Title: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Directed by: Gareth Edwards
Written by: Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy
Year: 2016
Star Wars: The Force Awakens proved that Star Wars is back and still kicking. The seventh installment in the beloved franchise did massive numbers at the box office and set the stage for a bright future. But this film will be the first to veer off the episodic series as an anthology story. Does this film find success in going rogue, or should we abandon all hope?
Set prior to the events of Star Wars: A New Hope, the Rebel Alliance has discovered the creation of a planet-killing space station; the Death Star. It is up to a small band of Rebel spies to steal the plans to the deadly weapon, in the hopes of finding a weakness.
Let us get this out of the way first. No, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story does not feature an opening crawl nor the familiar fanfare at the beginning. If any Star Wars movie needed an opening crawl text, it was Rogue One. If you have not read the most recent canon novel, Catalyst by James Luceno, which ties into this movie directly, you may find yourself a bit lost at the start. The book explains the relationship between Galen Erso and Orson Krennic. Also, if you have not watched the animated television series The Clone Wars, then you will be unfamiliar with the character of Saw Gerrera. The omission of the opening text was an attempt to further separate this film from the episodic releases, which I feel was a mistake. The movie should be able to set itself apart on its own merits, with the traditional Star Wars opening linking all the installments. The incorporation of a crawl text could have gone a long way to summarize Catalyst and introduce Saw Gerrera for the casual fans.
Felicity Jones has been getting a lot of work recently (deservedly so) and is the star of this picture. Jones is fantastic as the tough and independent Jyn Erso. She has a remarkable screen presence that is backed up with a layered performance. Jyn is a sensationally realized personality that anchors the film with a good character arc. Diego Luna plays Cassian Andor, a Rebel captain. Luna contributes a necessary sense of authority to the role, making Cassian a memorable and important character. The performance-sparring between Jones and Luna is captivating and highly animated, coming across as one of the film's greatest strengths.
Mads Mikkelsen is very good as Galen Erso, Jyn's father. He is quite the tragic character and if you have read Catalyst, your understanding of Galen is further enhanced. Ben Mendelsohn is perfectly over-the-top as Director Orson Krennic, the main antagonist of the piece. He is appropriately cold and chilling, as well as bombastic at points, channeling the traits of several James Bond villains. Forest Whitaker is great as Saw Gerrera, who is very different from when we saw him last in The Clone Wars. Saw has seen better days, and Whitaker's raspy line-delivery adds a history to the character.
The plot is based on one sentence that appears in the opening crawl for A New Hope. "Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire's ultimate weapon, the DEATH STAR..." Rogue One tells the story of the rebels that stole those plans. The plot is inexplicably riveting, partly because of how well-told the story is and partly because of how integral this event is in the Star Wars mythos. The amount of care placed to ensure not tampering with the established history of the universe is on full display. For the first half, Rogue One moves at a slower pace than most other films in the franchise, which is not a bad thing. But once the third act rolls around, the picture becomes an energetic and explosive thrill ride that will leave you short of breath until the very end.
Gareth Edwards did a phenomenal job directing this feature. He simultaneously captured the spirit of Star Wars while also creating a film that is very different from the other entries in the series. Rogue One fits into the saga perfectly, but sticks out through its tone and visuals alone. The cinematography is stellar, especially during the battle sequences. A great deal of the picture has the heroes confined to small spaces, which allows the camera to get up close, thus producing intimate shots of the characters that resonate with the audience. For the battles, the cinematography elicits a tremendous sense of scale. For instance, the AT-ACTs are mainly shown from low angles, which emphasizes their towering size and immense power over the ground troops. The lighting throughout the film is brilliant, with beautiful hues adorning each set piece.
While on the subject of battles, I can definitively state that Rogue One delivers on the war aspect. The small skirmish on Jedha is wonderful fun, but only a small taste of what is to come. The third act is where the real action is. The battles are grand and epic, but also dirty and graphic. War imagery is abundant within each frame. The Force Awakens lacked any space combat, but Rogue One certainly fills this gap with one of the greatest space battles ever put to film, rivaling the one from Return of the Jedi. As a whole, the final act of this picture is outstanding, exciting, and unforgettable.
