The daughter of an engineer working for the Empire helps the Rebel Alliance with a mission to discover the truth about a rumoured new weapon with the power to destroy planets...
To be honest, I didn't think this was a film that was needed. In the opening scrawl of A New Hope, it refers to a battle and the stealing of plans for the Death Star. So, the question to be asked was making a film about those events actually needed?
Personally, I think the answer is no. But Disney and Lucasfilm felt the need to make one. So, much like the prequel to The Thing (again, a film not needed) from a couple of years back, we have a story being told where we know how it has to end, to fit in with the film that will follow it. This brings up an interesting question; can you make a film to order where we already know the ending? It happens with films based on actual events, so can the makers of this Star Wars film make it work?
Well, the short answer is yes....mostly
The film is directed by Gareth Edwards, maker of the impressive Monsters and the disappointing Godzilla remake. Here, Edwards has done well. The action is well staged, the film moves at a good pace and builds to an impressively staged battle on the planet of Scarif, both on the ground and in the sky, and space above.
The cast is an impressive one. Felicity Jones plays Jyn Erso, the woman who's father, Galen (played well by Mads Mikkelsen in a small role) has helped build the Death Star and with it, the flaw that can destroy it. Jones is a terrific actor and great in the role. There is strong support from Diego Luna as Cassian Andor, a Rebel spy, who has his own mission regarding Galen. The supporting cast includes Donnie Yen, as a blind (wooden)swordsman with a strong belief in the Force, Wen Jiang as his friend and protector (of sorts). Riz Ahmed plays an imperial pilot who has defected with a message from Galen regarding the Death Star and its weakness. Ben Mendelsohn plays Imperial director Orson Krennic and is suitably hissable. There are smaller roles for Forest Whitaker as a former Rebellion leader, Jimmy Smits reprises his role of Bail Organa from the prequels, The entire cast are first rate,
There are two CGI characters in the film, one of whom is going to cause controversy. The droid K-2SO is a superb creation, always willing to voice his opinion whether or not anyone wants to hear them. Voiced brilliantly by Alan Tudyk, K-2SO nearly steals the film. The second CGI character is the return of Grand Moff Taken. Played by Guy Henry, then with the use of CGI to make his appearance more like late actor Peter Cushing (who played the part in A New Hope). It's a CGI creation that while working, isn't as fully convincing as one might expect, partly down to the voice not being quite right. Having said that, I can understand why they felt they needed to bring the character back for this story, as it is about the Death Star.
The return of Darth Vader is welcome, although some have questioned the costume as being 'off' somehow. I can't say I noticed anything off with it personally. But even if the costume is off, Vader still dominates when onscreen, both in an exchange with Krennic and late on in a scene that could have come from a horror film. In fact a brief moment near the end is one of the most iconic Vader and Star Wars moments ever.
It's an exciting, at times, mostly thanks to K-2SO funny too. The score from Michael Giacchino isn't bad, using some of John Williams' iconic music, yet still being its own thing. There's a lot to like here.
But...
A few months ago, there were stories of substantial reshoots on the film. Tony Gilroy was said to have been brought on board to work on them (Gilroy gets a co-written credit alongside Chris Weitz, with a story credit for John Knoll (also ILM head) Gary Whitta). And if you look at the trailers for the film, there are certainly shots in there, that don't make the finished film. While some might have been removed for creative reasons, what is clear, based on the trailers compared to the finished film, the third act certainly has had major changes made to it. How these changes affected the finished film I can't say, but to the film's credit the changes don't seem to have effected the finished film, even if the ending does owe a nod to Serenity about broadcasting a signal. However, the film does make the right calls with regards to the characters in the story.
Further, it's yet another Star Wars film that feels the need for an epic space battle at its end, whereas I think a smaller ending might have worked better, though it is well done and exciting. However there is a moment towards the end, where you a character manages not to get shot by walking during a firefight, that is a bit ridiculous.
But for all the small issues the film has, it's a really good Star Wars film. It's much better written than The Force Awakens, which relied far too much on nostalgia, especially A New Hope. In fact, I think Rogue One may be best Star Wars film since The Empire Strikes Back.
But I'm still not convinced it was a needed one.
Rating - 4/5
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