Read Mixed User Reviews for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

6

ThreeboxIndoorsDec 16, 2016

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is about as flawed as it is entertaining. With almost documentary-like camerawork, this is the most handheld Star Wars film by far, offering a more grounded and realistic feel, but the dialogue can feel cheesy andRogue One: A Star Wars Story is about as flawed as it is entertaining. With almost documentary-like camerawork, this is the most handheld Star Wars film by far, offering a more grounded and realistic feel, but the dialogue can feel cheesy and cliche at times. Very well shot but also very imperfectly shot, this film looks flat-out gorgeous. The editing can be a little choppy at times though, but that isn’t anywhere near as distracting as the CGI version of Grand Moff Tarkin, as well as some other CGI characters. Which brings me to my biggest gripe - The characters. Likeable, funny, but that’s about it - They lack any depth, background, or proper development, and we aren’t given any reason to care for them. Director Orson Krennic is an extremely weak villain and doesn’t even compare to Darth Vader, who was only in TWO SCENES. This wouldn’t have been as much of a complaint if the rest of the characters were more interesting, but it still would’ve been a stupid choice. The first act of the movie is quite messy, and feels like a series of loosely tied together scenes, jumping from location to location too quick and repetitively. There isn’t really much else for me to say about the rest of the movie apart from the last act, which is a long if not too long action sequence, and although VERY entertaining and brilliantly directed, it has endless cliches and does get repetitive after awhile. Lacking any suspense that the previous Star Wars excelled at, this is a fun, decent ride with incredible effects but it is a very disappointing installment to the Star Wars franchise. I don’t see there being any replay value either. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story gets a 6 out of 10. It’s decent.… Expand

20 of 41 users found this helpful2021

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5

Joe95Dec 17, 2016

A movie which tries desperately to recreate the magic of the original trilogy failing it's goal. A bad soundtrack as we've never seen on Star Wars before, a meaningless plot, useless characters with no charm who add nothing to the Star WarsA movie which tries desperately to recreate the magic of the original trilogy failing it's goal. A bad soundtrack as we've never seen on Star Wars before, a meaningless plot, useless characters with no charm who add nothing to the Star Wars mithology. A junble of CGI characters who could have compleately been avoided. After all we were able to do worse than the sequel trilogy, but this time with no Jar-Jar. P.s.: What the f*** went wrong with Darth Vader armor?
P.p.s.: After all Vader smashing rebels was great!… Expand

38 of 99 users found this helpful3861

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6

Jaredc324May 15, 2019

Rogue One is better off and more relative in being a 30-minute intro-setup movie for A New Hope and the rest of the original 3 Star Wars movies. But as a movie all its own, as the Star Wars Story it's meant to be, it does fall a tad short onRogue One is better off and more relative in being a 30-minute intro-setup movie for A New Hope and the rest of the original 3 Star Wars movies. But as a movie all its own, as the Star Wars Story it's meant to be, it does fall a tad short on what could've been a very interesting solo Star Wars tale. It's intentions are good, it's build-up is strong, but the movie lacks focus or coherence for the first hour or so. But once our characters begin to set out on the mission of their lives, the gears amp up and so does the emotion. Rogue One goes out like some beautifully tragic pre-movie to a video game, in the most epic fashion imaginable. Including an escape sequence involving an iconic character, that's made to shock your nerves. But outside of it's final lap, Rogue One doesn't really have that appeal or rewatchable quality to it you'd think it'd easily have. Only for its send-off experience, but the movie as a whole as a story, and as an experience is all about the ending and not so much about it's foundation.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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5

arostislavnaDec 15, 2017

Inherently flawed movie, there is so much that was cut out that it makes no sense.

The only redeeming quality is that they addressed many of the plot holes that the OT had.

I can't wait for a 10th anniversary Director's cut.

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

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4

Kakarot26Sep 6, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I find it amazing so many people like and even love this movie.
The worst problem it has is characterization. In a movie in which the main themes are heroism, villainy and the clash between two opposite forces representing antagonist ideals, it is impossible for me to get involved with characters this flat, uninteresting and with no sort of interaction amongst themselves. Aside from that, as far as storytelling goes, the movie is very clumsy, going from one scene to next with no connecting threads or imaginative way to link the set pieces together. Showing you the name of the planet where the action was going to take place was a bad joke and the most witless technique i have seen in my life. Then there is the fan service. This is probably the worst part, because they put in characters that didn´t do anything important and weren´t really a part story just to make fans happy, they did the same in The Force Awakens, but at least there they made them do something. The worst of all was the final scene with Darth Vader slaughtering rebels and people applauding it, when he is the bad guy, but of course, they didn´t give a hoot about the good guys in the movie, they just wanted to see the iconic Star Wars characters in action not caring a bit about how little sense it all made in terms of storytelling.

I could write for hours about all the flaws in this movie in terms of bad pacing, boring dialogue, and complete lack of imagination in execution.

Overall, I don´t think it´s a terrible movie, it´s just a completely uninspired, average sci-fi film with really good visual effects that takes advantage of Star Wars iconography to seduce non critical masses. But it really gets on my nerves when people say this is better than The Force Awakens and even the original trilogy, cause it´s not, it is one of the worst Star Wars movies along with The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones.… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

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4

mustang8Sep 7, 2017

Incredible cinematography, incredibly bad scenario.

Rogue One, as an adjunct entry to the Star Wars franchise is fascinating in terms of cinematography, casting, scenery and costume, character design and overall CGI quality. However, itIncredible cinematography, incredibly bad scenario.

Rogue One, as an adjunct entry to the Star Wars franchise is fascinating in terms of cinematography, casting, scenery and costume, character design and overall CGI quality. However, it fails horribly to deliver a scenario that is up to the Star Wars quality. The quality of the film itself as a motion picture is overshadowed by the horrendous premise and conclusion, combined with mediocre acting. Overall I applaud the efforts of the director, the CGI team and the casting team while advising to be more careful of the scenario and the acting job for the next spin-off Star Wars entry.… Expand

5 of 8 users found this helpful53

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4

SquaredRenApr 3, 2017

No characters development in any way or form!, even the robot has lots of cheesy jokes. You don't care about anyone. The only cool thing about this movie is the Darth Vader scene and that is has an end.

5 of 9 users found this helpful54

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6

Rebecca31Dec 20, 2016

So here's a Star Wars movie that's not really a Star Wars movie. You get a whole bunch of new and dispensable characters most of which I've completely forgotten, a story that's missing the wow factor, a great soundtrack and a decent cast.So here's a Star Wars movie that's not really a Star Wars movie. You get a whole bunch of new and dispensable characters most of which I've completely forgotten, a story that's missing the wow factor, a great soundtrack and a decent cast. Don't get me wrong I didn't hate this movie, there was some scenes I thoroughly enjoyed and honestly most of them were towards the end. Yet overall I was a little underwhelmed but can take comfort in the fact that this is not the worst Star Wars movie you could watch.
However, let us not forget what this movie really is...a cash grab. A filler movie with some nice little bits of nostalgia to remind you that oh yes this IS a Star Wars movie. The inevitability of Disney owning Star Wars is we'll get a new movie every year and that might sound like a dream come true now but in the year 2040 with the 32nd Star Wars movie you'll wish you never heard the words Disney and Star Wars together. I'll recommend this because it's worth a watch once but if you're a Star Wars fan you'll go see this no matter what anyone says.… Expand

9 of 17 users found this helpful98

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5

FortifierDec 31, 2016

This edition to the Star Wars cinematic universe felt a lot to me like "Suicide Squad"; great fan service and cool cast, but is ultimately empty due to undeveloped story and characters. Most Star Wars films begin with two protagonists, thenThis edition to the Star Wars cinematic universe felt a lot to me like "Suicide Squad"; great fan service and cool cast, but is ultimately empty due to undeveloped story and characters. Most Star Wars films begin with two protagonists, then as they journey throughout the galaxy we learn more about them as well as the world around them and the story itself. Then eventually the "torch" is passed down to two new characters who we follow as the story continues.

In short, the previous Star Wars films accomplished beautiful character, plot and world development at the exact same time. In "Rogue One", however, the "torch" is thrown around rapidly as the characters sit in a circle like a game of "hot potato". There is little to no character development, we're thrown around all over the place in the Star Wars universe, and the writers leave absolutely no time for its audience to emotionally invest in the story or characters (which is extremely disappointing for not only a Star Wars film, but for a film that is over TWO HOURS LONG).

This is what its like for the first two-thirds of the film; while there is a lot of fan service to go around (which is expected from this film), the story and character development is simply atrocious. The third and final act, however, is what saves this movie from being an utter waste of time. This is when the action and threat becomes real and the characters finally come to life. If this film was just the final 40 minutes I would actually give this film a much higher rating.

