Don’t worry, the title isn’t suggesting I’ll tell you those cameos or reveal the answers in this review.
The newest film in the Star Wars franchise is pretty terrific. In it, we are introduced to a slew of new characters who are instrumental to everything we know about that galaxy far, far away. If you didn’t know already ( and you really should have known this by now) this takes place before “A New Hope”, the original movie that premiered in 1977. Everyone who entered that movie recognizes that they’re in the middle of a story that is only understood through reference. You know that the heroes are there continuing a fight that began sometime before them and they are hoping to bring decisive victories to the Rebel Alliance. Now with Rogue One, we get a look into the players of the past and learn of the struggles they endured.
The movie’s pacing was fantastic. There were just enough action sequences to keep even the most wretchedly ADDed of us tuned in, but it was interspersed with meaningful dialogue that kept the story sharp and clear. Loose ends that were, in some cases, decades old are explained and understood. You’ll see some expected cameos of major characters and true fans will recognize a few other very minor ones that will make the entire theater smile with fond recognition.
When you boil this movie down to its bare bones, what you’re left with is a story of relationships, family and love. Family being what characters are born into, as well as families they accept as they navigate their lives. One of these relationships gives us the answer to a question that many fans have been asking since ’77. The brilliance with how it’s tied in, the motives behind certain actions and the fates of characters who existed in passing reference are all brought to the light in this fantastic chapter.
In some ways, this movie fell only slightly short of the stellar “The Force Awakens” but in other fronts, this movie exceeds it. Expect to walk away from this one feeling nothing but excitement for the upcoming movies from a studio who is rounding out this universe in spectacular ways.