MOVIE REVIEW: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

THE launch of any new Star Wars movie is always a big deal. Almost 40 years after the first instalment hit our screens, die hard fans still can’t contain their excitement at the prospect of watching what happens next. But is this new film any good, or just more of the same?

From Lucasfilm comes the first of the Star Wars standalone projects. In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction. 

Heading the dangerous operation is Jyn Erso, played by Felicity Jones of ‘The Theory of Everything’ fame. Not only out to help the rebel alliance defeat the evil galactic empire, Erso also hopes to reunite with her father who has been captured and forced to work on the deadly plans. 

There are lots of interesting casting choices here. Darth Vader is back, and so too is the deep, breathy and unmistakeable voice of James Earl Jones. But even more interesting is the casting of Peter Cushing, who died in 1994, as the evil Grand Moff Tarkin. Now that’s some impressive CGI. 

Fans will love the cameo appearances from R2-D2 and C-3PO, and the addition of a new robotic character, K-2SO, who steals many of the scenes with his quick wit and humour. 

The film was directed by relative newbie, Gareth Edwards who helmed ‘Godzilla’, and ‘Bourne’ writer Tony Gilroy was brought on board to beef up the screenplay. 

It’s difficult not to like Star Wars at this stage, it feels so much part of our collective cinematic experience. 

But hard-core fans will get the most enjoyment from this movie, so if laser shooting spaceships or hoards of kamikazee stormtroopers are not your thing, then stay away. 

It’s also puzzling to see how many more times our heroes can keep saving the world, but when you can simply write and create a new universe each time, I guess this is one story that will run and run. 

We score ‘Rogue One’ an entertaining 3 out of 5 stars. 

Paul O’Rourke