Finally, ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY Is the Star Wars Film We've Been Waiting For

I am pleased to say that Rogue One is the awesome Star Wars movie that fans and critics alike have been waiting for probably since Return of the Jedi. With Episodes I, II & III being huge missteps, and as The Force Awakens was basically a remake of A New Hope, it's nice to see a Star Wars film that injects a little grit and depth into the proceedings.

For anyone who doesn't already know, Rogue One is the prequel to A New Hope. It's the story of the Rebel fighters who steal the plans to the first Death Star, making Luke Skywalker's entire adventure possible in the first place. The film centers around Jyn Erso, played by Felicity Jones, who is the child of Imperial engineer Galen Erso, played by an earnest Mads Mikkelsen. As the chief designer of the formidable Death Star, a space station designed to destroy entire planets, Galen follows his conscience and attempts to flee the Empire, so as to avoid completing the terrible project. But lo and behold, Galen and his family are found by the Imperials, which sets off his daughter Jen's journey towards joining the rebellion and stopping the Empire's greatest weapon.

What follows is a darker, grittier version of the Star Wars universe than we've seen since The Empire Strikes Back, or maybe ever, with a cast of great actors that imbue the film with a gravitas that nicely centers the harrowing plot. Diego Luna steps in as Cassian Andor, a rough around the edges Rebel whose motivations are unclear, and Alan Tudyk plays the reprogrammed Imperial droid K-2SO (Essentially a C-3P0 stand-in, but hilarious nonetheless. Also, Tudyk played the chicken in Moana. Seriously awesome). Together the trio sets out to stop the Empire's evil machinations, and along the way get in a series of shootouts and space battles that often come off more like scenes from a war film than a light hearted sci-fi space romp. Indeed, there's been rumblings that Disney had the film reedited as a result of the first cut being too dark, and the final product has definitely retained shades of that darkness, part of which stems from a sort of realism. For example, Donnie Yen plays Chirrut Îmwe, a sort of Jedi monk who is more of a meditative believer than a lightsaber wielding warrior. That's the kind of detail that gives the film a more human element. It also doesn't hurt that things like this are avoided entirely altogether.

Rogue One benefits from the fact that it knows what kind of film it wants to be; That is, a straight forward, well-acted take on the Star Wars universe. Sure, the script isn't Shakespeare, but given that The Force Awakens felt like one big homage to a trilogy of films that most of us have seen dozens of times, it bodes well that the universe can be expanded in a way that is fun, interesting, and at least a little gritty. I'm looking forward to the stand-alone Han Solo film.