The Force Takes a Nap

Rating: 5/10 (22 December 2016)

In a year where Hollywood has failed to deliver, the stage was set for Rogue One to steal the show, unfortunately that was not the case. Instead, Gareth Edwards gave us a Star Wars rendition that, while looking absolutely stunning, lacks any character and depth. Despite on the service being a movie that is, arguably, visually superior to The Force Awakens, Rogue One offers little more than fan-service and leaves no lasting effects for audience members that have yet to be indoctrinated into this Lucas/Disney cult. What went wrong? One of the most significant flaws of Rogue One is its protagonist, Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones). Jones' performance is utterly bland, especially when compared to last years predecessor Daisy Ridley, and she serves as more of a reference point for the audience instead of the charismatic leader that this film needed. Very little motivation for Jones, as well as the rest of the clichéd ensemble, means that it becomes difficult for the audience to get invested in what was actually quite an enjoyable and action-packed final act. This is a problem that I believe persists throughout Gareth Edward's filmography, most notably Godzilla (2014). While all his films do look visually stunning, he has yet to master the art of character development and when considering Rogue One's quite standard heist plot, the lack of engaging characters does mean that the film suffers heavily. Although I enjoy Episodes 4-7, I am far from a Star Wars buff but I can appreciate the level of fan service that Rogue One contains and I can understand why fanatics seem to enjoy this film. However, the persisting thought I have about this film is; why was this made? Of course it whets the appetites of those eager for Episode 8 but Rogue One leaves no enduring moments for the Star Wars universe and with the rich history and depth of the Star Wars canon, it is a shame that this films biggest achievement is being better than the prequels. As it turns out, that's not a very difficult task.