Rogue One (2016) review - Movie Thoughts (Chapter 37) 👤

Hello everyone,

Today marks the start of some bonus/previously not planned content for this project to get me through the rest of Stage 4 lockdown in my area. So I thought I'd go back to one of my fascinations at the moment - the wonderful world of Star Wars! This week I'll be giving some thoughts on the two 'stand-alone' films from the universe, as well as a three-part ranking of the main nine films. So come with me into a galaxy far, far away with some thoughts on the highly enjoyable Rogue One....

(**disclaimer: the following thoughts are 100% my opinion, you do not have to agree with them - film is inherently subjective and everyone's perspective is valid! Also, there are probably spoilers in the following, read at your own risk. Now onto some thoughts....**)

Source: IMDB

Hot off the momentum from the revitalization of Star Wars under the great mouse house Disney in 2015, this stand-alone journey of courage and bravery told the heroic story of the team who brought the Rebel Alliance a vital piece of Imperial intelligence. A visually dynamic and action-packed adventure with all the staples of this vast galaxy that audiences know and love. Daughter of Imperial scientist Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) links up with the Rebel Alliance in a risky mission to steal the plans for the formidable Death Star weapon. Full of heart and grit with a heartwarming emotional weight, there was plenty to like about this story for die-hard and casual fans alike.

A relatively simple, goal-oriented plot defined this film. It started a little slow, but built into both the chemistry between the intriguing diverse cast and the pacing towards a fantastic climax. A solid screenplay from Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy from a story by John Knoll and Gary Whitta had engaging witty moments as well as some compelling emotional exploration. Akin to the charms of A New Hope, there’s a quest the ragtag group of fighters have to complete through a series of dangerous obstacles in order to bruise the mighty Imperial Empire. Although it was a long answer to one of the possible questions that could be explored from Episode IV: how did the Rebel Alliance obtain those vitally important Death Star plans?, it still felt original and exciting in its own right. Nothing about this was simple or made to look easy, especially given the foreboding understanding that anyone new introduced was most likely going to die by the end if they weren’t present in the original trilogy. What scant information audiences were given about the diverse group who undertook the ‘Rogue One’ mission was successful in developing a degree of empathy and investment that made the intense climax all the more heart-breaking. The entire beach sequence near the end carried quite a sad tone and the deaths in quick succession were both gut-punches and sprinkling a degree of uncertainty about how on Earth they were going to get the plans out of the Scarif databank. By situating this story between Episodes III and IV, audiences already know the Rebel Alliance receive the plans, so the screenwriters successfully pivoted the emotional tension to the question of how.

There was also an underlying sweetness in the development of the father/daughter relationship between protagonist Jyn and her defiant father Galen (Mads Mikkelsen). Any sort of parental connection in this universe is fraught with a tragic ending, and this one was unfortunately no exception in amongst some really beautiful moments of sacrifice and closure. Galen’s death was one of the more melancholic points and its surprisingly early placement in the plot made it all the more impactful.

In line with the thematic threads already explored in the existing Star Wars films, strength of believe and comradery as the soul of the Rebellion was front and centre. However, a more curious idea that popped up was the duality of flaws within both these infamous organisations. The Empire are well-known for committing horrific acts without a second thought in the name of their tyranny, but this film also presented shades of grey within the good guys too. War doesn’t necessarily discriminate and anyone who gets involved would sometimes have to do things they’d rather forget in the name of following orders. It was an intriguing theme that could have been explored even further, but what the screenwriters were able to add in was still solid.

This film looked beautiful. Director Gareth Edwards not only nailed thematic depth but also lived up to the high standards of visual fanfare that is expected with this franchise. It did an excellent job of building tension and balancing action, with almost frantic switches between different battlefronts. Michael Giaccino’s music was adequately in the John Williams wheelhouse and complimented the epic visuals well.

There was also plenty of cameo’s from beloved characters to well and truly embed the story in known canon. C3PO, R2-D2, Bail Organa, Darth Vader, Governor Tarkin and a clearly computer generated but still exciting Princess Leia; the connection to hope and tie-in to the events of Episode IV were also smart additions. The beauty of what Edwards and the team were able to achieve proves the strength of the Star Wars mythology; there’s something powerful in there beyond the Jedi. A strong ensemble cast provided a cohesive array of interesting performances, including a standout emotionally complex performance by Diego Luna as Captain Cassian Andor. Initially secretive and jaded by his deeds as a spy, he eventually opened up and understood truly fighting for a cause. Luna and Jones’ chemistry was fantastic, and you come to care for these characters in the heartbreaking wish you wish they had more time. Conversely, Director Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) was cold, calculated and stone-faced in white and a formidable new villain away outside the Sith domain.

A love letter to heroic sacrifice that slotted in nicely as a quasi-prequel to a beloved story, Rogue One was an immensely enjoyable addition to the great big galaxy. Although we knew how the story ended, it was still great to experience the emotional rollercoaster that answered the how.

9/10, 4 STARS

Thanks for reading,

Love and "rebellions are built on hope", Emily 👤