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If you’re a Star Wars fan, you’ve felt the feeling of anger, fear, and doubt when Lucasfilm decides to take a risk. Rogue One is no exception.
Rogue One was revealed in the summer of 2016, and fans were immediately on two sides of the field. One side believed this would be a good, fresh take on Star Wars. The other side, let’s just say they hated the direction the films were going, specifically this one.
I️ was somewhere in the middle. I️ saw the potential in the film, and I️ wanted I️t to be good; however, at the same time, I️ saw its potential to fail. This could’ve been the bomb that, if set off, caused the Star Wars franchise to finally meet its inevitable end. Fans would be forced to say goodbye, and the crazy, original trilogy fanboys would’ve been right when they so loudly exclaimed: “Disney ruined Star Wars!”
But, just like this film’s ending, there was hope.
The film is based on those thirty seconds of rolling text in front of Star Wars: A New Hope. In that text, we are told a story of rebels who stole the Death Star plans, in hopes that they could once and for all destroy the super weapon. The main character, Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), the daughter of the genius, imperial architect, Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen), joins Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and the droid, K-2SO (Alan Tudyk) and forms an unlikely team of rejects, and imperial defects, all in the name of the rebellion.
This is truly a beautiful film. I️t brings a new face to the rebellion. One complaint I’ve always had with the original trilogy, is that I️t doesn’t feel like a rebellion. There is a clear difference in who is bad and who is good. While, that’s important for films with a good versus evil plot, it’s important to understand what a rebellion is. A rebellion is gritty, mean, and deadly. Rogue One tremendously shows that truth. I️t shows the darkness and the sadness of the rebellion, and is encompassed in the emotion during Diego Luna’s line “I’ve been in this fight since I️ was six years old.”
Felicity Jones, in my personal opinion, is the best part of this film. Her performance as Jyn Erso, is top notch. She makes every scene her own, and is really a modern day Princess Leia, with an even cooler blaster.
Darth Vader plays a role in this film, not a big one, but still a role. His final scene is one of my favorite moments in the entire franchise, if not all of cinema.
The CGI for the film’s final battle is beautiful. The x-wing and tie-fighter fights are tremendous. Everything seems to be so real.
If I️ had to complain about anything in this film, it would be the CGI Tarkin and Leia. I️t was a bold move, and I️ applaud them for it, but it just felt stale, and without too much focus. That being said, Tarkin got better over time.
All in all, this film is a masterpiece. I️t hits every beat I️ was hoping I️t would, and it brings to light a lot of things the original trilogy could’ve done better, while still honoring the beauty of the first three films.
I️ give this film a 9/10.
What do you think? Did you like Rogue One? Let us know down below!
For more things Star Wars, and all things geek, follow me (@imtylersiedell), and as always, Geek Motivation (@GeekMotivation).
Written by: Tyler Siedell