For the majority of the year, The Jungle Book has been my pick for the best visual effects of 2016. Now, Rogue One has stepped up to contest that title. The visual and practical effects in this film are nothing short of stunning. The space sequences are vivid, the AT-ACTs look terrific, and the surrounding environments are gorgeous. The production values are impeccable, which is apparent simply by looking at the sets. The universe feels lived-in, kind of rustic, harkening back to the original trilogy in a faithful manner. But what really steals the show on the technical side of things are the performance capture characters. I already touched on Tudyk's K-2SO, which looks excellent. But there are several other characters that alone rival the visual effects used in The Jungle Book.
The music by Michael Giacchino has been the source of much controversy. Firstly, this marks the first time a Star Wars film has not been scored by John Williams, who is responsible for the iconic music that defines the franchise. Secondly, due to complications, Giacchino was brought on to the film very late. As such, he was only given four and a half weeks to compose the score for the entire picture. I think the music is marvelous, and not just relative to the time frame that Giacchino was given. Familiar motifs and themes are scattered throughout the soundtrack, but most of it is original. I believe it depicts the Star Wars universe very well and underscores the themes powerfully. Though not the best or most memorable of all the Star Wars scores, it is certainly worthy of the monicker and I would really like to see Giacchino return. I would want to see what he can really do when he is given ample time.
Darth Vader has been teased from the very inception of the film. The galaxy's most feared Sith Lord and one of the greatest cinematic villains of all time returns for this latest installment. James Earl Jones reprises the voice role and he sounds magnificent. You can tell that Jones' voice has changed a bit over the years, but he is undeniably Darth Vader. As for the character, he is used sparingly in the film. Vader appears in two scenes. While I definitely wanted to see more of him, because who knows if they will be able to bring him back for another movie, the scenes that we get are awfully satisfying. Vader was used economically, which works well because he is not the main villain. He is a key player in the story, but the focus is never on him, which was a smart move on the filmmakers' part.
Now for potential flaws. I say potential because it all depends on how closely you follow the Star Wars universe. The beginning sequence with Galen and Krennic can throw many viewers off because you can sense so much unexplored history between the two. The lack of an opening crawl actually does affect this scene, which could have been set up so easily with the iconic floating words. If you have read Catalyst, then this will not be a problem as you understand the full backstory. Also, upon first viewing, I found the main band of rebels to be a tad underdeveloped, with the exception of Jyn and Cassian. I felt that the film could have explained more about who they are, where they come from, and why they are fighting. Finally, when the title of the film appears, the font used is horrendous. It fails to promote the epic nature of the diegesis. This is a minor nitpick, but it does standout.
Having said all that, a second viewing actually benefits this movie. The lack of a crawl and the terrible title card are things that cannot be changed. But the flaws I mentioned earlier seem to have been rectified. For my second viewing, I paid special attention to the music and dialogue, the latter of which fixes my issues with the film. By focusing on the lines spoken from the characters, you receive all the information you need. The discussion between Galen and Krennic in the film's opening tells you all the important information from Catalyst, thus preventing the alienation of those who have not read the book. By listening to every line the rebels say, you will understand everything you need to know about them, like their backstories. As a result, the flaws I mentioned earlier are not flaws at all, but rather proof of a tightly written script where every line is imperative to either the plot or the characters. Every word is relevant. Rogue One trusts its viewers to pay attention and pick up on all the little details, which is admirable but will surely go over the heads of many.
