ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY - What Are The Critics Saying?
We've seen a lot of glowing Twitter reactions, but past experience has taught us that those don't mean much! So, what are the critics saying now that the reviews are out? Find that out after the jump...
With numerous reports of reshoots and big post-production changes, we've known for a while now that there was a chance Rogue One: A Star Wars Story could go horribly wrong. Thanks to Disney and Lucasfilm though, that is not the case, and we've thankfully avoided the first Anthology movie being as messy as the likes of Fantastic Four and Suicide Squad. In fact, it may be the best Star Wars movie yet!
By now, you've probably already read the reviews by CBM's own RorMachine and Nate Best, but below you'll find a selection of other verdicts from all across the internet. These hail from regular blogs and websites, the trades, and various magazines, and they all offer up an interesting - and spoiler free - perspective on what we should expect from the highly anticipated release a little later this week.
The reviews aren't quite as glowing as those Tweets, but people seem to have really enjoyed it for the most part, so it's far from awful. Chances are that it won't be as critically acclaimed as Star Wars: The Force Awakens anyway, but only one of the sites below really pans it, so Rogue One should still wind up with a pretty high score on Rotten Tomatoes for those of you who worry about that sort of thing!
What Rogue One accomplishes on a larger scale is incredibly encouraging for Star Wars going forward. While there is some element of safety with the next spinoff featuring a fan favorite character like Han Solo, Rogue One has forged a new path by showing that you can make a good Star Wars movie even if it has a different tone and approaches the universe from a new perspective. Not everything has to be Skywalkers and lightsabers. While I’m excited for Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: Episode VIII, I’m far more encouraged about where new “Star Wars Stories” can take us. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story may not be a total success, but it accomplishes its most important mission. [B] - Collider
The cast could not be better with Jones the perfect and edgy heroine, Luna a dashing partner, and the great new robot invention of Tudyk’s K2SO. Mendelsohn is a nicely complex bad guy , while Ahmed and Yen each have some great moments. It is also nice to see, or at least hear, Jones back in full Vader mode. The Special Effects team outdoes themselves here, and Michael Giacchino’s great score owes a few notes to John Williams’ iconic classic, but carves out its own place in this particular universe. - Deadline
What results is a poignant, powerful paean to the Star Wars Universe, set in a world where the best thing you can hope for is hope itself. It's a perfect and complete standalone but it changes everything. Watching A New Hope will never feel the same again. [5*] - Digital Spy
The ultimate Star Wars fan film, it’s short on whimsy but when it gets going there’s enough risk-taking and spectacle to bode well for future standalones. [4*] - Empire Online
So this new entry in the series, stand-alone or not, earns solid middle-to-upper-middle standing in the overall franchise scheme of things. Whether we ever see any of these new characters again remains an open question; some would be welcome, others will not be missed. What fans will get here is loads of action, great effects, good comic relief, stunning locations (Iceland, Jordan and the Maldives) and some intriguing early glimpses of the Galactic Empire as it begins to flex its inter-galactic power. - The Hollywood Reporter
Ultimately, the crux of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” a stand-alone movie that allows for risk, is sacrifice and duty (and to that end, as a franchise film, much of the finale is bold). The Rebellion is bigger than one brave soldier on the ground and there’s a high price to pay for valor. For all its troubles, ‘Rogue One’ is a very good “Star Wars” film, frustratingly though, it falls short of being a truly great one. But it stands for something; honor, righteousness and a higher cause. And during dark days like the ones we’re currently caught in, its inspiring message to defy, resist and rebel is an vital reminder that some battles are worth fighting, no matter the cost. [B/B+] - The Playlist
The biggest surprise is quite how emotional it is, with several scenes – and one holo-message in particular – primed to (force)choke you up. Rogue One might trade heavily in nostalgia but it's bold enough to take risks, and will leave you stirred, fired up and raring for more. Now, if only there was a follow-up we could go away and watch immediately… [5*] - Total Film
Between epic battles featuring scores of familiar spaceships and the genuine thrill of hearing composer Michael Giacchino riff on John Williams’ classic score, there’s no denying that the film belongs to the creative universe Lucas established. This is the rebellion as it is experienced in the trenches. Younger audiences will be bored, confused, or both. But for the original generation of “Star Wars” fans who weren’t sure what to make of episodes one, two, and three, “Rogue One” is the prequel they’ve always wanted. - Variety
Rogue One makes up for a shaky first act by punching into overdrive for an outstanding third act battle sequence that overwhelms in scale and intensity. [3.5*] - WeGotThisCovered.com
Ultimately, however, “Rogue One” seems to want nothing more than for the audience to pat itself on the back because they know what Yavin 4 is: It’s a fun game to play at Comic-Con, but it doesn’t make for much of a movie. - The Wrap