In conclusion, this series relies far more on fan-service of an already established Star Wars universe to please its audience rather than an actual (never mind "original") story. Believe me when I say that, unless you are an absolute die-hard fan of the Star Wars franchise, you're better off simply re-watching the Original Trilogy if you want to watch Star Wars again.

5/10… Expand

5 of 10 users found this helpful55

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6

DemoraseJan 1, 2017

I don't know how to describe Rogue One for the first hour and half other than I was utterly bored out of my mind. However, the last thirty minutes were full and engrossing enough to salvage this troubled movie. But surely you can do betterI don't know how to describe Rogue One for the first hour and half other than I was utterly bored out of my mind. However, the last thirty minutes were full and engrossing enough to salvage this troubled movie. But surely you can do better than that, Disney.… Expand

4 of 8 users found this helpful44

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6

Benkoko11Feb 23, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Watching Darth Vadar massacre a couple dozen rebel soldiers was a hugely satisfying moment of badassery in what was otherwise a jumble of safely clichéd and predictable mediocrity.… Expand

4 of 8 users found this helpful44

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4

RetrodoxMar 28, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. These next gen star wars movies cant hit it for me but first what I'll say about this movie is that the tone is consistent and the action is admirable also its the first aesthetic star wars film but other than that Felicity Jones need not be given a lead role ever again her acting is nothing short but cringy she had only one good scene and I happened to hate that scene I thought that forest Whitaker's scene was poorly directed and odd to be honest.For about 50 mins It seemed like the movie couldn't get off the ground and had little direction.Also I hate "lovable robots"… Expand

3 of 6 users found this helpful33

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6

endisniApr 16, 2017

The film was okay. Glad I only rented it. There are some stand out pieces, such as Vader's appearance. The music is pretty good, the acting fine. I won't be watching again, it's not especially memorable. I felt the Force Awakens was farThe film was okay. Glad I only rented it. There are some stand out pieces, such as Vader's appearance. The music is pretty good, the acting fine. I won't be watching again, it's not especially memorable. I felt the Force Awakens was far superior.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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6

moviemitch96Dec 26, 2016

This is probably just me being bias against Star Wars ever since it was ruined for me by The Force Awakens last year, but I really do feel like I got burnt again by this series with this prequel/spinoff (or whatever you wanna call it.)This is probably just me being bias against Star Wars ever since it was ruined for me by The Force Awakens last year, but I really do feel like I got burnt again by this series with this prequel/spinoff (or whatever you wanna call it.) Basically it's simply the exact same formula that's been used over and over again and is riddled with cliche moments throughout. Even the acting couldn't be helped, with Felicity Jones reduced to really cheap, and yes, cliche lines throughout along with the rest of the cast as well. And I don't even wanna start talking about the ridiculous CGI that was used to bring back some classic characters from the original trilogy and making them look younger again. Overall, this did nothing whatsoever to bring anything new to the table for Star Wars and is simply a further reminder to me why I'm really wanting to distance myself from Star Wars more and more. Keep it up Disney (not!)… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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6

HotelCentralMay 22, 2017

Back in 1977 when the original Star Wars movie came out no one had ever seen anything like it before. So if the story was a little trite no one really cared because they were too busy being wow-ed by the spectacle of it all. But it's now 40Back in 1977 when the original Star Wars movie came out no one had ever seen anything like it before. So if the story was a little trite no one really cared because they were too busy being wow-ed by the spectacle of it all. But it's now 40 years later and we've had 9 "Star Wars" films, a bunch of Star Trek films, Blade Runner, Independence Day, Battlestar Galactica, X-Men, Guards of the Galaxy, Transformers and God knows what else. And Rogue One ends up seeming like just more of the same and not particularly enthralling.

The first hour is a bit of a bore. I didn't feel any particular interest in the characters or the story until finally someone opened her mouth and started talking about heroes and sacrifice and this kind of thing. But even with the pace picking up in the second hour I wasn't terribly impressed. Even the interludes of robotic comedy seemed kind of tired. So ultimately I'd say if you're into Star Wars give Rogue One a shot but save it for a day when you've got nothing better on tap.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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6

dspratlinJan 3, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. What's it about?

It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire. During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire's ultimate weapon, the DEATH STAR, an armored space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet. This is their story. What did I think?

Where Return of the Jedi was a let-down due to "alleged" toy company requirements, Rogue One seems a let-down by a meddling committee. Too many cooks dilute a terrific premise and muddy great characters thanks to an overly-convoluted introduction and dollops of unnecessary spoon-feeding.

But make sure you see it on the big screen for the final battle sequence - it's basically a 21st-century version of the ROTJ final act.

Epilogue: If you recall, we all loved Star Wars for George's ground-breaking "used universe" and the mythical unanswered questions (Jedi, Clone Wars, why there is no underwear in space). Edwards delivers a gloriously dirty reality, but the committee let the movie down by interrupting him and providing us with too many answers to questions we didn't ask. A Star Wars movie doesn't require title cards to tell the audience where we are, that's part of the charm. Drop us in and let us swim!… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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6

johnny5aliveDec 18, 2016

Not good. Lazy and overdone fan service. Vader casting was bad as he's not big/imposing enough. Tried to shoehorn diversity for the sake of making marketing people at Disney happy. The score was meh. The actual story/screenplay was justNot good. Lazy and overdone fan service. Vader casting was bad as he's not big/imposing enough. Tried to shoehorn diversity for the sake of making marketing people at Disney happy. The score was meh. The actual story/screenplay was just boring with poor banter and acting. The CGI for Tarkin and Leia was bad. Just stop. No need for that Leia scene. No excuse for them to not just cast a look alike. Locations jumped around way too much in the beginning. Zero chance a stormtrooper could not track Jyn to the rock inside the cave seeing as the ground is dirt and her footprints would have literally led them to her. This is a movie a Marvel fanboy eats up. Loud, bright colors, corny one-liners. I'm going to obviously watch it a second time and it's possible it might improve. Highly doubtful though. If so, a 7 is the highest I could go.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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5

nukachuDec 19, 2016

The movie is full of super effects and tons of fighting scenes, this is normal for typical science-fiction film. I like the fact that, director doesn't try to promote the movie using sexual scenes, and this is not kind of "heroes shouldThe movie is full of super effects and tons of fighting scenes, this is normal for typical science-fiction film. I like the fact that, director doesn't try to promote the movie using sexual scenes, and this is not kind of "heroes should survive", but I didn't find this movie interesting, there are funny moments in the movie though.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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5

jdiazMar 12, 2017

Meh. The end vastly improved this film, but the gaping plot holes and the rude fan service took half a star away. That last scene really pissed me off. And wow, amateur plot holes.

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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5

my02Dec 16, 2016

I kept thinking "did THIS many people have 19th century British accents in all the other films....the other accents all being European?". My friend & I had trouble staying awake just like many others have mentioned....& yes the end wasI kept thinking "did THIS many people have 19th century British accents in all the other films....the other accents all being European?". My friend & I had trouble staying awake just like many others have mentioned....& yes the end was colorful & exciting (especially Darth Vader 'sashaying' through....all I'm sayin').
I barely knew what was going on half the time, dialog sounded like those royalty history movies, just with intergalactic subject matter (but how would Luke, Leah & Han EVER hang out with these people"?).
I sort've plan on seeing it again, hopefully I'll piece the story together better the 2nd time.
I wouldn't say it's bad. It does fall into place well as the backstory of A New Hope. But I'd probably only recommend to people with a good attention span....there's a LOT of dialog delivered with that one-note 'what I'm saying is IMPORTANT' tone. I liked Felicity Jones in A Theory Of Everything (basically the wife who gets dumped for being boring), but her character is pretty boring here too & always had the same 'scowl with a mouth full of walnuts' look. Maybe everyone was directed that way & she nailed it....after all no character was anyone you'd want to have a beer with.
Maybe the robot.… Expand

9 of 19 users found this helpful910

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6

samichsupernovaDec 17, 2016

This film was entertaining but ultimately adds up to less than the sum of its parts. The Good: The insane (amount and quality of) action, cinematography, and some performances. Felicity Jones and Ben Mendohlson did a lot with weak materialThis film was entertaining but ultimately adds up to less than the sum of its parts. The Good: The insane (amount and quality of) action, cinematography, and some performances. Felicity Jones and Ben Mendohlson did a lot with weak material and were seriously great. Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen and Diego Luna's characters are cool. Certain cameos work really well. There's some poetry and clever visual ideas in the prolonged conflict in the third act, which almost makes up for the terrible first 1/2 of the movie (Jyn dispatches Stormtroopers with a stick... OK...). The action kind of feels like a kid playing with Star Wars action figures, in both good and bad ways. Oh and there's a monkey Rebel gunner.

