The Brief:

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was almost, but not quite.

The Long:

Droids, Storm Troopers and bad guys oh my! Rogue One has landed in theaters this week and I am sure you Star Wars geeks are super excited to see more of this beautiful world unfold, Just as I was.

Was is a past tense word though is it not? I think I used correct grammar on that one.

Coming into Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, I was excited. I hadn’t seen a single trailer, nor ready much of anything. Seeing only a handful of images from the movie and character chatter here and there is all I knew of the film. Yes I was aware of the storyline itself, steal the plans to the Death Star.

The film is a thing of beauty and a grit we have yet to see in Star Wars. A perfect blend of the Star Wars universe in a more modern take. But as the film unfolded, I caught myself thinking on multiple occasions, do I really like this movie?

I didn’t want to like it just because I am a Star Wars junkie, nor did I not want to like it because it’s there year 2016 and 1977. I just couldn’t figure out how I felt during and even after the film ended.

The models, the droids, the CGI, the acting was all on par with what we have come to expect from our beloved universe, but something was amiss. The landscapes, the ships, the dark versus light; all there and in your face. Well done costume design, toys I wish I could have on my shelves in my man-cave, but I something was just not right.

I am sure I will be in the minority here, but Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was almost, but not quite.

The storyline was bland, the character building was rushed and at the end of all of the battles, as beautiful as they were, I didn’t have hope in the Rebellion and obviously not the Empire. There are other things missing, but I will keep this a spoiler free look into the story. Holes, confusion, lack of connection all permeated a sponge that sucked up too much.

My expectations of a movie I stayed aware from spoiling had been higher than I had thought. This film is one you must see in the theater, but realizing you are seeing a CGI movie without a story, not a great story with CGI, one must wonder how will the expanded universe of Star Wars truly unfold.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a solid 3 out of 4 stars. (M. Snider)