The Force is Strong With This One.

Star Wars Rogue One
2016 | PG13 | 2 Hr. 13 Min | Sci-Fi | Disney

Director:

Gareth Edwards

Writers: 

Chris Weitz

Tony Gilroy

Stars: 

Felicity Jones

Diego Luna

Alan Tudyk

Synopsis:

All looks lost for the Rebellion against the Empire as they learn of the existence of a new superweapon, the Death Star. Once a possible weakness in its construction is uncovered, the Rebel Alliance must set out on a desperate mission to steal the plans for the Death Star. The future of the entire galaxy now rests upon its success.

Hot off the heels of Godzilla (2014) Gareth Edwards is handed the keys to a prequel that we all needed in our lives (sorry Jar Jar). With an array of new charters filling in a back story to New Hope he is allowed to weave a strong story and flashy effects making Rogue One a very entertaining Star Wars Saga. Felicity Jones knows how to own the screen going from bad girl to hero right before your eyes in the way that Luke should have! Let's face it New Hope will be the weak link in the series at some point. 

At first, I was not comfortable with a CGI Peter Cushing, it was creepy yet once the story rolled on you settle in. Industrial Light and Magic really pulled this off nicely. ILM went through hours of old footage from Cushing in order to get all of his facial mannerisms right. Guy Henry then performed the role on set, while wearing head-mounted cameras that recorded all his facial movements. ILM then replaced his face with a digital mask of Cushing. As luck would have it, a face cast of Cushing made for Top Secret! (1984) had recently been found in an archive, and was of great use in this process. It is also cool to note found footage from New Hope resurfaced and the originally deleted footage from the Death Star attack shot was placed into the final battle in Rogue One. 

George Lucas reportedly loved the film so much that director Gareth Edwards posted on his Twitter feed,  "It was the most important review to me he's kind of like God, I will take that conversation to my grave, his opinion means the world to me." Rogue One is a prequel done right, and it succeeds by focusing on the details. Why did I wait so long to watch is beyond me?

Once again we are witnesses to intense aerial dogfights, armored combat vehicles, sweet looking tanks, flame-throwers, and new stormtroopers that never cease to amaze. And those Stormtroopers are truly something to gawk at. And nothing is better or more terrifying that Darth Vader slowing filling the screen! Look the movie's visuals are amazing. It may be a typical plotline the first act is a slow burn leaving with that meh feeling but I promise you the second act draws together fine for the third act leading into the big battle that will leave you in awe! 

Rouge One was how I felt as a young boy watching A New Hope for the first time leaving me giddy with excitement! Leading right up to the moment of Hope this story will not disappoint, the visuals will blow you away and the battle leaves you wanting more. One downfall and to myself a big one almost tearing me out of the movie in a hurry was the CGI use of a main charter in the end. I get it it was done to tie the movies together but ugh! Those brief moments almost ruined the whole thing for me.

4 out of 5 Stars