The Bad: Everything else. The script tries to be darker and more realistic but there's hardly any depths of conflict beyond "good guys" VS "bad guys" where one good guy is only slightly more morally compromised than the others. There's no character development whatsoever. The story overall is paint-by-the-numbers. A total missed opportunity there. Forest Whitaker's character dies early on for no reason. The score is weak. There is little dramatic drive because we all know how this story will end. Too much "fan-service" and nostalgia. Callbacks to the original trilogy can only go so far.

The Ugly: How much money this is going to make, undeservedly. Unless you REALLY need to see the epic finale on the big screen, just wait for it to hit home video.… Expand

7 of 15 users found this helpful78

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5

hcliffedDec 16, 2016

Not good, not horrible. Episode III.9 basically; filler with characters no one ever gets to know well enough to get attached to, I felt this movie was slow and emotionless.

Michael Giaccino kinda spit all over Williams with his sub-par score, too.

12 of 26 users found this helpful1214

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4

masamunerikuDec 16, 2016

Rogue one isn't a bad movie yet it is somehow tedious to watch. The characters, especially Jyn, are bland and uncaptivating. In TFA at least Rey and Kylo are fun enough to watch. The core plot is actually decent, the execution however is suchRogue one isn't a bad movie yet it is somehow tedious to watch. The characters, especially Jyn, are bland and uncaptivating. In TFA at least Rey and Kylo are fun enough to watch. The core plot is actually decent, the execution however is such a mess that it never got me interested in what was going on.

The star wars franchise has always been great at creating new worlds. In rogue one however half of the movie is in a place called Jedha which has a middle eastern setting. The name itself would tell that it is a homophone of Jeddah. It is so unoriginal that the actual Jedha might as well be somewhere in middle east. How lazy are the writers to not come up with a more interesting setting?

The events in Scarif are decent. The stormtroopers are still fodders as per tradition and the empire is so incompetent that you wonder why the resistance lost to such army. The battles are at least (barely) believable. Also the characters are not protected by the invincible plot armor worn by the main characters in TFA which makes it a lot more interesting.

The whole movie might be worth watching just for the Vader scenes. Those scenes remind me why star wars were so good and why rouge one isn't. A movie wthout jedis, siths, lightsabers and the force is not Star Wars.… Expand

12 of 26 users found this helpful1214

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6

IsotopesamDec 16, 2016

Its not until the second half that you realize the importance of the story in the Star Wars world. I wish they had built it up better in the first half. But poor character development turns this movie. Second half is great and a treat for theIts not until the second half that you realize the importance of the story in the Star Wars world. I wish they had built it up better in the first half. But poor character development turns this movie. Second half is great and a treat for the eyes but the overall story was just rushed. It was disappointing that they didn't start with the Star Wars theme either. You can wait to watch it on bluray or stream it.… Expand

6 of 13 users found this helpful67

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5

KeithAJohnstonDec 19, 2016

This film generates mixed feelings. On the good side the visuals excel, the ending is superb and there are some wonderful moments. It adds significantly to the impact of Star Wars: A New Hope by focusing on the sacrifices made to get theThis film generates mixed feelings. On the good side the visuals excel, the ending is superb and there are some wonderful moments. It adds significantly to the impact of Star Wars: A New Hope by focusing on the sacrifices made to get the plans to Leia.

On the downside the film fails to generate an emotional connection with the characters, which is its major sin. The main character is poorly done, the story is complex and unconvincing and its overlong and boring at times. A missed opportunity.… Expand

6 of 13 users found this helpful67

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4

lemonademazDec 18, 2016

The last 30 minutes or so are pretty great. The rest of the movie is mind-numbingly boring, though. Cool space battle, bad characters and writing. The Vader scene is okay aswell.

5 of 11 users found this helpful56

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4

bugashiDec 17, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The story is just "meh", while the characters are forgettable. The visuals are mostly nice, but that's about it.

Everything you need to know about what happens comes from the first act, and all the times people picked on the glaring weakness of the Death Star. The motive laid plain and bare, with enough crumbs to make a cookie out of. As for the rest of the story, there's really nothing there. They just slog through the motions, which didn't really make me want to find out how they lead into Episode 4. Anyone who knows anything about the films would know that none of the characters important to the story would be coming back. So you would think they would at least try to make them a bit more memorable or worthwhile. Instead we get a 20-some teenager who initially could care less about the rebels that has an out of place change of heart because the story called for it, their backup character who was setup to become the friction on the team but doesn't really cause anything to happen, and droid sidekick who is more memorable than the rest of the cast combined (seriously, it's like someone who knew the flaws of the script wrote their lines).

They get teamed up with an attempt at an odd couple of a blind monk that follows the force like a religion, and a heavy weapons dwarf that doesn't buy into it. The monk is perhaps the second memorable character due to the staff fighting, which turns into a bow-like blaster. They also try to fill the mystical all seeing character, but most of the attempts are rather... forced. As for the heavy weapons dwarf, that's really the best way to describe them because they could have been replaced with just about any other kind of character and no one would have been the wiser. There is a part at the end where they have a change of heart, but it comes such a stereotypical moment and feels so out of place.

Then there's the pilot they pick up. Initially they were important because of a message they were trying to relay to the rebels. Instead he runs into some extremist who don't trust what he has to say, so they use a giant brain leach to snack on the guy's memory. Afterwards he's left in a holding cell to rot after the unhealthy dose of brain damage, but somehow returns from becoming a mindless doll and quickly turns into a competent member of the team. Then they become important in giving the team the call sign "rouge one" in which is met with the obvious "there is no rouge one, there is now" moment, and CinemaSins coming in with "roll credits" (ding)

As for the rest of the film, there's a few things that'll appear in Episode 4, but they're mostly there as a wink and a nod to assure the audience that this is (much like the title says) a Star Wars story. Even Darth Vader's appearance in the film feels like it was added just for the sake of getting people hyped to see what amounts to manufactured plot with no character development. Everything is done because the plot demands it. They even allude to things that might have made better features, but leave them as a cliffs notes because they got to get through the two and a half hour film. Kinda makes me think it would have been better as a TV series instead, because then we might actually have a chance to connect with the characters.

Though apparently now Vader has a dark sense of humor for some reason? It was so awkward of a joke that no one laughed. As a matter of fact, no one in the theater had any reaction to anything in the film at all. The awe and spectacle of the original series just wasn't there for this film. Even when they fired the Death Star twice, the whole thing comes off as under powered and weak when compared to the original.

Aside from all that, most of the visuals were nice. When the Death Star eclipsed the sun before firing did add a nice touch, and the appearance of Vader at the end was done well. Aside from that, the film isn't worth a fraction of the hype it received. If it were any other franchise, Rouge One would have been direct to DVD.… Expand

5 of 11 users found this helpful56

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5

jonnxDec 28, 2016

Great visuals, sound and all that, but if you are not a Star Wars fan, what does it offers? Unfortunately not much. To me, it felt like Disney milking another franchise. It was too long and boring at moments, acting not great, story not thatGreat visuals, sound and all that, but if you are not a Star Wars fan, what does it offers? Unfortunately not much. To me, it felt like Disney milking another franchise. It was too long and boring at moments, acting not great, story not that interesting etc.

I would very much prefer some modern adaptation, without the classic costumes, props and sets. That would be much harder and riskier to make, but there would be chance of making actually great movie.… Expand

4 of 9 users found this helpful45

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5

JodleMay 19, 2017

This movie is femninist and SJW propaganda and feminism is destroying Star Wars...
I m really disapointed where Star wars movies are going.

