In the wake of Disney’s doing a new "Star Wars" film every year policy, the idiom of too much of a good thing seems relevant. "The Force Awakens" felt like a long-awaited return to relevance and quality for the brand, but the idea of having a new tale from "a galaxy far, far away" every 12 months sounds like a potentially quick way to dilute the value. However, "Rouge One" is a bit of an experiment as it is not only a spin-off film from the main Skywalker storyline (for the most part) but also a much darker tone and narrative from other films in the series. This plays into the mixed genre elements on display here with "Rogue One" coming off more as a war film rather than your typical space opera. The result is one of the most unique and engrossing portrayals of the cinematic universe onscreen, even if it takes a while to kick into high gear.
"Rogue One" follows rebel fighter, Jyn Erso (played by the Oscar-nominated Felicity Jones) and her entourage of scrappy crewmen as they form a heist to retrieve the plans for the infamous Death Star. The same plans that were hidden in those pesky droids you were looking for. With this in mind, the film is very much in service to A New Hope. However, it is able to stand out all on its own thanks to the comradery of the cast and inspired direction work from Gareth Edwards. Following Jones on her quest are the likes of Diego Luna ("Y Tu Mamá También"), Riz Ahmed ("The Night Of"), Wen Jiang ("Devils on the Doorstep"), Donnie Yen ("IP Man"), and the voice of Alan Tudyk as the dry-witted droid K-2SO, all of which add their charm to their narrative. They never become deep characters, but there is enough development on the surface to make them endearing, and in turn, make the audience feel more upset once some of them meet their end. That note is not a spoiler, this is first and foremost a war film, one with vivid allegories to past and current military occupations, and an emphasis on the emotional terror it leaves on the battlefield. There’s a great sense of scale to the cinematography, much accredited to Edwards (Godzilla, Monsters) who makes an AT-AT one of the most threatening contraptions to ever grace the silver-screen. The film even takes the time to explore the gray area of the Rebel Alliance, displaying characters who are willing to commit acts on par with the Empire just to secure their cause. It’s a great narrative that not only expands the mythos of the franchise, but also the morality of it. All of this culminates in a final act that is exhilarating, tense, heart-wrenching and even downright terrifying once a certain someone rears his red lightsaber.
This third act alone is almost worth the price of admission for "Star Wars fans, but the payoff is an initial first two acts that feel not so extraordinary. The beginning of this film certainly serves its purpose of establishing characters and conflict, but it does feel too cluttered at times. Some characters are paraded a bit too quickly in their introductions while others do not seem to carry enough screen time, such as Forest Whittaker. There is also one scene in particular of Jyn listening to a message from her father that is quite tender, but it's undercut by mass devastation is occurring in the background. Both are events that carry heavy emotional weight, but in playing at the same time they dilute each other from becoming deeply engrossing. This is just one of many faulted narrative moments from "Rogue One," however, they never quite bring down the film or screech it to a halt. Also, the visual effects are overall fantastic, lovingly playing tribute to practical effects similarly to "The Force Awakens." That being said, there are CGI attempts at representing the likeness of certain actors from "A New Hope" and while one is pulled off pretty well the other is one straight dive into the depths of the uncanny valley. In the interest of not telling spoilers, the character will be disclosed, but he is in a good portion of the film and his presence feels awkward at times. It is a reminder that although CGI has come a long way it still has some time to go until it can convincingly pull off photorealistic human characters.
"Rogue One" is not without its imperfections, but they never bring the film down to where it is not entertaining. Distinct direction and a likable ensemble keep the film together all throughout and it’s well worth the wait to get to the final climax which includes one of the best aerial battles in recent memory. It’s a nostalgia trip that doesn’t feel too bogged down by paying reference to the original series. If it has anything over "The Force Awakens" it is that. If this experiment for “Star Wars Stories” pays off it suggests a future of "Star Wars" films taking unique directions outside of the typical space opera. That might just be all that the franchise needs once audiences are neck deep in "Star Wars" movies over the next decade.
