Starring Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story traces her family legacy to the creation of the Death Star and her mission to destroy it. With the help of rebel spy Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), snarky droid K-2SO (Alan Tudyk) and a team of interplanetary fighters, Jyn struggles to find her father, Galen (Mads Mikkelsen), who was kidnapped by the Empire. She's tasked with stealing the plans of his deadly creation, which he rigged with a fatal flaw, in order to get it to the Rebel Alliance.
This visually stunning film with superb acting is a great prequel to the film that started it all, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (previously known as just Star Wars). We learn the origin story of the planet destroyer -- the Death Star -- and see how the plans for the deadly weapon wind up in the hands of Princess Leia.
For the most part, characters are well developed, and if not, we are given enough of a back story to run with it. Also, the action sequences are entertaining -- feeding very much into what Star Wars fans would expect from their beloved franchise, as well as providing some much-craved cameos from the film series. The humanity of the story is also something to be enjoyed as it focuses on the coming together of family and friends to fight a common foe.
If you are a fan of the film series and the Star Wars universe, you'll enjoy seeing the story from a different angle as well as experiencing the groundwork that would spawn the story in A New Hope, which in itself offers a unique experience for fans as it is enjoyable to follow Rogue One in making connections between the two movies. If you're new to the franchise, then this movie offers a great base to get started on the central story of the original trilogy.
Overall, this is a solidly enjoyable film, both for Star Wars fanatics and general film fans alike.
Special Features:
- A Rogue Idea: Writer John Knoll discusses the idea for the film and how it came about. He also talks about why this is the right time for this film to enter the Star Wars film canon as the precursor to the series of anthology films to follow.
- Jyn: The Rebel has actress Felicity Jones discuss her role as the strong-willed leader of the mission to obtain the plans of the Death Star and what she had to do to portray the character.
- Cassian: The Spy: Diego Luna talks about his portrayal of his complex and passionate character, Cassian Andor.
- Bodhi & Saw: The Pilot & The Revolutionary features interviews with actors Riz Ahmed and Forest Whitaker who offer further insights into the former Imperial pilot turned Alliance supporter and guerrilla Rebel leader.
- In The Empire we see a further discussion about the evil Imperial antagonist and its feared overlord, Darth Vader.
- In Visions of Hope: The Look of Rogue One the filmmakers discuss how they managed to create a new look of a world that could fit into the old one previously seen in the original film trilogy.
- The Princess & The Governor features a discussion about what went into bringing Princess Leia and Governor Tarkin back for Rogue One.
- Epilogue: The Story Continues shows the cast and crew celebrating the premiere of Rogue One as well as discussing future stories to be told in the franchise.
- K-2SO: The Droid covers the profile of the Imperial droid reprogrammed to assist the Alliance, including how the character was developed as well as Alan Tudyk's voice performance of the witty and selfless character.
- In Baze & Chirrut: Guardians of The Whills we are treated to a discussion with actors Jiang Wen and Donnie Yen about the special relationship shared between their two somewhat opposing characters.
What did you think of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story? If you've seen it and would like to write a review, click here. ~Alexa Caruso