4 of 9 users found this helpful45

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4

Luckypaddy_Dec 19, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Me: Good fan fiction. Fanboy: It is official!
Me: Oh boy. It is fan service from beginning to end. The characters seem interesting, but I don't know I haven't had time to know them. Except that robot. He didn't take **** from anyone and was a straight shooter. I liked that.… Expand

4 of 9 users found this helpful45

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5

andmyles2goDec 21, 2016

While Rogue One stands on its own as a movie, it's storyline is somewhat Hollywood-ized and not very unique. Perhaps using Star Wars as a theme it mixes the tomfoolery of Guardians of the Galaxy with some elements of Expendables (yikes!) lastWhile Rogue One stands on its own as a movie, it's storyline is somewhat Hollywood-ized and not very unique. Perhaps using Star Wars as a theme it mixes the tomfoolery of Guardians of the Galaxy with some elements of Expendables (yikes!) last ditch efforts to bring to you an interesting portion of the overall Star Wars storyline. As a movie goer, my expectations were lowered due to the reboot/rehash nature of Force Awakens, but having watched it now, I'm quite indifferent as to if it is something I would watch again. It was nice to know what they were thinking I suppose, but as a movie itself, I think it was merely ho hum and 5/6 out of 10 at best.… Expand

4 of 9 users found this helpful45

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6

ericrosarDec 28, 2016

While the movie has great visual effects, cinematography, and fan service (a lot), all these replaced character depth and a compelling story. Even episode VII had more relateable new characters. These were here just to advance a plot (aWhile the movie has great visual effects, cinematography, and fan service (a lot), all these replaced character depth and a compelling story. Even episode VII had more relateable new characters. These were here just to advance a plot (a simple plot). The first 30 to 45 mins is pretty slow (and I don't mind slow if character depth is being provided/not the case), then we get to some great action which overstays its welcome by 20 mins.… Expand

4 of 9 users found this helpful45

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6

tobisanJan 3, 2017

I have mixed feelings with this movie. Love the way it connects to the original trilogy and it had great action sequences, but the characters were poorly developed and it seems to be an unnecesary story to tell.

4 of 9 users found this helpful45

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6

VDSMar 25, 2017

Standing on the shoulders of giants, or giant in this case (George Lucas). I know GL's Star Wars movies weren't great, and sometimes they weren't even good, but they had heart and a feeling you were in a familiar universe. They felt coherent.Standing on the shoulders of giants, or giant in this case (George Lucas). I know GL's Star Wars movies weren't great, and sometimes they weren't even good, but they had heart and a feeling you were in a familiar universe. They felt coherent. Rogue One, on the other hand, felt like a hotchpotch of plagiarism from previous Star Wars movies, and everything plus the kitchen sink thrown in to try and create settings/characters. And BTW, resurrecting the past via CGI does not work. Disney, if you want to make a Sci-fi movie, make one, create something new and develop your own mythos. Don't just get your cheque book out, purchase greatness, and then try (but fail) to make it your own.… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

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5

mintloDec 19, 2016

I didn't like it. I enjoyed Star Wars 7, and the original three. It seems like they were in a rush to make a Star Wars movie and just slapped a script together. Also too loud, way too much score and not enough pauses without music to takeI didn't like it. I enjoyed Star Wars 7, and the original three. It seems like they were in a rush to make a Star Wars movie and just slapped a script together. Also too loud, way too much score and not enough pauses without music to take in the subtle star wars sounds. Too much exposition as well. I get this was targeted at the kids but even though the original Star Wars is more mature I loved it as a kid. Disney, please don't be in such a rush to recoup your 4 billion dollars that you release sub par Star Wars films.… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

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5

IxamJan 5, 2017

It's a standard action film set in the Star War's universe. If that sounds like your cup of tea, then go see it and enjoy. A team of underdeveloped characters team up to accomplish a mission, this time with tie fighters and x-wings! The filmIt's a standard action film set in the Star War's universe. If that sounds like your cup of tea, then go see it and enjoy. A team of underdeveloped characters team up to accomplish a mission, this time with tie fighters and x-wings! The film lacks the charm of the better action films (and the original trilogy), and outside of the action sequences was pretty dull. The action sequences were pretty phenomenal, and redeem the movie to an extent. I hope Disney learns from their mistakes and includes more compelling/likeable characters in following films.… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

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4

AbsozeroJan 3, 2017

This was a C movie at best. Poorly written, too much fan service. A letdown like The Force Awakens was. I don't think Disney has the magic to make a good Star Wars movie.

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

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4

MaurinhoDec 22, 2016

first half is boring and nothing happens (with only 1 exception), second half is pew-pew bang-bang only. The longest battle in entire SW history.
The only good things are about the final part where there are a lot of connections with A Newfirst half is boring and nothing happens (with only 1 exception), second half is pew-pew bang-bang only. The longest battle in entire SW history.
The only good things are about the final part where there are a lot of connections with A New Hope, but Rogue One is mediocre at its best… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

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4

KaptenVideoDec 19, 2016

I have never truly enjoyed any of the "Star Wars" movies. Seen all of them except "Force Awakens" – which I tried to watch on a flight and got so bored after about eight minutes that switched to something else. Not that it was badly done. II have never truly enjoyed any of the "Star Wars" movies. Seen all of them except "Force Awakens" – which I tried to watch on a flight and got so bored after about eight minutes that switched to something else. Not that it was badly done. I just couldn't find anything to care about.

But I can dig why many people like or even love the Lucas seminal creation. It's the same reason why many still love Elvis Presley, The Beatles or, say, Frank Sinatra. When the first "SW" came out in 1977, it was phenomenal cultural event in a sense that today's cinema lovers can't quite fathom.

The age of blockbuster movies had barely begun, the sci-fi movies in general had never been mass friendly – it was a dry, intellectual or just downright trashy field, and always geek-oriented. And the wider audience had never had a chance to experience such a big-scale, detail-rich, lovingly crafted made up universe. Sure, the screenplays have always been mediocre. Even "SW" creator George Lucas has freely admitted that he was not a good writer. But fans were happy to satisfy with style and quantity because these movies sure do have lot to offer to the eyes: places, characters, action, design, details... Don't forget that blockbuster movies were still a new thing. The next trilogy, released from 1999 to 2005, never received the same amount of love because people were much more used to screen spectacles than in 1977-1983. They still admired the visuals and Lucas's team's world creating skills. But it just wasn't the same.

And that may be the reason why I never cared about "SW". I stepped on Lucas's train so late that I had already my firm beliefs about what good story means. I had seen seen many big screen extravaganzas already and acquired a taste for more depth than usual blockbusters are prepared to offer.

Still, I decided to give "Rogue One" a go. The reviewers have already praised the fresh approach where we have a strong female hero and how there's no clear line between good and evil side before and how plays out like a war movie, etc.

But watching it myself, I instantly remembered why I don't care about "SW": * new faces on screen but the same style of wooden acting and dialogue that feels like characters just reciting their lines instead of really talking to each other

* characters have almost zero depth so there's no really argument for being interested in them, if you are not "SW" fan which makes you interested already

* I didn't acquire a cohesive sense of time and place, just a series of scenes which don't always connect to a greater whole and often don't even have a proper flow. * For most of the time, "Rogue One" felt like a bunch a short movies that are connected by faces and places. Like a picture book where you have to concentrate only on one or two pages at a time. And many of those pages are not even exciting, maybe due to hammy acting and depthless characters.

* The only part that feels like more than a series of loosely connected scenes is the rebel attack which can really be compared to war movie in its own right.

What I liked about "Rogue One" was this female hero everyone's talking about who never plays on the gender card but acts like a soldier on the battlefield as everybody else. And the visuals are cool as always, all these pictoresque places, interesting details, awe-inducing battles. And, of course, the war movie part. And the heartfelt prologue. So for me, as a person who doesn't swallow "SW" hype easily, there is maybe an hour of adventure interesting enough for watching and another hour and ten minutes just enduring and hoping it will not get too boring.… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

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4

DarthSidious63Apr 8, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I finally saw Rogue One and I was deeply disappointed. It had an incoherent story and forgettable main characters. Rebel leaders such as Mon Mothma and Bail Organa had cameos. The silliest part is the CGI Princess Leia at the end.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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5

BadAidsDec 22, 2016

In a year where Hollywood has failed to deliver, the stage was set for Rogue One to steal the show, unfortunately that was not the case. Instead, Gareth Edwards gave us a Star Wars rendition that, while looking absolutely stunning, lacks anyIn a year where Hollywood has failed to deliver, the stage was set for Rogue One to steal the show, unfortunately that was not the case. Instead, Gareth Edwards gave us a Star Wars rendition that, while looking absolutely stunning, lacks any character and depth.
Despite on the service being a movie that is, arguably, visually superior to The Force Awakens, Rogue One offers little more than fan-service and leaves no lasting effects for audience members that have yet to be indoctrinated into this Lucas/Disney cult. What went wrong?
One of the most significant flaws of Rogue One is its protagonist, Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones). Jones' performance is utterly bland, especially when compared to last years predecessor Daisy Ridley, and she serves as more of a reference point for the audience instead of the charismatic leader that this film needed.
Very little motivation for Jones, as well as the rest of the cliched ensemble, means that it becomes difficult for the audience to get invested in what was actually quite an enjoyable and acion-packed final act.
This is a problem that I believe persists throughout Gareth Edward's filmography, most notably Godzilla (2014). While all his films do look visually stunning, he has yet to master the art of character development and when considering Rogue One's quite standard heist plot, the lack of engaging characters does mean that the film suffers heavily.
Although I enjoy Episodes 4-7, I am far from a Star Wars buff but I can appreciate the level of fan service that Rogue One contains and I can understand why fanatics seem to enjoy this film. However, the persisting thought I have about this film is; why was this made? Of course it whets the appetites of those eager for Episode 8 but Rogue One leaves no enduring moments for the Star Wars universe and with the rich history and depth of the Star Wars canon, it is a shame that this films biggest achievement is being better than the prequels. As it turns out, that's not a very difficult task.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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4

