Solid Star Wars film - not mind-blowing, but doesn't detract from the originals

Rating: 7/10 (2 January 2018)

'Rogue One' (or "Star Wars Episode 3.5") is the first standalone Star Wars film (excluding 2008's CGI 'The Clone Wars' film), which is both its strong point and part of it's burden. It's hard to write a review objectively, since Star Wars is one of my favourite things ever, and almost every second scene is a reference to something from the Star Wars universe, so it's hard to imagine it from a context of someone coming in not having seen anything else Star Wars. And frankly, if you haven't seen the original trilogy, you need a good hard look at your priorities in life!
I say this is like episode 3.5, but it's actually more like episode 3.9, with the ending leading directly into 'A New Hope'. The film centres on how the Rebel Alliance obtained the Death Star plans, that allows Luke Skywalker to blow it up. The introduction of Krennic (Mendelsohn), Galen Erso (Mikkelsen) and his daughter, Jyn (Jones) is done well, but there's not that much backstory. Basically, Galen's forced to build the Death Star, explain why there's a clear design flaw, and the rebels are sent on a frantic chase to steal the plans and get them to Princess Leia in time.
There's a decent cast, with Yen & Jiang probably the best (even though I'm not sure you learn their names?), Rook (Ahmed) as the Imperial defector who grows in importance, Cassian (Luna) the rebel pilot who's had to do plenty of unpleasant deeds, and the droid K-2SO (Tudyk), who steals almost every scene he's in. Saw (Whitaker), Mon Mothma (O'Reilly), Bail Organa (Smits) and the CGI Tarkin don't have that much to do. There's obviously a few cameos, with Darth Vader getting two scenes. I did like the film, but I probably wanted to like it more than I did. It tries hard, but it's hard to connect with the characters, especially as we know how it's going to end. The best bits by far are seeing the new planets, the Death Star in action, the set-design/feel of Yavin 4 and the rebel fleet, and the space battle at the end.