Full disclosure: I’m a huge fan of Star Wars. I was six years old when the original movie hit the big screen and I haven’t missed any in the series over the years. I even dressed as Darth Vader for Halloween once in the 80’s. Alas, if you are looking for a critical eye on the most recent release in the saga, you might not find it here. This will be a love story.
“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” is a marvelous tale about the events leading up to the original movie in the series, “A New Hope.” Have you ever wondered how the Rebel forces acquired the plans to destroy the Death Star? This movie answers that question in a fun and entertaining ride through space
The connection to the original is what I loved most about the movie. This was highlighted by the appearance of several characters that appeared in “Rogue One” and “A New Hope” (39 years a part). For example, Ponda Baba and Cornelius Evazan, who first appeared in the cantina scene of the original Star Wars, return in “Rogue One” to bump into the good guys on the streets of Jedha. Another example was the return of the pilots, Gold Leader and Red Leader. Just hearing their voices again brought me back to my childhood and dreams of saving the galaxy. Finally, and probably the most prominent, was the return of Governor Tarkin. He was the ruthless leader of the Death Star and such a recognizable character as one of the main bad guys in the original movie back in 1977.
Through the magic of CGI, his return to the big screen was a welcome sight. Other welcome nostalgic moments included the guard tower watching over the Rebel base, the R-7 Droid, and the board game Dejarik. At this point in the review you are probably thinking, “Surely this guy has a Han Solo costume at home in his closet.” Truthfully, I don’t but if I could afford a 6’3” Stormtrooper costume I’d be all in.
Another reason I loved “Rogue One” was the main character, Jyn Erso. She is a strong and independent figure, ready to take on the mightiest of enemies. She is an all-star among many of the great female characters in other Star Wars films including Princess Leia, Padme Amidala and Rey.
Oh sure, I was a little concerned in the opening minutes of the movie when the words didn’t crawl up the screen and into outer space while the familiar Star Wars theme song delivered chills to the audience. However, I quickly recovered with some well-timed humor and funny lines from the re-programmed K-2 Imperial security droid. So in the words of K-2, there is a 100 percent chance you will like this movie. Remember, May the Force Be With You.
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