REVIEW: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

"Chirrut Imwe's beach holiday didn't go as planned!"

Lucasfilm and Disney took a risk to try something a little different with regards to the Star Wars movie. Not afraid of ruffling feathers with fans, the Star Wars universe gets an expanded look at the events that occurred after Episode III: Revenge of the Sith but before Episode IV: A New Hope.The Jedi are all but gone, Obi Wan is in hiding and the Empire is doing a fantastic job at taking over the galaxy. Young girl, Jyn Erso is quietly living with her dad, Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen) and her mom. When he turned his back on the Empire after helping them build a gigantic space station known as the Death Star, Galen took up farming on a quiet planet. Quickly realising they need Galen back to finish their evil plan, the Empire despatch Orson Krennic, complete with white cape and black armoured Deathtroopers to convince him to return with them. After initially declining, preferring windmills to world domination, Galen realises that he has no choice, and after giving time for his daughter to escape, he reluctantly goes with them. During this debate, Galen’s wife decides to take matters into her own hands and it doesn’t go well. Galen leaves, wifey is dead and little Jyn hides away. Fast forward a decade and a half later and Jyn is now an adult (played excellently by Felicity Jones) and, after being broken free from prison by a group of rebels, she is reluctantly dragged into the intergalactic war that is facing the universe. With a smattering of cameos and nods to other aspects of the Star Wars universe and, of course, featuring Darth Vader every now and then (James Earl Jones reprising his iconic booming voice), Rogue One brings with it everything you want to expect from a Star Wars movie. Amazing and arresting visuals – some of the battle sequences are stunning – Rogue One starts off slow and then goes for the jugular and by the end of the exhilarating ride you are trying to catch your breath. But, for all that it is a Star Wars film, with suitably sounding names like Cassian Andor and Churrut Imwe, it is a bit different too. For example, it is a lot darker – people die, and, dependent on your opinion, there is also no opening crawl either!

Star Wars music is suitably done (but not by John Williams for the first time!) and there is no famous anthems until Darth Vader appears. Those expecting lightsabers and Jedi will also be disappointed though there is a spattering of such throughout the movie and references too. The new characters are introduced to us are likeable and memorable and fit very well within the universe. We have Captain Cassian Andor, brave and fearless Rebel pilot/soldier, Baze Malbus and Chirrut Imwe (guardians of the Jedi temple) and Bistan (who is in more trailers than the film) among others and the new characters all have their own motivations and reasons for fighting. Also featuring Forest Whitaker as Star Wars Rebels character Saw Gerrera, Rogue One has truly a roster of people to keep you occupied until the end. As expected the new droid, K-2SO (voiced excellently by Alan Tudyk) is like a cross between C-3PO and Marvin the Paranoid Android from Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and often steals scenes he is in. The coolest character by far is Chirrut Imwe, a blind Jedi Master, who is able to fight and defeat many opponents even though he cannot see. The bromance between him and Baze is clear and they always have each other’s back.

Overall, Rogue One is different to the Star Wars we know, but maybe it is time to do that so we don’t get sick of the franchise. It’s a fresh take on the Star Wars universe but fits snugly within the narrative that is so ingrained in society that it feels organic. This movie was a risk for Disney but has paid off and is a great addition to the films we are getting. It sets the bar high for the next ones, and also kinda makes up for the poor prequels from the turn of the century. Worth a watch more than once so you can see it with a clear head the second time, as the first will blow you away. Slow to start but unbelievably exhilarating at the end, Rogue One certainly puts meaning being the term calm before the storm.

POPSCORE: 9/10