By Tanisha Gunby’21

“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” was released on Dec. 16 and had the second-biggest December opening ever. It is the first standalone film in the “Star Wars” series and made $155 million at the box office during its first weekend.
The story takes place in the days leading up to “Episode IV — A New Hope.” The film focuses on Jyn Erso (Academy Award nominee Felicity Jones), who unwillingly becomes part of the Alliance, the group that fights against the Empire. When she was a young girl, her father Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen), a former scientist, was forcibly taken by the Empire to build their most powerful weapon, the Death Star. Without the Empire knowing, he put a small weakness in the design of the Death Star’s defenses which could allow the Alliance to destroy it. When the movie takes place, Jyn and a small band of Alliance fighters must capture the Death Star’s plans quickly before it destroys the rebellion.
The majority of the film is set over a few days and seamlessly links to “Episode IV — A New Hope,” in which the Alliance uses the captured plans to destroy the Death Star. The director cleverly uses computer-generated imagery to bring back the commander of the Death Star, Grand Moff Tarkin, who was played by the late Peter Cushing in “Episode IV.” However, the film relies heavily on fast paced action, fighting and special effects rather than a strong storyline, which was characteristic of Episode IV.
Overall, “Rogue One” is an enjoyable standalone film and a must see for “Star Wars” fans who want to learn more about the “Star Wars” story.
Rating: 4 stars