Rogue One: A Star Wars Story | Review

mrjhon (50)in #review • 8 years ago (edited)

It's strange to think that after seven movies from a saga called 'Star Wars', we finally have a delivery that feels like a war movie. The first spin-off of 'Star Wars' has come to the cinema to demonstrate something that comics and books have long tried: that this rich universe is ideal ground for many stories outside the seven episodes.

'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' is an excellent member of the 'Star Wars' family, one that reinvented itself to a new audience last year with 'The Force Awakens', proving that the cultural phenomenon of the saga is still powerful And influential.

'Rogue One', at least from the critical point of view, opens the doors that Disney so much desires: that there is life beyond the episodes for its profitable brand.

This is war

Although 'Star Wars' literally has the word war in its name, the saga behaves differently on the big screen. Of course, it has huge battles throughout its history, but it is different to speak of a war movie to a movie with wars. 'Star Wars' is sometimes a 'western', a space opera and a saga of science fiction.

For its part 'Rogue One' is really a war movie. A film with landed battles and action scenes worthy of a military confrontation. The tone managed by director Gareth Edwards is appropriate to give the film its own identity. You can see a few minutes of the film and understand two things that coexist together in the project: this is 'Star Wars' but will not confuse it closely with the episodes.

Part of that magic, of being able to deliver the 'Star Wars' war, is a matter of perspective. We see the confrontations from the ground, the ambushes that would make any revolutionary group and the gray decisions of the war. Before it was black against white, now it is a gray rebel alliance against the black empire.

New favorites

The central cast of 'Rogue One' is great. It's a selection of interesting characters, all with something particular to offer. From Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso and his morally determined attitude under layers of personal conflicts, Diego Luna as Cassian with his different vision of the Rebel Alliance or Donnie Yen as the 'kicks ass' Chirrut. Everyone is different in this little rebel squad.

The best addition, personally, is the K2 droid played by Alan Tudyk. K2 finally demonstrates that a droid with the ability to speak can be entertaining and interesting in 'Star Wars', a post that seemed to be reserved only for the remembered C-3PO.

No small robots that make sounds. It was time for a talking droid to show that he could be an excellent character.

Thus, all the members give an incredible first impression. After that things do not work exactly right for everyone.

Long live the empire

The Empire and the Rebellion are forces that are represented in a great way in the film. On the villains it is worth mentioning two characters: Ben Mendelsohn as Orson and Darth Vader. Let's start with Orson, a high commander of the Empire who functions as the direct antagonist of our protagonists.

Orson has a long relationship with the family of Jyn Erso, so we can meet the character at different times, demonstrating their motivation and performances convincingly. It is strange to find a good antagonist who is not a Sith or has to do with the dark side: Erso is an interesting villain that materializes the idea of

Empire that the film wants to present. It is worth noting that Medelsohn's performance does not disappoint.

About Darth Vader: Please do not go to the movie thinking you will have a huge stake. Much less think that he needs it. Although the few scenes of Vader are great, it is clear that the film could survive without them, so demanding more footage for the iconic villain would have been a simple fan-service (if it was not already).

In the way that they choose to perceive their participation, it is difficult to debate that their presence on screen is applaudable and the scenes that star in are great: it is worth to see Vader again on the big screen, even for a few moments.

A Star Wars Story

Disney did it: revived 'Star Wars' with 'The Force Awakens' and demonstrated with 'Rogue One' that there is a long life in spin-offs and anthological stories. Gareth Edwards delivered a war film with careful cinematography, which entertains with an interesting group of characters. Unfortunately, it fails to give us credible relationships, and the refills are enough to let us see their mark. On top of that, 'Rogue One' overcomes these problems with its own tone and a round story just for fans of the saga.