with the battles fought by X-Wings and Imperial Ships, as well as connections with A New Hope. There is a clear respect for Gareth Edwards and his team to what the original trilogy represents, not only as a story, but as an ambience, in the sense of delivering something consistent with what has already been produced without sticking to a mere revisit.