Star Wars- this most definitely was.

Rating: 9/10 (20 December 2016)

I went into the cinema with serious reservations about Rogue One and came out with them (nearly) all dispelled. One of the issues I had was whether a story which had an all too well-known outcome would warrant a feature length treatment; another was the CGI-ing of some returning characters that I'd heard feature in the movie; and finally, would it really be 'Star Wars' or just lavish fan-fiction? Well, the story is well plotted and very well paced (despite what some others have said), unfolding a very grown-up tale of redemption and sacrifice. There are a couple of jarring moments when seeing familiar faces remade by CGI, one at length, for those of us on- board since '77. When I asked my wife about it, however, she was unaware that the character had had a CGI-makeover. She thought she was watching a real flesh and blood actor, so, the job had clearly been well done. As for the nods and in-jokes, yes there were plenty but, nothing got in the way of the narrative drive towards Rogue One's spectacular, bitter-sweet climax. There are some really fine casting choices and quality performances on show that make the characters engaging.
I left the cinema feeling that I'd just seen a fine movie for the first of many times. My wife, who had only seen Ep. VII at the cinema reckoned that Rogue One was better, and I think she's probably right. This feels like a proper Star Wars movie to me and should not be dismissed as an exercise in milking a franchise.There were some very small children near us in the auditorium and I reckon may have nightmares for days to come after watching the extensive and gritty battle-sequences in this film - this really deserves its cautionary rating as did Ep.III. For us oldies, however, I don't think I'll be the only one watching double bills of this and Ep.IV on Blu-ray when Rogue One eventually comes out.