TheMetacritiqerDec 21, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Worst star wars movie. I did like the Darth Vader seen though because it felt like it was part of a better movie. And it's cool how it ends pretty much right before the fourth one. I was a little sad not because all of the forgettable characters die but because, well, it's the worst star wars movie and feel the spin offs will continue to be that way. I'm still interested in VIII though.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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6

MattBrady99Dec 25, 2016

Rogue One follows Jyn Erso (played by Felicity Jones) a Rebellion soldier and criminal, who is about to experience her biggest challenge yet when Mon Mothma sets her out on a mission to steal the plans for the Death Star. With help from theRogue One follows Jyn Erso (played by Felicity Jones) a Rebellion soldier and criminal, who is about to experience her biggest challenge yet when Mon Mothma sets her out on a mission to steal the plans for the Death Star. With help from the Rebels, a master swordsman, and non-allied forces, Jyn will be in for something bigger than she thinks.

I had my worries with Rogue One, if I must admit. After the massive success of "The Force Awakens", the universe of Star Wars has now expanded even more. There's going to be more sequels, prequels, and spin-offs every year now. Why this worries me is because I fear I'm going to be sick of theses and not really get exited anymore. Star Wars should be treated like a three year event like before, it gives more time for the writers & director to really flesh out the story. It may seem like a long wait, but it'll be worth the wait. But that's not all. The trouble re shoots this went through and the ridiculous short deadlines during post-production. But after seeing the film myself, I can safely say that this new prequel isn't a bad one.

"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" is a good movie. Not great or amazing, just decent. In my opinion, it's not up there with "A New Hope" or "Empire Strikes Back". It's more in the middle for me. If I have to be honest, I actually enjoyed "Force Awakens" more than this. Yeah, I said it. The movie is flawed, but it dose have a lot to like about it.

I can't imagine the pressure Gareth Edwards must have felt making this, kinda like what Abrams was feeling. In interviews, Gareth has said he was a Star Wars fan and it was the reason why he wanted to make movies. So this is very dear to him and while there where some slip ups in parts, but I must say that he handed the material really well. Gareth Edward is very good at making things feel huge and the heavy scale of things. The action scenes were directed so brilliantly that it actually felt like a war movie.

That's what really surprised me about "Rogue One" is how dark and depressing it is. Some people may have a problem with that, since everyone is use to these adventures with are favorite characters. For me, I didn't have an issue with it. Heck, I'm kinda glad it had the balls to go that far and be violent. The humor is very limited, but when there is humor is mostly from K-2SO (played by Alan Tudyk), who was just the best.

The CGI in this movie was incredible and quite groundbreaking. I mean, it's TOO GOOD. The way it blended with the real life environment and the action scenes was so good that half of the time I was watching computer effect's on screen. How it was executed was so beautiful and quite the achievement.

Now the biggest complaint I've been hearing from Star Wars fans is about Peter Cushing Digital Resurrection. Yep, he's back to cinematic life through the use of state-of-the-art visual effects wizardry. He's character Grand Moff Tarkin is in the movie, but instead of re-casting the role or kept his digital face in the shadows, but that's surprisingly not the case. He's in the movie quite a lot as you see him in full form and up close. This is getting a mix response from people and even I was a bit mixed on it. I was a bit weird out by it, as Peter Cushing has been dead for 22 years and seeing up there was hard to digest. But after letting it sink in, I thought it wasn't too noticeable and in a few scene I actually brought into it. I thought it looked real when he wasn't moving around or any close ups to his face. But that's just my thoughts.

Speaking of bringing back old characters, Dark Vader makes a appears in this. While he's screen time is very short, but he steals every scene he's in. Eventually the hallway scene, that was so bad-ass and one of my favorite moments in the movie. It's great to see him and James Earl Jones back as one of greatest villains of all time.

The first half of "Rogue One" was a bit rough for me and I was kinda bored at times. I didn't care or got attracted to the characters. The characterization was lacking and that's a real shame, because Star Wars is all about the characters, as it's the thing we remember from these movies. It's not all about Lightsabers and battles, it's the characters. Felicity Jones, Alan Tudyk & Mads Mikkelsen characters were the only ones that I cared about. The others not so much.

Another major part of the Star Wars movies is the score. John Williams score is so iconic that it's hard to top it. It's the heart of the series and I kinda wish he did the score for this, because Michael Giacchino score wasn't that good. But I'll cut Giacchino a little slack, he only had 4 weeks to compose it and it is a tough act to follow. That goes back to what I said about the deadlines being too short.

"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" is a good entry to the series and it dose feel like a dark Star Wars movie. I may have problems with the movie and I have to be honest with that, but I do think it ties in very well with "A New Hope".… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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4

night4Jan 14, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Here's a bunch of characters you won't care about!

Aaaaaand they're all dead. The end.

That's the movie. You know what's funny? I JUST watched it not 3 hours ago and I literally couldn't tell you the name of a SINGLE character in it, even if my life depended on it.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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4

kdedrickJan 3, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Being a life-long Star Wars fan, I had high hopes upon entering this film. Unfortunately, I left disappointed. The first 10 mins of the movie is constant shifting between different locations without establishing what purpose they have. They end up just being names on the screen with no meaning.
Characters are incredibly underdeveloped and the movie just expects you to feel for them.
Forest Whitaker's character was completely pointless.
Some sort of mind-control alien was introduced and then completely ignored after.
The main villain Krennic had a lot of potential but that is never realized.
The main character Jyn, is suddenly overcome with a sense of duty to complete this mission, despite having spent her entire life avoiding responsibility.
The chinese characters decide to just join the group because plot demands it?
I thought the Grand Moff Tarkin revival was appropriate and well done, I dont think the complaints are merited. Galen Erso was my favorite character and more of this movie should have been spent on him and his relationship with Krennic.
Vader's final scene was the best of the film. The character should have been featured more prominently.
The CGI of the film was great. Locations were gorgeous.
Unfortunately the lame plot and characters are too much to ignore and over weigh the few positives.
If you are a Star Wars fan, you will obviously go see it, otherwise dont bother.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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6

GrievanDec 22, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This film is either being utterly praised or wrongfully bashed, but I think it's a good movie filled with some flaws, the great thing about Star Wars movies are the characters, the emotional bound you make as a spectator with them, the tragic story of Darth Vader, Han Solo, Luke, you get a sense of their motivations, their background, that made you feel bad with their death. Rogue one doesn't seem to manage that well, the characters seem to lack development.

Another thing that is a negative for this movie is the CGI Tarkin, it's very good, almost flawless, but still, the CGI is distracting, and you could always tell that it was not a human there, you could have Guy Henry with practical make up, it would have a better effect than all the CGI in the world, or have him replaced by Vader since he could fill that role well.

It was a great adventure movie, but still what I love about Star Wars, besides the Sci-Fi setting, the lightsabers, Sith vs Jedi, are the characters, and if you don't make me care about them that's just sloppy writting.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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5

jacoobi456Jun 12, 2017

As a Star Wars fan, after walking out of the theatre I felt underwhelmed and nonplussed. Rogue One was enjoyable, but certainly not memorable, and for me doesn't come close to the other Star Wars films, especially after the utterlyAs a Star Wars fan, after walking out of the theatre I felt underwhelmed and nonplussed. Rogue One was enjoyable, but certainly not memorable, and for me doesn't come close to the other Star Wars films, especially after the utterly outstanding seventh instalment.

I know that this will conflict with popular opinion, but I thought there was little or no character development, mostly due to the OK performances by the lead roles, save Felicity Jones, who put in a great performance as Jyn Erso. I thought Diego Luna was particularly sub-par, especially after some very positive comments made by trusted friends. Humour was very good, mostly from K-2SO's awesome one-liners and remarks.