*SPOILERS AHEAD* As expected, the movie contains plenty of fan service. Saw Gerrera is one of the most prominent examples of it. Though not a terribly important or fan favorite character, it is nice to see that the filmmakers want to reward those who have stuck with the franchise and have watched The Clone Wars. In concordance, there are a few treats thrown in for those who watch the show Rebels (which I highly recommend for any Star Wars fan). Over the loudspeaker at the base on Yavin 4, you can hear General Syndulla's name being called. This could either refer to Hera Syndulla or her father Cham Syndulla, but I am strongly leaning towards Hera, who serves as the team's pilot in the show. Speaking of which, Hera's ship, the Ghost, makes several appearances. You can see it at the Rebel base as well as during the space battle near the end. Finally, the grumpy but lovable astromech droid Chopper makes a cameo in the film.
*SPOILERS AHEAD* Similarly, both the original Red Leader and Gold Leader were brought back during the space battle with unused footage from A New Hope. In addition, we are finally given an explanation as to why Luke was Red 5 even though he was a new recruit and there were numbers beyond his. It is because the Red 5 that came before him died during the ending space battle, thus leaving the call-sign open. C-3PO and R2-D2 make a quick cameo at the Yavin base, continuing the tradition of their being in every film of the franchise. There is a quick mention of the Whills, which is what Chirrut and Baze are protecting. In the early drafts for A New Hope, part of the title and the film included something called the Journal of the Whills, which is like the Jedi bible. Dr. Evazan and Pondo Babba also appear, giving Jyn a little bit of trouble. The movie also seeks to resolve a long-standing issue with many fans. Why was the Death Star so easy to blow up? Because Galen Erso rigged a trap so small the Empire would never find it. He made it so that one blow to the exhaust port would cause a chain reaction that would cause the battle station to explode. Things like this actually improve the original trilogy.
*SPOILERS AHEAD* Many speculated that the main characters in this film would die by the end because we never see nor hear of them in the original trilogy. Surely enough, that happens. I must applaud Disney for allowing this type of ending to take place despite their public image. It fits the story perfectly and leaves a lasting impact. Speaking of lasting impacts, Vader certainly leaves an impression. His first scene with Krennic appears to take place on Mustafar (suspiciously the only planet that is not accompanied with introductory text). His entire introduction reminds us why he is to be feared, despite his physical vulnerabilities. This is illustrated by first showing him outside of his armor and in a bacta tank, which is then followed by a glorious entrance that highlights his imposing stature. Many are divided on his "choking" pun, but I personally loved it.
*SPOILERS AHEAD* But the scene that everyone will be talking about is his ferocious attack on the Rebels after they obtain the plans. The camera complements the villain splendidly. The lights go out, the hallway is dark, and all you can hear is the trademark breathing. A red lightsaber is ignited and suddenly the room is tinted with an ominous red hue. Vader effortlessly blocks the blaster shots and uses the force and his lightsaber to murder all the Rebels in such creative and badass ways. The whole time he is walking forward, never stopping nor changing pace. This depicts him as an unstoppable force of nature. This scene belongs in a horror movie, as it truly is terrifying, especially the way the Rebels are screaming. I could gush about this sequence all day, but I will keep my thoughts brief. This scene is like a piece of candy; short but sweet. Very, very sweet.
*SPOILER FREE* All in all, I think Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a triumph for the Star Wars franchise. It seamlessly fits into the series while also offering slight details that enhance the original trilogy. The cast is fantastic, with Felicity Jones providing a poignant performance; the story is thoroughly engaging and interesting; the characters are wonderful; the fan service is in full force (without detracting from the film); the action is beyond thrilling; the visual effects will leave you astounded; the music is suitable; and the third act will blow your mind. The potential flaws I mentioned earlier really depend on the viewer. For me, as someone who has read Catalyst and has watched both the canon television shows, I was never lost. I could see people who are not as in-tune with the franchise being a bit confused, but only if they do not pick up on the implicit dialogue. I must stress that Rogue One goes to great lengths to include all of its viewers in the adventure; one need only listen attentively. This film is appropriately dark, gritty, and a shade violent. This is an enthralling and thrilling spectacle with engrossing themes at the forefront. For me, Rogue One is better than last year's The Force Awakens (which I loved), placing it right beside the original trilogy. The film perfectly leads into A New Hope and enriches the experience. The force is strong with this one, so do not miss it.
Grade: A+
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