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Dec 13, 2016 · A band of misfits steals the plans to the first Death Star in this \"impossible mission\" film that bridges the prequels and the original trilogy. The review praises the space battles, the visual effects, the performances and the spiritual vibe, but also points out some flaws and ill-conceived decisions.
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Read critics' reviews and ratings for the 2016 sci-fi film Rogue One, a spin-off of the Star Wars franchise. The film follows Jyn Erso, a rebel spy who seeks to steal the plans for the Death Star from her father, a former scientist.
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- Gareth Edwards
- PG-13
- Felicity Jones
- The War before Episode IV.
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Film Photos
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- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Review
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By Eric Goldman
Updated: May 2, 2017 6:30 pm
Posted: Dec 13, 2016 4:59 pm
While the pressure on The Force Awakens to successfully re-launch the Star Wars movie series was staggering, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story now faces its own crucial moment of truth. Disney and Lucasfilm are looking to expand the Star Wars brand in a big way with spinoff films -- which are not part of the central, numbered, core “Episode” series -- and fans are looking at Rogue One to prove they can deliver satisfying stories in this realm. The very happy news is that fortunately, and thrillingly, the film completely succeeds on this and many other levels.
Set in the immediate lead-up to the original Star Wars (AKA Episode IV: A New Hope), Rogue One focuses on the Rebel Alliance learning about the existence of the Death Star and the subsequent hunt to steal the plans for the deadly battle station that could be key to destroying it. Which is to say, it shows – and greatly expands upon -- the information that was A New Hope’s backstory when it was released 39 years ago.
Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) is not a member of the Alliance when the film begins, but a criminal – recruited by Rebel leader Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly, finally getting lines after the vast majority of her Revenge of the Sith footage was cut) to help find her father, Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen), a brilliant scientist who has been coerced into working on the Death Star project in a crucial role. Teamed with valued Rebel operative Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and his droid, K-2SO (Alan Tudyk), Jyn’s mission will bring her into contact with other key figures like ex-Imperial pilot Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed) and the extremist anti-Empire warrior, Saw Gerrara (Forest Whitaker). The mission also leads Jyn to cross paths with a couple of formidable fighters who weren’t part of the plan, when she and Cassian encounter Chirrut Îmwe (Donnie Yen) and Baze Malbus (Wen Jiang).
Still, Rogue One’s strengths far outweigh any trouble spots. The film is intense, exciting and emotional, with its last act building to a crescendo and offering one memorable moment after another. It's also commendable how Rogue One touches upon questions of what actions are morally acceptable in a rebellion like the one depicted here. From Saw Gerrara’s more extremist faction, to the Rebels themselves crossing some surprising lines, things aren’t nearly as black and white as they have typically been in this series. Not to say we get a deep dive on these topics, but for a Star Wars film, including these aspects at all is notable and leads to some impactful beats.
Rogue One also looks beautiful. Edwards has utilized his more grounded, embedded warzone-type camerawork incredibly well, while taking us through several terrific locations that expand the Star Wars universe – with Scarif, again, the standout, mixing its paradise location with some massive Stormtrooper vs. Rebels action set pieces. And those dodgy digital face recreations aside, the effects here are excellent, as we’ve come to expect from ILM. K-2S0 looks so good, it’s easy to forget he’s a CGI character, and the film’s big X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter space battle is mind-boggling. It’s easy to see why George Lucas is said to have loved Rogue One, as it so expertly recreates the world of his original Star Wars film, while using modern technology – something we know Lucas is a proponent of, of course -- to deliver even more amazing visuals.
Rogue One is a movie crammed with fan service, but when fan service is done this well, there’s little to complain about and much to adore. The film offers a remarkable recreation of the original Star Wars’ world, while exploring this universe from a different, edgier perspective than is the norm. It also expertly delivers thrills, tension and genui...
EDITORS' CHOICE
Review scoring
amazing
The first "Star Wars Story" is tremendously satisfying and filled with moments that will have fans cheering.
IGN praises Rogue One as a thrilling and satisfying spinoff that expands on the original Star Wars story. The film features a diverse and likable cast, a war movie vibe, and a powerful connection to A New Hope.
Dec 13, 2016 · 2h 13m. By A.O. Scott. Dec. 13, 2016. The great mystery of “ Rogue One ” — the big payoff, the thing people like me would be pilloried for divulging, the puzzle you will congratulate yourself...
- Gareth Edwards
- A.O. Scott
- 133 min
Dec 13, 2016 · Vox critic Emily St. James praises the film's cinematography and theme of war, but criticizes its plot and characters. She argues that Rogue One is not a political film, but a story of people dying in a futile conflict.
Full Review | Sep 26, 2023. “Rogue One” looks amazing, the effects are stunning, the action is energetic, the nostalgia is delightful, there’s the right amount of humor, and it tells a good...
Dec 16, 2016 · Read critic and user reviews of the 2016 sci-fi film that follows a group of rebels on a mission to steal the Death Star plans. See the Metascore, ratings, awards, and where to watch on Disney+.
