When George Lucas sold the ‘Star Wars’ franchise to Disney, for many diehard fans it felt like the final nail in the coffin. J.J. Abram’s ‘The Force Awakens’ breathed new life into the space opera with nostalgic characters as well introducing us to refreshing new ones like Rey. Once again, expectations have been met and exceeded with director Gareth Edwards’ (Godzilla) thrilling spin-off ‘Rogue One.’ This is not your typical Star Wars film and that’s why it’s so good. It’s a war movie that puts the characters in jeopardy. The reality is that some will not come out of it alive. It is the grittiest film in the franchise and the reason some are warning that it might be too dark for younger kids. Grab that popcorn Star Wars fans and get ready for a galaxy far, far away… The force is strong with ‘Rogue One.’
This story fits into the universe nicely. The simplest way to describe it is to wedge it between ‘Revenge of the Sith’ and ‘A New Hope.’ It is not a spoiler to reveal the intent of ‘Rogue One.’ Everyone knows that a ragtag team comes together to steal the Death Star plans. Remember the original story where Princess Leia hides them in R2D2? Our heroine is Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), a feisty young woman whose scientist father Galen (Mads Mikkelsen) is the lead designer of the Empire’s weapon of mass destruction, the Death Star. There is a scene that gives us a taste of what the Death Star is capable of and it is terrifying. It can level whole planets with a laser beam that causes earthquakes and tsunamis. If this weapon is completely developed, the Rebel Alliance is toast.
Rebel intelligence officer Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) is tasked to free Jyn from the clutches of an Imperial prison to help locate her father. Andor’s droid K-2SO (voiced by Alan Tudyk) is sassy and bad-tempered. He provides comic relief in just the right spots. Star Wars films have always been influenced by spaghetti westerns and ‘Rogue One’ is no exception. Eventually Jyn assembles a team of ne’er-do-wells reminiscent of ‘The Dirty Dozen.’ Some of them have sordid pasts. Heroes are not meant to be infallible or famous. Heroes come together to sacrifice themselves for the greater cause. This is what makes ‘Rogue One’ so thrilling and suspenseful. This is a suicide mission that feels real. The battle sequences on the ground feel authentic and the dogfights in space are some of the finest in the entire franchise.
The universe feels lived-in and massive in scale. When we visit the planet Jedha, we get a sense of multicultural aliens trying to survive along the dinghy streets and trading posts. It brilliantly contrasts the sterile modernistic style of the Empire. The ominously authoritarian regime is striking when Darth Vader (voiced by James Earl Jones) makes his appearance. Without giving too much away, let’s just say this is a meaner Darth Vader than you’ve seen in other episodes. He is a real badass that leaves no doubt in your mind why he is the feared leader. The film is full of unique worlds and unexpected surprises. The final battle is showcased on an island paradise. It’s dazzling to watch and never disappoints.
The casting of Felicity Jones as the heroine is a brilliant choice. She has been an indie favorite in arthouse films such as ‘Like Crazy’ and ‘The Theory of Everything.’ Her steel blue eyes and her natural beauty hark back to a young Carrie Fisher. She flawlessly leads the film to its exciting climax. Another surprising casting choice that works impeccably well is Diego Luna. The Mexican actor starred in the highly acclaimed foreign film ‘Y Tu Mama Tambien.’ His accent gives the rebels a multiculural vibe. Another standout performance comes from martial arts star Donnie Yen (IP Man) who plays a blind samurai warrior that has the force as an ally. Overall, it’s a diverse team that goes up against incredible odds.
‘Rogue One’ is not a kid-friendly Star Wars film but they will go see it in droves anyway. It graphically depicts the complexities of war. It is also refreshing to see the rebellion led by a girl. For those that will miss the opening crawl accompanied by John Williams’ iconic score, think of it this way – ‘Rogue One’ is the opening crawl to the entire franchise. As Jyn Erso utters, “This is our chance to make a real difference,” we can all breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy another fine addition to the Star Wars anthology.
