The newest chapter in the Star Wars saga is in the hands of a rebellious group of soldiers who revolt against the dark side. From Lucasfilm comes the first of the Star Wars standalone films, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” an all-new epic adventure. In a time of conflict, Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), a Rebellion soldier and criminal, is about to experience her grandest ambition yet when Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’ Reilly) sets her out on a mission to steal the plans for the mighty Death Star. In tow are a group of unlikely heroes banding together on a mission to rise above the establishment and give the power back to the citizens. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings together ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves. “Rogue One” is directed by Gareth Edwards, and is rated PG-13 for extended sequences of sci-fi violence, action and peril.

The Star Wars Saga’s first dabble into the anthology genre successfully reaches its potential force in “Rogue One”. For the first time in this series, it was nice to branch out from the big family angle of this story and take the faithful fans into a different angle and landscape that offered something fresh and original for this aging legend. And offer something new it does, with taking us on the ground of the ensuing war that is being fought for the fate of the galaxy. There have been attempts at the strategies and ground game of what goes into the concept of war before in this series, but none as detailed as this movie. One could make the argument that all Star Wars films are war genre movies, but this one actually stays faithful to the rules of that concept by not pulling the wool over the eyes of its audience. To me, “Rogue One” feels like the first adult Star Wars movie, and that’s because of that urgency in fighting against the clock to save the people from The Dark Side’s newest acquisition, as well as the inevitability of impending doom that Edwards channels brilliantly in our against-the-numbers game for our protagonists. The consequences feel real here, and it’s in that kind of a movie that I have waited decades for.

The best kind of prequels to me are the ones that fill in all of the gaps left by previous installments, while not ruining or decreasing the value of those creative efforts. “Rogue One” further hammers home the idea of just how demented and abusive Darth Vader’s methods were, and adds further emphasis on the rebellion’s eventual triumph over him that made it that much sweeter. A solid movie like this can make movies like “Return of the Jedi” even more elated, but it’s in the desire to go back and watch “A New Hope” where this film offers the strongest gift in value. The story here is used accordingly, presenting us with Erso, a girl who lost everything she ever loved at the hands of Imperial Army, so that likeability and empathy for that character is very strong for the movie. Unfortunately, the rest of the characters are presented as take it or leave it. I certainly understood the idea to not spend much time on characters who weren’t the strongest in moral integrity. For the first time, our protagonists are anything but the heroes we’ve grown old with in other films, but my problem is in the lack of characterization that feels virtually non-existent in introductions. This diminishes the ability for these characters to grow with the audience, and never feel as valuable as Rey or Finn from “The Force Awakens”. That is one of the few flaws that “Rogue One” has for its otherwise clean suit of armor.

While I had a problem with the character building, I can say that the performances more-than reached their desired mark. Oscar nominee Felicity Jones has already established herself as a versatile actress, but as Urso we get a portrait of a female heroine that is every bit as cunning as she is intelligent. This new series of Star Wars films seem intent on conjuring up some strong female leads that the female demographic can get behind, and Erso may be the most dangerous of that relatability. Her speeches are inspiring, and her methods are very methodical, bringing out the best in a lead who more than holds her own against a male dominated cast. Ben Mendelsohn was also enjoyable as Krennic, the imperial sergeant responsible for Erso’s grief. Ben never overcomplicates things with his delivery. What’s scary about him is the quiet and what is brewing underneath that layer of uncertainty. Mendelsohn has always been among my favorite Hollywood secret weapons, and it’s about time he was given a role to peel back another layer to his mayhem. Other strong deliveries came from Diego Luna, Forrest Whittaker and even Darth Vader himself, James Earl Jones. Since he was in the trailers, I’m not giving anything away with Vader, and his scenes reminded you why this guy is as evil as it comes with cinematic villains who you utterly despise.

The presentation here is impeccable, with every aspect of the technical game going above and beyond my expectations. The landscapes are gorgeous, and continuously change up the backdrops in each scene. There really is a variety in offering to the kind of beauty within the immense endless worlds in these stories, and “Rogue One” allows us one more chance to immerse ourselves in such beautiful green-screen detail that you can almost touch it. That green screen work goes miles because Lucas Film Studios continues to outdo itself by setting the bar in CGI authenticity. It’s beginning to get really difficult for even a movie lover like me to spot what is real and what’s is slightly tweaked by Computer, and that uncertainty only makes for stronger returns in cheaper costs, as well as cutting risks of injury during dangerous stunt work. The sound mixing is explosive, giving fans a genuine feel to the fast-paced action being delivered before our eyes. While I don’t recommend a 3D viewing for the movie, I do recommend and XD or IMAX sitting for the very onslaught of what ears were meant to handle with top-notch audio effects work.

The action sequences offer a satisfying compromise of in-the-air space attack, as well as ground game strategy that satisfy the best of past and present within this series. The laser ammunition is as gorgeous and impactful as ever, and some of the newer designed aircraft feel like a dream to the kinds of things we could only dream of in the 70’s and 80’s. The final fifty minutes of this film reach the emotional and physical climax for the audience, and I couldn’t be more satisfied with how everything played out, pitting every kind of emotional response against one another to really make you grasp the immensity of what is at stake here. For a movie that plays everything as grounded as it ever has been, this movie knows when to flip the switch and remind you that it isn’t shy against splashing the cash if need be. Evidence of that is in several ground-shaking sequences that adorn the picture, sparing no expense at relating the capability in power that The Dark Side’s new toy can viciously do.

The pacing could’ve been slightly tighter during the second act. It’s nothing terrible or deciding in the final verdict of this movie, but it feels very inconsistent with how fast and smooth the first forty minutes or so really kept the audience’s expectations and kept the scenery moving at a continuous pace. The second act stalls a couple of times, and feels desperate when it throws a couple of big surprise cameos in the way to tie us over before the action starts up again. Some of those cameos are justified, but others seem like a waste of time to give fan service to the people who might not be as touched with “Rogue One” as they are with efforts that came before it. Overall, the first and third acts are brilliant, but the second act felt like the right time to establish some of those secondary characters more, and that lack to detail hinders the continuous flow of what could be one of the most emotionally engaging intros to a Star Wars movie ever.

Edwards triumphs with a space and land opera that triggers the very force and consequences of war, giving way to a presentation that is sure to please every kind of Star Wars fan. The newest installments keep the momentum moving with the series most unapologetically vicious offering to date, while giving us a technical gem that peaks every single sense within the audience who adore it. The characters and pacing could be slightly sharpened, but the gut-wrenching finale shows us that with a little hope the war is never over.

8/10