Probably the best aspect of Rogue One was the special effects: completely and utterly amazing, IMO some of the best in recent years. Scarif was very butt-clenchy, and had me absorbed from start to finish, avidly watching the unfolding scenes. All in all, a generally disappointing film with some brilliant moments/sequences, but not one that you'll rush back to see.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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4

bulbrookDec 16, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Tale of two movies. First half terrible - confusing, poor character development, dark and not enjoyable to watch. Then it is like the director was told to stop making a bad movie. The characters lightened up as did the tone, and the pacing and action became a star wars movie. The second half of the movie takes place in space and on a cool planet with a palm tree filled beach. It has as a bit of Return of the Jedi feel with the story switching back and forth. Overall rent this movie and skip ahead to the very beginning of the beach scene, and you will have an enjoyable 45 min long film.… Expand

9 of 23 users found this helpful914

All this user's reviews

4

Brent_MarchantDec 18, 2016

Wow...another "Star Wars" movie...zzzzzz. Despite a somewhat promising beginning and some dazzling special effects throughout, this latest offering in the franchise quickly degenerates into yet another tired, predictable slog that goes on farWow...another "Star Wars" movie...zzzzzz. Despite a somewhat promising beginning and some dazzling special effects throughout, this latest offering in the franchise quickly degenerates into yet another tired, predictable slog that goes on far too long, provides no particularly new insights into the mythology and has an ending that's already known from the outset. Unless you're an uber fan and can't live without seeing absolutely everything in the "Star Wars" mythos, don't waste your time on this underwhelming, half-hearted effort.… Expand

3 of 8 users found this helpful35

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6

sciencehedgeDec 18, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I have been a big fan of the Star Wars movies over the past several decades. Rogue One definitely excelled on the action side; however, the characters were flat and most of the performances quite boring---especially Felicity Jones and Diego Luna. Although I was rooting for their success in getting the plans for the death star, I felt almost no kinship or sympathy for them as characters. I would say that Rogue One was a good action movie without a soul and without the magic that most of the Star Wars movie had. The force was not with Rogue One.… Expand

3 of 8 users found this helpful35

All this user's reviews

6

Biggs364Dec 18, 2016

Stars Wars fanatic since summer of 77, with a few disappointments along the way. (Episodes 1 &7) This one gives me mixed feelings. On the bad side: No crawl. No John Williams except a few 8 bar licks pasted in here and there. The beginningStars Wars fanatic since summer of 77, with a few disappointments along the way. (Episodes 1 &7) This one gives me mixed feelings. On the bad side: No crawl. No John Williams except a few 8 bar licks pasted in here and there. The beginning compresses about 5 minutes worth of plot into 90 minutes and despite the intermittent heavy duty action sequences, seemed somewhat boring. My bored-o-meter is usually rated on how many times I look at my watch during the film- more than once and its a dog, but I actually fell asleep (worse than looking at my watch) for about 90 seconds about 1 hour into this one! I didn't miss much.
Now for the good: Fundamentally, this movie is based on one line from what we now call "A New Hope". DV: "Several transmissions were beamed to this ship by rebel spies." The last 45 minutes gets around to this and it is a real thrill ride, ending with the perfect segue into Episode 4. Amidst the drama/action there are all the usual Star Wars things we have come to love- desperate space battles, impenetrable shields, storm troopers, AT-ATs, the Death Star, Vader at his darkest, and Episode 4 cameos left and right. I was totally satisfied with this ending. Too bad the beginning was so tedious.… Expand

3 of 8 users found this helpful35

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4

bkristmanJan 6, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A very ordinary 'b' film with a larger budget that has a lead character pretty much indistinguishable from the last star wars one and just as serious,boring and vanilla.
The cinematography and effects were very blase and the 3D was almost non-existent .
The nearly powerless jedi they added to the film was some kind of primitive mentally disturbed man who kept yelling about the force to himself throughout and he did a disservice to the Star Wars legacy. The droid had the only bit of humour in the film but i'm not sure why the had to pay Tudyk to do it because the voice was indistinguishable.
All in all a poor 'by the numbers' effort without personality.
Throughout this film i just came to realize how good an actor Harrison Ford was ,not technically,but how just his appearance could have lit up a film like this .… Expand

3 of 8 users found this helpful35

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6

JoeCoolJan 2, 2017

I'm going to go with a 6 for this one, since I feel a 7 would just be too generous, even being a pretty big Star Wars fan. I had some doubts about the whole 'Star Wars Story' thing at first, but the movie managed to get the looks of the StarI'm going to go with a 6 for this one, since I feel a 7 would just be too generous, even being a pretty big Star Wars fan. I had some doubts about the whole 'Star Wars Story' thing at first, but the movie managed to get the looks of the Star Wars universe right, but the feeling was off from the get go. The grittiness of it all and the throw-away characters spoiled the fun quite a bit. The CGI was great, and there was no shortage of action near the end, but I still wonder why this movie was created at all. It doesn't fit with the Star Wars feeling except maybe for the space battle at the end which is great, but not enough to completely save this otherwise really bad movie. If this is the direction these Star Wars stories are going to take then they might as well call it a day right now.… Expand

4 of 12 users found this helpful48

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5

Ejdjski1234Dec 17, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. IT bored me and felt a bit long but had its moments. Everyone gets blown up which is upsetting but Vader has a badass scene and it opens up for a new hope… Expand

4 of 12 users found this helpful48

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6

LamontRaymondDec 17, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's a relatively fun movie, especially as a nostalgia fix if you liked the original three films (like I did), but one element REALLY annoyed me - the CGI-created faces of Grand Moff Tarkin and Princess Leia. I mean, great attempt, and fun. But they simply don't look real! I mean, if they could pull this sort of thing off in Avatar and hundreds of other "animated" movies, why was this such a tough ask? They don't even get near the uncanny valley. Highly off-putting, but it didn't ruin the movie for me. I also don't think Felicity Jones can handle the lead role. Even the "young" version of herself was a stronger actress. What made the movie was Alan T. as the new droid and the cast of supporting actors including Diego Luna and the blind force-believer (who is amazing).… Expand

3 of 9 users found this helpful36

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6

TVJerryDec 20, 2016

As action flicks go, this one is too slow and talky, but does have a decent final battle. As Star Wars flicks go, it's a standalone with little of the legacy characters, a story that's tangential to the originals and no scrolling text at theAs action flicks go, this one is too slow and talky, but does have a decent final battle. As Star Wars flicks go, it's a standalone with little of the legacy characters, a story that's tangential to the originals and no scrolling text at the beginning. A group of rebels sets out to steal the plans to the Death Star before it can destroy planets. The expected cool locations, technology and creatures dance around the edges, but there are no breakthru visuals or individuals to make this one stand out. The drama that dominates the first 90 minutes isn't especially compelling or interesting. Overall, it continues the legacy without bringing much new or exciting to its inheritance.… Expand

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

All this user's reviews

6

ozymandias79Mar 29, 2017

When the most human character in a movie is a robot, there's a problem, a major one. Rogue one is a disposable popcorn flick. One viewing is more than enough. It's completely forgettable and the fan service is cringe worthy.

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

All this user's reviews

5

mace8704Dec 28, 2016

Dark, depressing, and mature. For better and for worse, this is arguably the least 'fun' I've had with a Star Wars film. The first entry in the anthology series creates a darker tone intended for older audiences hoping to have their nostalgiaDark, depressing, and mature. For better and for worse, this is arguably the least 'fun' I've had with a Star Wars film. The first entry in the anthology series creates a darker tone intended for older audiences hoping to have their nostalgia itch scratched as opposed to younger audiences hoping for an upbeat and fresh narrative. Personally, I'm in the camp that thinks Star Wars is currently in a state of narrative stagnation. We've seen the death star multiple times with both Lucas and Abrams. We've seen the orphan narrative with Luke, Rey, and now Erso. We've seen the comedic droid with C3P0, R2-D2, BB-8, and now K-2S0. It gave me an odd feeling of deja vu. Haven’t I seen this movie before? It’s indicative of either a concerning lack of creativity, or a fear of experimentation due to the sacred cow status of the Star Wars franchise. Rent if you’re a fan of the original trilogy. Avoid if not.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

All this user's reviews

6

Dr_Shooter24Dec 26, 2016

The problem of Rogue One is not the technical part, which is compelling and incredible, but the lack of interest that produces either the plot and the characters. I understand to be amusing for those who are huge fans of the saga, but for me,The problem of Rogue One is not the technical part, which is compelling and incredible, but the lack of interest that produces either the plot and the characters. I understand to be amusing for those who are huge fans of the saga, but for me, there is no story to tell, and that, for a presigious name like Star Wars is something inadmisible. And let´s be honest, Felicity Jones doesn´t have any charisma.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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6

Rpk_Dec 22, 2016

I have Rogue One a 60 score and here's why:

The purposely restrained tone and dourness of Rogue One was a real drag. At two hours running time where you go in expecting a high energy action movie this is not a good thing. It felt like R1 wasI have Rogue One a 60 score and here's why:

