#RogueOne: A Star Wars Story Review (No Spoilers)
Before you read this entire review, you should go into it knowing I’m not what many consider a ‘hardcore Star Wars freak’. Sure, I have a thing for Han Solo, like the rest of the gals around the world, and I know who Luke’s father is. I’ve watched all the movies, but not over and over the way many do. I just happen to be lucky enough to be included in an early showing for media and thought others might like my takeaways of the film.
I worried going into Rogue One that maybe I should have re-watched the last movie so that I knew what I was walking into. But it didn’t matter. Because this latest Star Wars movie, Rogue One, is a Star Wars film you can enjoy—even appreciate–without having watched a single frame of any of the other movies. And yet, I truly believe it’s going to exceed expectations of the folks who watch the other movies on pretty much a weekly basis; the boys who grew up collecting the action figures, who still count them among their most prized possessions; the men who have been counting down days until this latest release.
There are flashes of the old hits to keep the hardcore fans happy…you’ll see some iconic faces. But the last thing I want to do is ruin the fun for you, so I’m not going to get into that. What I am going to do is reassure you that it’s worth your money. It’s full of action. Fun. And great messages that we all need to hear these days. Proof that a bunch of ordinary people can change the world.
The movie is a nice little break from our crazy world we’ve endured the past couple months.
I’ll tell you it was funnier than I thought it would be. I wanted to write down all the one-liners that made me laugh out loud. And the sage advice these characters shared in the story. But I also didn’t want to remove myself from the fun. Not then. I’ll take notes next time I watch.
I’m also going to tell you that if there were ever a droid I HAD to have in my life, K2SO would be the one. This is my kind of droid. He says it how he sees it. He has your back, even when you tell him to be nowhere near your back. And, for a droid, he’s a total badass. I just didn’t see that coming. Oh, and he makes you laugh. All. The. Time. It doesn’t hurt that this droid is played by Alan Tudyk. Firefly fans (huge one here) will recognize him right away. This only makes me want him more (I’m talking about the droid here—I know Tudyk is taken).
A final note. I kind of love the scenery in this movie. Star Wars did this to me with the last movie, too. You know that remote island where a certain Jedi was playing hermit (still trying not to share any spoilers here)? Well, this time, the gorgeous scenery is planet Eadu that hooked me. I must go there. An ocean and stunning sunset will always appeal to me, even if it’s a place run by a bunch of Imperials. So, I’ve looked it up and it turns out the scenery I fell so in love with is the southern coast of Iceland. Oh, and the part showing planet Scarif, with the clear blue water and palm trees…that the Maldives. Sign me up for that movie-set visit any day! This travel lover will happily re-enact a scene or two if LucasFilms needs me. Maybe if I say it enough times, I’ll magically end up on the set:
The force is with me. I am one with the force.
(Final note–if you’re wondering if it’s appropriate for your kiddos, I think it’s fine if they’re 10 or older…younger if they’re huge fans. The most difficult scene for them will probably be right off the bat, so if you don’t mind covering their eyes for that, you could probably bring the little ones. I didn’t consider it as violent as some of the past movies, though I may be desensitized from my The Walking Dead habit.)
