Rogue One: A Star Wars Story


"We have hope. Rebellions are built on hope!"    - Jyn Erso


release year: 2016
genre: sci-fi drama/action
viewing setting: home Bluray 6/7/22 and 4/6/17

synopsis: This almost-immediate prequel to Star Wars tells the story of those secret Death Star plans and the brave rebels who stole them.

impressions: This is a stand-alone movie in the Star Wars universe, covering a small but important slice of history. It explains some things (chiefly the reason that the superweapon had such a vulnerability) although you have to go into it realizing that, by the nature of what this movie is and what we know, none of these people are likely to make it. There's a lot of good action and some low-key nods to the other movies.

acting: Felicity Jones is the young renegade at the center of the efforts. Diego Luna is a Rebel captain who joins her. Donnie Yen is a blind warrior, and Jiang Wen is his fellow warrior and friend. Alan Tudyk is a snarky droid who helps them. Riz Ahmed is an Imperial defector who also helps. Forest Whitaker is an old Rebel whose methods are fairly violent. Ben Mendelsohn is the Imperial officer in charge of building the Death Star. Peter Cushing plus CGI plus Guy Henry's voice combine to recreate Grand Moff Tarkin, who's really in charge of the Death Star.

final word: Good prequel in the greater universe.

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