Rouge One Is Perhaps The Best of the Star Wars Movies!!!

Rating: 10/10 (24 December 2016)

Rouge One is perhaps one of if not the best of the Star Wars movies. While admittedly starting a bit slow, Rouge One quickly takes off and doesn't look back. As more than one critic has stated, this is a war movie first and foremost. The characters don't spend time on sappy dialog and the sets, scenes and action are visually awesome and stunning. The movie viewer can appreciate the Empire being at the height of its power (troopers being able to actually hit things, and haven't some of us ever rooted for the Empire - just a little?), as well as rebels whom don't give up, don't need any hokey force but rather throw themselves into things with all they have and never give up.
Rouge One succeeds very much where Episode Seven failed. While both movies are visually stunning, their action scenes roller-coaster awesome and their female lead characters inspiring and believable. Rouge One is very much an original story, while Episode Seven - a really good film in its own rite - is also a disappointing rehash in several aspects (and that's confirmed by folks leaving the theaters - both at the end of Episode Seven and Rouge One - that I overheard).
I appreciate the Vader, and Leia for that matter, only really make cameos. It makes sense in that it keeps them from taking over the movie, and also a character like Vader; well you know HE would've never lost the plans for the Death Star. It also allows others within the Imperial military to shine, I mean while Vader might've been the most famous Imperial there were others of recognition also and this movie really allows them to come into their own.
Felicity Jones, whom I've admired for years, is going to see her career made by this movie. She's had a reputation for being careful in the films that she chooses to do, she'd rather do a film of substance rather than a hopeful blockbuster. She made the right choice in picking this movie, not because it was going to flop - I mean it' Star Wars - but rather it's a rare caliber of a blockbuster that draws in the viewer and you forget that you're "watching" a blockbuster. I wish Ms. Jones all the best of luck that this movie will bring to her, she deserves it as does the rest of her motley band whom knowing the odds still embraced a mission for the cause.