I’ve seen war films before but none like this. My perception of the Star Wars cinematic universe has changed on so many levels. After watching this, I’ve come to appreciate the classics even more. It was very gritty, grounded, dramatic, and methodical. I would really like to see more spin-off stories like this one. Fortunately, I can look forward to Episode 8 before the Han Solo movie starts shooting. Now let’s get into the review.

Director Gareth Edwards is no stranger to making sci-fi, dystopia, larger than life films. You can check out his filmography if you don’t believe me. One of the writers, Tony Gilroy has a reputation in penning the Jason Bourne films. So it was no surprise to me that Rogue One was full of suspense. I would even categorize it as a thriller. Because when Darth Vader is on-screen, boy is he a force to be reckoned with. See what I did there? For those who don’t know what to expect in this film, I’ll give you a synopsis.

Rogue One is about two opposing sides fighting for the fate of the universe. The Empire also known as The Imperial Army are the bad guys who seek to subjugate, eradicate, and exploit all things good. While the Rebel Alliance seeks to stop their reign of terror and establish peace. As in the other films, it’s a classic battle of good vs evil. In this case, we get to see the more human side of things. Although not as fantastic as Jedi and Sith lords, the Rebellion is just as formidable. I learned a few new things about the cosmic power source known as The Force.

It is not just an order of beings who can perform supernatural feats but it is also a religion. One that residents of the plant Jedha take very serious. There are loads of characters in this movie but it never seems overcrowded. The entire cast is played by A-list actors such as Felicity Jones, Forest Whitaker, Donnie Yen, Mads Mikkelsen, Diego Luna, Wen Jiang, and others. Packed with action and gigantic set pieces, Rogue One does not disappoint. The visuals are absolutely beautiful for such a dark film which provides a welcoming contrast. As with all Lucasfilms, it’s a bit lengthy so don’t drink too much soda. Because you don’t wanna miss a thing. I’d give this movie a 9/10 for really closing 2016 with a bang.