The purposely restrained tone and dourness of Rogue One was a real drag. At two hours running time where you go in expecting a high energy action movie this is not a good thing. It felt like R1 was trying to be more Blade Runner than Star Wars, except without the intelligence, cast, and superior craftsmanship. I understand Rogue One is set during a time of war, but SW has always been able to attack serious issues without losing its lighthearted soul.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

All this user's reviews

6

mrdr4gonDec 15, 2017

Uneven in places, but this does the job for the most part. There's a few stretches were little happens that get a little irritating but the film as a whole is more or less effective. The atmosphere in the film is especially effective.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

All this user's reviews

6

WapitikevMar 11, 2019

The best Star Wars movie by Disney-Lucasfilm by a wide margin. The scenes with Vader, though unnecessary to the film, are well done and respectful to the character. CGI Leia was pretty cringy. CGI Tarkin was acceptable. The male and femaleThe best Star Wars movie by Disney-Lucasfilm by a wide margin. The scenes with Vader, though unnecessary to the film, are well done and respectful to the character. CGI Leia was pretty cringy. CGI Tarkin was acceptable. The male and female leads are unlikable characters doing the right thing. The droid and the two priests of "The Religion of the Force" were the best parts of this movie.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

All this user's reviews

4

AxeTDec 17, 2016

"The Force Awakens" though not the worst in the series was the weakest on story since it was a thinly disguised rehash, and of course story is the most important aspect of any narrative movie. This one is even worse pertaining to story. It"The Force Awakens" though not the worst in the series was the weakest on story since it was a thinly disguised rehash, and of course story is the most important aspect of any narrative movie. This one is even worse pertaining to story. It looks fantastic yeah, and has a reality to the photography that goes beyond even the last entry. That's the progression of technology. Stunning visual effects used to mean something, but now since it's a given for not only the genre but all big studio fare (and is expected particularly from this series which started the whole VFX blockbuster long running trend) what matters more than ever is the story-telling. This thing is so predictably formulaic in its telling of a small backstory alluded to in the original film, it offers practically no surprises at all. No story surprises that is. There is nothing really in this feature that one doesn't automatically intuit from the trailers. It's another connect the dots enterprise with all the little winks to fans which actually somehow shrinks the entire legacy every time they close in this vast universe by keying into every little story detail they can find from the old films. Plot beats arcane canon acknowledgments any day nerds!

How many times can we watch the same repetitive action tropes no matter what galaxy they're set in and still be thrilled? Continuous action and spectacle is not good story craft. Too much "action" equals boredom. This is a real problem for the medium in general, I understand, but it must be fought. For example, why not get bold and creative and go into some strange subplots revolving around certain characters? Go unexpected every chance! That's good story-telling. That's what "Game of Thrones" does. That's why that is far superior story-telling nowadays than "Star Wars" is. Diversity in casting is only a diversion from the real task which is all that matters, story. It's not that the casting here is a problem, it's just that it's irrelevant no matter how much attention it may get. The fact this movie has the fewest stars yet in the cast is not necessarily a problem either, but without big stars or familiar characters to pull you along and give personality to the generic proceedings it gets very dull. And most detrimental of all, this suffers from the same wretched problem the prequels and last year's reboot sequel did. In the case of the prequels, playing out mysterious and intriguing backstory by actually rendering and extending what was a couple lines in the original script into a bloated forefront has killed the magic once there. What was huge has become somehow small in so doing. By the same token with Episode VII, seeing what happens to beloved characters well into the future only serves to dampen our imaginings of them. In both cases, it only taints the original couple films from way back. Hey this is the very nature of sequels and prequels I know, so there's no solution other than to either do them so exceedingly well that they transcend this problem or don't do them at all, especially if dealing with classics or returning after prolonged periods of time. Or just keep putting out stuff like these last two movies which are good enough, sound enough productions to still make a fortune based on an overwhelmingly large and beholden fan base but in the long run will ultimately continue to harm the franchise and damage its value.

It's too bad because this is a sophisticated product with the conceit of a really good war mission story cleverly extracted from the seed planted in the original 1977 film. The tone is right, serious but light enough here and there. The problem is it's one hell of a slog through with a lot of watch checking! There are flourishes, but nothing that can come close to saving a sophisticated audience from either being bored out of their minds or lying to themselves that this was an entertaining couple of hours. Be honest with yourself. There are a couple very powerful fleeting moments. If the whole movie was on such level it would be the best! As it stands, it made me want to play the virtual reality game version instead of sitting through endlessly recycled narrative. The story has to grip more than ever these days or it's a waste of time, because we have seen it all over and over and over!
The best movies for kids are the ones that adults can also love. The first two "Star Wars" movies were that like we'd never seen before. Unfortunately the magic has never been re-captured since.… Expand

3 of 10 users found this helpful37

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5

piercoDec 16, 2016

People who are voting this awful, boring, mishmash of a movie 10 realy need their heads examined. I now understand why the likes of Trump can manipulate people to vote for him. Whay a world of Idiocy we live in.

5 of 19 users found this helpful514

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6

SpookydarrenDec 16, 2016

So, just wanted to make a point and say that some of the best bits were missing from the trailers. Jin saying "that's what I do, I rebel". She sounded like a bad ass but the character ends up being somewhat diminished imo. Also the face offSo, just wanted to make a point and say that some of the best bits were missing from the trailers. Jin saying "that's what I do, I rebel". She sounded like a bad ass but the character ends up being somewhat diminished imo. Also the face off with the tie fighter on the tower looked spectacular but was also cut. On the plus side the new droid and Vader were AWESOME. Film saved in the last five minutes. Looking forward to the Han Solo story.… Expand

9 of 36 users found this helpful927

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6

TrevorsViewDec 16, 2016

Okay, so the first spinoff of the immortal Star Wars saga has finally hit theaters, but how does it compare to the rest? Well, it’s miles ahead of those embarrassing prequels (no surprise), but Rogue One: A Star Wars Story just can’t competeOkay, so the first spinoff of the immortal Star Wars saga has finally hit theaters, but how does it compare to the rest? Well, it’s miles ahead of those embarrassing prequels (no surprise), but Rogue One: A Star Wars Story just can’t compete with the originals, or The Force Awakens.

As I’m sure you’ve heard, there’s no opening crawl or John Williams score this time, just a silent view of space with a single planet. Everything else from here is an X-wing flight of an experience you’d expect from a Star Wars movie, including booming sound effects and AT-AT walkers that look as epic as ever. There’s an appropriate mix of practical sets and good CGI to create all sorts of new settings, including a tropical planet and a claustrophobic prison. It’s got all the checklist requirements to make a good Star Wars movie, but there’s something missing.

Basically, without giving anything away, the Death Star is in its finishing stages of development, and war zones land on all areas of conspiracy against the weapon, the strife of war affects the lowest of the low in the galaxy. But we are introduced to the struggle on a rock and moss planet that houses a small family of farmers. The father is forcefully invited to join the Empire, along with his wife and daughter. He is soon taken away, and the little girl manages to escape, only to be transported place to place by an Imperial prison as an adult.

Now, she ends up with the Rebel Alliance so that she can be this movie’s “feminist protagonist” in helping steal the plans to the Death Star, and also to see her father again. You know how it all goes from here.

The problem I had with this movie is not just in how we already know how it will end before it even begins, but in the excessive use of characters with so little humanity I cannot connect with a single one of them.

Think of it this way: you remember how in The Force Awakens we saw a detailed introduction to Rey that showed us what her day-to-day life on Jakku was like? Remember the clear backstory given to Finn and how that motivated his actions? Here, none of the new characters have any of that. Jyn’s not motivated enough to fight for what she has lost, as we never know what her relationship with her father was ever like. Then she starts to cry over this inner pain, and let me tell you: Felicity Jones (Like Crazy, The Theory of Everything) is not skilled in making crocodile tears. Her story just moves by too quickly to balance a feel of hope with letting us feel for her.

Everyone else around her is just a plot device. While Forest Whitaker’s (The Butler, The Last King of Scotland) new cyborg character has a sympathetic redemption story screaming to get out, the poor performance of the man behind the mask just doesn’t land. Then there’s the cameos of characters from the original trilogy. Remember how the appearances of older characters in The Force Awakens actually advanced the emotional story and improved your appreciation of the originals? This does none of that. Darth Vader does appear as epic as ever, but he just comes to explain the plot, and leaves, only to make one more brief appearance. There are a couple of others from the originals who appear, but none of them are very satisfying or necessary. Although there was one cameo that just blew my mind, making me go, “Whoa! How did the visual effects crew make that possible?!”

But there is a god, strong saving grace though: one of the new characters proves to be strong with the force, despite it being a time when the force is thought of as an ancient religion. He’s also blind, and an epic master of hand-to-hand combat. Let me tell you: he gets a moment to shine in his fight against a gaggle of Stormtroopers, and it’s the most amazing thing ever.

