Before I begin my review, I need to explain my
experience with the Star Wars saga. When
I was a kid, my father bought the original trilogy on VHS. I did see them, but
I don’t remember much about them. I am familiar with the storyline and some of
the characters and creatures, but my memories of them are really, really vague.
When the prequels came out, I went to the movie theater and saw all of them
with my parents. I remember liking the prequels, however, again, I was a kid
back then, so I don’t really remember much about the first two prequels. So, of
all the Star Wars films, the only
ones I clearly remember are Revenge of
the Sith, The Force Awakens, and now this one. I know, I know, I’ve been
living under a rock all this time. It’s not that I’ve been actively avoiding Star Wars, it’s just that I need to get
up and actively look for these movies! Of the three Star Wars films that I have engrained in my head, I’ve really liked
all of them, so I should really go out and see all the movies. Anyways, back to
the review.
I
think the biggest issue casual viewers will have with this film is that, well,
you really need to be familiarized with the Star
Wars lore to follow along. Rogue One takes
place right before the events of Episode
IV, so anyone not too familiar with the original trilogy might be confused.
Some people might even expect it to be a sequel to The Force Awakens! Myself, while I did struggle at some points, I
could keep up with the storyline without too much trouble. Again, while I need
to refresh my mind with regards to the original trilogy, I am familiar with the
storyline and characters.
Rogue One isn’t directed by J.J. Abrams (the director of The Force Awakens), and it’s noticeable.
The Force Awakens had an extremely
fast pace throughout the whole film. It was an action-packed, non-stop thrill
ride. Rogue One however, has a much
slower pace. There aren’t as many action scenes (in fact, most of the action is
reserved for the climax), and many scenes go on without much musical
accompaniment. While the film does drag out at times, it never gets boring,
since there is always something going on to progress the story.
The
film’s greatest accomplishment is how well it captures the scope and difficulty
of this mission. From scene to scene, we witness either the dark fate of a key
character, the stakes and risks of our characters, or the power of the Empire
over our heroes. This isn’t a kid-friendly sci-fi film. This is a dark entry in
the Star Wars saga. And the ending,
all I’m going to say, without giving away any spoilers, is that it’s not your
typical ending. And for that, I applaud this film.
If there is any other negative thing I have to say
about this film, it’s that it doesn’t do much in expanding the Star Wars universe. Just like The Force Awakens, a great film
nonetheless, it tends to rely too much on the plot and elements established by
the original trilogy. Now granted, it is expected, since this film acts as a
spin-off, showing the events that lead up to the original trilogy. However, I
wish we could have seen places and creatures we’ve never seen before. Even
myself, coming in as a casual Star Wars fan,
could see that many of the places and creatures came straight from other Star Wars films.
However,
on a more positive note, I will say that Disney is doing a good job in creating
the original material me and others are craving. The Force Awakens, while a really good, solid film in its own
right, had many similarities with Episode
IV. Rogue One however, feels more original. I think the writers did a
really excellent and clever job in creating the events that lead up to the
original trilogy. A New Hope tells us
in the opening credits that the plans of the Death Star have been stolen.
That’s it. Ever wondered how they were stolen? Well, now you know. From this
small line of text, the writers have crafted an engaging, dark story. Their
work is worthy of applause. This is a movie by the fans, for the fans.
Actually, it isn’t just for the fans. Any casual viewer will have a blast with
this film. I know I did.
In conclusion, after leaving the theater, I knew that
Disney acquiring the Star Wars property
was pretty much the best thing that ever happened to the saga. So far, we’ve
had two great films, and more are coming soon. And while I did state that their
biggest flaw has been their insistence to tread in familiar territory, these
two movies still have way too many good things to offer, so it doesn’t really
matter in the long run. I’m pumped to see Episodes VIII and IX as well as the
Han Solo film they’re planning, and I think that Disney won’t just stop there. There
are so many possibilities for gripping stories within this universe, as well as
some great Star Wars novels waiting
to be adapted for the big screen. The possibilities are just endless!
Rating: 4
out of 5 Stars
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