The Jedi, The Sith and The Rancor
While the story is slow to begin, it’s necessary to establish the new characters in this exciting adventure. And I do mean exciting. There were moments when I was literally leaning forward, grabbing the arms of the chair to hold myself back. The film does a great job drawing you in. The slow start helps establish the scene and it really does amp up the tension as the movie reaches its climax.
Short of stepping into spoiler territory, I was so drawn in that even as certain events happened, I tried to convince myself otherwise. (So vague…I’m sorry. Go see it. You’ll get it.) The film manages to not only look like a Star Wars film, but most definitely adds to its legacy.
The Rebels of Rogue One
Each of the roles are balanced and well thought out. I found myself rooting for each individual character and despising the villain. It was also an interesting look at the rebellion. Rogue One muddies up the line between “good” and “evil” a bit, showing that not everyone on each side is so strictly aligned.
The cast was made up of mostly unknown actors. Felicity Jones really kills it as the strong and capable Jyn Erso, while Diego Luna makes a compelling counterpart as a rebel with a less than savory past. Though I usually have problems with the villain, Ben Mendelsohn does an excellent job portraying the sinister Orson Krennic.
Short of mentioning all of the actors in this film, every character introduced fit the story so well! From the defective Imperial cargo pilot to the Guardian of Whills, they all managed to win me over in the short time we spent together. (Though I’d hate not mention Alan Tudyk’s awesome voice acting!)
Of course, the final character is the score! It’s like a character at least. Michael Giacchino (Up, Call of Duty franchise) followed the footsteps of the great John Williams, and doesn’t disappoint. He took a lot of influence from the legendary composer and truly helped take us to a galaxy far, far away.
Final Thoughts
I found it very hard to find criticize this movie, because I went in knowing what it was. It’s a missing puzzle piece. It’s not a “new series.” It captures the spirit of Star Wars without throwing in a ton of lightsabers, ewoks, or Jedi. It takes a perspective we haven’t seen before, and it has a surge of action that is definitely worth seeing.
So what do you all think? Have you seen Rogue One? What’s your favorite part of the franchise? Let us know in the comments below! Stay deadicated!