So is Rogue One: A Star Wars Story the spinoff to the saga we all hoped for? Not exactly. It’s a satisfactory action flick if you’re willing not to think too hard about it as high art. But if you are looking for the essential Star Wars experience that surpasses all of your expectations, you might end up disappointed.… Expand

6 of 24 users found this helpful618

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6

TheQuietGamerJan 9, 2017

Rogue One succeeds at showing a darker and more desperate side of the Star Wars universe. The galaxy is being crushed under the Empire's oppression, the Rebel Alliance is being forced to resort to grim tactics in order to survive, and to topRogue One succeeds at showing a darker and more desperate side of the Star Wars universe. The galaxy is being crushed under the Empire's oppression, the Rebel Alliance is being forced to resort to grim tactics in order to survive, and to top it all off the Empire is in the process of putting the finishing touches on some sort of super weapon. One rumored to have the power to destroy planets. All of this sets off a chain of events that make for the most unique Star Wars yet. One that feels more like a heist and war film, than what's come before.

One of the movie's greatest strengths is that it captures the bleak atmosphere one would expect from a Star Wars story set in this period of the series' timeline. There's a feeling of hopelessness that follows the characters around through every scenario they find themselves apart of. Nearly every planet they visit has that dirty, rundown, right in the middle of a warzone feel that sells the tone excellently. When it comes to the depiction of the state of the galaxy the movie succeeds near-perfectly.

Another area where the movie is at it's best is in it's incredible battles. These conflicts standout as the best the series has to offer. The scale is grand, the stakes are intense, and the shear amount of eye candy is stunning. The series even gets involved in some non-blaster fights that rival the series best lightsaber duels, despite not having a single Jedi in sight. When it comes to action the movie does not disappoint. Unfortunately the same thing cannot be said for it's writing and characters. Something that leaves an unfortunate sour patch in an otherwise stellar movie.

It's not that the events aren't interesting. The concept of watching a ragtag team come together to steal the plans for the freaking Death Star with all odds stacked against them is one that would excite any Star Wars fan. The problem is that early on it just sort of moves in a way that unceremoniously throws them together. It jumps around so much at the beginning it's actually a little confusing to piece together what's going on. It doesn't take long for things to click, but when they do your left with an even bigger problem; you have no way to connect with the characters, so it's impossible to care about them. The exception being Alan Tudyk's excellent K-2SO. It's not that they're unlikable characters. It's just that there's no spark or flair to them that causes them to standout as anything more than the Star Wars universe's B-team. A group of bland faces meant to carry things on here while things are being prepared for Episode VIII. Given that the popularity of the Star Wars series partly stems from the compelling nature of it's characters and plot, it's disappointing to see the series first anthology film fall short in those areas. This is primarily a movie you watch for the spectacular action. I say primarily because the movie does have a great deal of fan-service for Star Wars fans. Things like special references and even a few surprise cameos are sure to please. Especially since they feel natural to the story and not just shoehorned in. So in the end Rogue One isn't a disaster. Just more of a disappointment in some areas. There are still plenty of reasons to check it out, longtime fan or not. It's noticeable differences in things like tone have the potential to appeal to newcomers. So in the end all is not lost.

6.9/10… Expand

2 of 8 users found this helpful26

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6

SmoothrunnerDec 27, 2016

Unexpectedly good movie for a Star Wars. At least I've saw it out to the end unlike previous "episode". I'm not a fanboy of this "fairy tale rubbish", but at last they've filmed something that makes sense and really reminded war to meet theUnexpectedly good movie for a Star Wars. At least I've saw it out to the end unlike previous "episode". I'm not a fanboy of this "fairy tale rubbish", but at last they've filmed something that makes sense and really reminded war to meet the movie title. Attractive Felicity Jones is a fine choice for the main role, but other staff are mediocre. Pathetic speeches are laughable and heroes behave unnaturally but still better than in most other SW "episodes". But what really bothers me is that "rebels" are as much unsympathetic as Empire is. They are depicted as bunch of zealots willing to sacrifice their own and others lives for an unclear and morally ambiguous purpose - vague illusions and dreams. They are fanatics with dubious motivation. Even religious suicide bombers have more reason and logic in their doings than SW's rebels. At least they are expecting to end up in an imaginary "paradise" and are dying for their "brothers". But all these rebels - what are they killing and dying for? As I said - they are scary zealots with irrational behaviour and no better than Imperial Stormtroopers. In fact, they are behaving utterly unrealistic. But this is SW after all.… Expand

2 of 8 users found this helpful26

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6

Burnouts3s3Dec 18, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Rogue One is an ambitious film that's constantly hindered by the Studio's interference. Gareth Edwards (Director of films such as the independent film, Monsters, and the 2014 reboot of Godzilla) emphasizes slow build-up, scale and a sense of melancholy in his works. Rogue One, for the most part, uses Gareth's natural inclinations and makes a film less like the optimistic A New Hope and more like the bleak Empire Strikes Back. The film centers on Jyn Erso, a daughter of an ex-Imperial engineer who designed the plans of the Death Star. When Jyn's father is captured by the Empire and Jyn's mother is killed, Jyn joins the Rebellion as a means of survival. Years later, Jyn grows up to a be a jaded cynic, turning herself away from the cause. However, when a hologram of her father reappears, Jyn joins up with the new Rebellion in hopes of finding her father.

Jyn joins up with a cast of rebels in order to fulfill her goal. Unfortunately, whether by mandate of the studio or Edwards himself, a majority of the cast doesn't receive the much needed character development needed to form a strong emotional connection to them. (I'm told that a prequel novel, Catalyst, details many of the backstories and origins of the side characters. As I recall, there used to be a time when movies had to stand alone and didn't require the aid of a peripheral novel to explain characters). The stand outs of the cast are Donnie Yen's Chirrut Îmwe, a believer in the Force who cannot wield it makes the people around him question his figurative and literal blind faith and Alan Tudyk's K-S2O, a reprogrammed Imperial droid that can't help but say what's on his mind. While neither character full develops, the actors imbue their roles with such personality, that when the possibility of "They will not come back from this mission" starts to sink in, you genuinely feel for their loss.

Rogue One ordered a number of reshoots during production. Unfortunately, many of the studio's re-shoots stick out. Just when I felt that Gareth Edwards was about to take the Star Wars movies in a different and original direction (such as in the peripheral media or even the now non-canon Star Wars Extended Universe, a series of tie-in novels, books and games deleted from continuity by mandate of Disney purchasing the Star Wars license), there's a random cameo or reference that feels so out of place that it literally took me out of the movie. For example, Jyn, early on, bumps into the two strangers Luke meets in Mos Eisley. While the cameo is fun, it does little to move the plot or the characters. Perhaps, it's a small universe after all.

And while I liked K-S2O's character, you can't help but feel every time he's in a scene, a humorous moment will be around the corner, effectively making him a comedic relief robot (I heard a poster refer to him as a Bazingabot).

As such, there are moments of tonal whiplash throughout the film. Just as the film is about to take a darker turn or a depressing outlook, a random cameo appears or K-S2O says something funny. Were these moments intended from the beginning or did the studio worry that the film was too bleak and ordered reshoots to make the affair lighthearted? We may never know what Gareth's original cut of the film would've differed from what we have now. That being said, the director takes bold risks and does things to the characters a lesser director wouldn't have done. That takes guts. Rogue One is enjoyable. It is worth seeing in the theater. But, when I hear audiences compare this to Empire Strikes Back, I really wish the narrative would've taken more risks and Edwards would've been free to do what he intended. As for now, I recommend seeing it at a Matinee.… Expand

2 of 8 users found this helpful26

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4

norseDec 24, 2016

This movie was surprisingly bland and non-fun to watch.

For the record, I gave last years new Star Wars movie a 10/10 rating. This year, we have the same great visuals, visual design and probably the best ever story told in the time of theThis movie was surprisingly bland and non-fun to watch.

For the record, I gave last years new Star Wars movie a 10/10 rating.

This year, we have the same great visuals, visual design and probably the best ever story told in the time of the movie Franchise.

Plenty of good actors, but: while the actors were great and the story was outstanding, both the writing and the acting were sub-par. I suspect poor direction.

The movie presses way too hard on a number of Star Wars cliches (force guy, hey, let's mention the force every sentence, huge space battle for a stationary target at the end, OMG, my relationship with my Dad and foster Dad is strained, everyone who dies dies a heroic death...)

Fewer characters with more development would have helped the movie along tremendously. Terrible shame, this movie could have been the greatest one yet.… Expand