On the Necessity of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

How many times have you sat down and wondered what a fantasy, sci-fi version of The Dirty Dozen (1967) would look like. The Second World War sub genre is not one that often mixes with the first two, but thanks to Gareth Edwards’ Star Wars spin off, Rogue One, we now know. After a fitful and slow start, perhaps inevitable when introducing so many characters (but do they all have to be on oddly named new planets), we arrive on beaches of Normandy Scarif. Here we are presented with not just WWII iconography (the uniforms), but familiar narrative plots (the planes swooping in just when all looks lost for the soldiers on the beach). Edwards has, very purposefully shown us the war in Star Wars in a manner which is far more grounded than previous attempts. There isn't a lightsaber in sight. The spectacle of Rogue One is stunning. Edwards finds ways to mount his camera that feel fresh and exhilarating. The shot of the X-Wing mid battle, seen from the tip of the wing is a thrill. Just like his Godzilla (2014) reboot, he is a skilled technician, which is clear to anyone who has watched his director’s commentary alongside his best film, Monsters (2010). Edwards is happiest with visuals so the blockbuster comes naturally to him. What Rogue One misses, that Abrams was able to bring to The Force Awakens (2015), as well as spectacle, is soul. This is, aside from The Empire Strikes Back (1980), the darkest Star Wars film. We are told in A New Hope (1977) that many died to source the death star plans. Here we see the many die. Yet the story of Jyn Erso and her arc throughout Rogue One lacks emotion. She is orphaned, thrown into a fight she doesn’t know she wants and finds a future all too late, yet in all these moments Edwards is unable to draw us in emotionally. He is a great director of images, but this isn't yet matched in his direction of people. There is more strength of feeling in Han Solo’s last moments than in the entirety of Rogue One. This absence is a shame, as the film becomes a worthy addition to the collection buffering up to A New Hope with unexpected skill and balance (although, we didn’t need to see a CGI Princess Leia, the costume says it all). On seeing The Force Awakens it felt like it was needed, as if a piece of Star Wars was missing, but only on seeing the film were you aware of this. Rogue One is a great addition, but a want more than a need.