rogue one (2016) review
The infamously terrifying and claustrophobically shot scene at the tail end of Star Wars: Rogue One is essentially the one and only time we get to see a live action Darth Vader go full Sith at the height of his powers. It’s a sublime moment in a Star Wars universe boasting a lot of them. Scoundrels across the galaxy speak in hushed tones of Vader’s near limitless power and simmering rage. It was worth the wait to see. Would this film still be considered a diamond in the rough of the expanded Star Wars universe in the absence of witnessing Anakin effortlessly decimate a dozen helpless, faceless rebels? It’s a question worth asking. That Rogue One contains the now infamous and endlessly rewatchable scene which also happens to lead directly into the start of the start of The Skywalker Saga (not a typo) gives the film extra meaning. Rogue One is underappreciated and becomes even more so with time. Beautiful in its simplicity, it tells a tale we always imagined but never thought we’d see. It’s far more coherent from beginning to end than any of the sequel trilogy. Going in knowing the end certainly helps, both for us and the filmmakers. I’ve always found ground battles to be more compelling than the aerial counterparts - it’s far easier to consistently understand who is attacking who and from what angle. The “Star War” aspect of Rogue One benefits from taking place almost entirely on foot/hand-to-hand. In that way, It almost feels like a precursor to The Mandalorian, another Star Wars property almost entirely devoid of aerial combat. Being compared favorably to The Mandalorian means you are doing something right.
Rogue one receives a score of 8.5 out of 10 for both general audiences and Star Wars wonks. The film is woefully underrated.