Deserves A Lot of Credit as a Prequel

Rating: 8/10 (21 December 2016)

In a galaxy far, far away...
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Where to start... Honestly, when I bought the movie ticket, I went in not wanting to expect too much. I even considered not watching this at all. (Please don't throw pitchforks at me.) It was not part of the episodic formula of the Star Wars movies, and was clearly a side story, a companion to Episodes III and IV.
So far, the reviews have been rather mixed. Mostly positive, but there are of course those who are wondering, "Am I the only one who thought that was overrated? Seriously?"
The characters were never meant to be too memorable. It's easy to see why lack of character development can be seen as a major flaw of this movie, because at the start, the build-up really seems like it is getting to nowhere. Personally, though, I saw enough to actually care for them. I saw enough of them to feel the anguish when they reached their inevitable doom. It was what made the last few minutes of the film so worth it. It went together so nicely with "A New Hope", seeing the path these rebels took to kindle hope in the hearts of the Rebellion once more. If it were not for the things these characters had to go through, nothing from Episode IV would have been possible. The ending of this movie was the most fitting conclusion they could have managed, I think. The sheer, emotional impact it gives is powerful. It is definitely a better experience seeing this after having seen Episode IV.
It really depends on what you wanted to see from this film. It felt like a film that was a story that enriched and expanded the way we viewed the events in Star Wars. There are plenty of treats for Star Wars fans, including the scenes with Darth Vader, who has stepped up his game since the last time we saw him. We don't see much of him, but when we do, it's sure to leave a mark. (Also, let's face it, after Kylo Ren, a lot of people miss classic Vader. Rest assured, you won't be disappointed).
So to answer your question, yes, as a movie, it is a bit overrated, but we can ask for nothing more from a SW prequel movie, because as a prequel, it does a terrific job. Rogue One is an emotional, dark addition to the franchise that manages to exceed expectations, a small phenomenon that helps the love for Star Wars burn brighter.