Diksia.com - Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a film that stands out from the rest of the Star Wars saga. It is not a part of the main episodic series, nor is it a spin-off focused on a single character. It is a standalone film that tells a story that is both familiar and new, a story that connects the dots between the prequel and the original trilogy, a story that shows the darker and more realistic side of the galaxy far, far away.
Rogue One is the first of the Star Wars anthology films, a series of films that explore different aspects of the Star Wars universe outside of the Skywalker saga. It was released in 2016, directed by Gareth Edwards, and written by Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy, based on a story by John Knoll and Gary Whitta. It stars Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Riz Ahmed, Jiang Wen, and Forest Whitaker.
The film follows a group of rebels who band together to steal the plans of the Death Star, a moon-sized battle station constructed by the Galactic Empire that can destroy an entire planet or moon. The film is set a week before the events of Star Wars (1977), also known as Episode IV: A New Hope, and details the Rebel Alliance’s first effective victory against the Empire.
Rogue One was a critical and commercial success, receiving positive reviews from critics and fans alike, and grossing over $1 billion worldwide. It was praised for its acting, story, visuals, musical score, cinematography, and the darker and more serious tone compared to previous Star Wars films. It also received two Academy Award nominations for Best Sound Mixing and Best Visual Effects.
But what makes Rogue One so special and unique? How did it revolutionize the Star Wars franchise and why is it a must-watch for fans? In this article, we will explore these questions and more, and show you how Rogue One is the Star Wars story that changed everything.
The Story Behind the Story
Rogue One has a fascinating origin story that dates back to the early days of Star Wars. The idea for the film came from John Knoll, a visual effects supervisor and chief creative officer at Industrial Light & Magic, the company founded by George Lucas to create the special effects for Star Wars. Knoll was a fan of Star Wars since he was a teenager, and he was inspired by the opening crawl of the original film, which reads:
It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire. During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire’s ultimate weapon, the DEATH STAR, an armored space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet. Pursued by the Empire’s sinister agents, Princess Leia races home aboard her starship, custodian of the stolen plans that can save her people and restore freedom to the galaxy…
Knoll wondered who were these rebel spies and how did they manage to steal the plans of the Death Star. He imagined a story that would fill in the gap between the prequel and the original trilogy, and show the sacrifices and heroism of the rebels who made the events of Star Wars possible. He pitched his idea to Lucasfilm in 2003, but it was rejected at the time, as Lucasfilm was focused on developing the prequel trilogy and the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
However, things changed in 2012, when Disney acquired Lucasfilm and announced plans to produce new Star Wars films, including standalone films that would expand the Star Wars universe. Knoll saw this as an opportunity to revive his idea, and he pitched it again to Kathleen Kennedy, the president of Lucasfilm and the producer of the new films. Kennedy liked the idea and greenlit it, making it the first Star Wars anthology film to enter development.
Knoll then teamed up with Gary Whitta, a screenwriter and former video game journalist, to write the story for the film. They came up with the title Rogue One, which was a homage to Rogue Squadron, a group of elite rebel pilots that appeared in the original trilogy and the expanded universe. They also created the main characters and the plot outline, which involved a team of rebels infiltrating the Empire to steal the plans of the Death Star.
Whitta wrote the first draft of the screenplay, which was then revised by Chris Weitz, another screenwriter who had worked on films such as About a Boy and Cinderella. Weitz added more depth and humor to the characters and the dialogue, and also made some changes to the story, such as introducing the character of Saw Gerrera, a rebel extremist who had appeared in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
The film was then assigned to Gareth Edwards, a British director who had impressed Lucasfilm with his low-budget sci-fi film Monsters and his blockbuster remake of Godzilla. Edwards was a huge fan of Star Wars, and he wanted to make a film that would capture the spirit and the style of the original trilogy, while also bringing something new and fresh to the franchise. He envisioned Rogue One as a war film, a gritty and realistic depiction of the conflict between the rebels and the Empire, influenced by films such as Saving Private Ryan, The Dirty Dozen, and The Bridge on the River Kwai.
Edwards also wanted to make the film as authentic and immersive as possible, using practical effects, real locations, and handheld cameras. He hired Greig Fraser, an Australian cinematographer who had worked on films such as Zero Dark Thirty and Lion, to create a natural and cinematic look for the film. He also hired Neil Corbould, a veteran special effects supervisor who had worked on films such as Gladiator and Gravity, to create the physical effects for the film, such as explosions, pyrotechnics, and miniatures.
Edwards also collaborated with Michael Giacchino, an Oscar-winning composer who had worked on films such as Up and The Incredibles, to create the musical score for the film. Giacchino was a last-minute replacement for Alexandre Desplat, who had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. Giacchino had only four weeks to compose the score, which was a challenge, as he had to create a music that would fit the tone and the style of the film, while also paying tribute to the iconic themes of John Williams, the composer of the main Star Wars films.
The film then went through extensive reshoots in mid-2016, which were supervised by Tony Gilroy, another screenwriter and director who had worked on films such as The Bourne Identity and Michael Clayton. Gilroy was brought in to help with the editing and the rewriting of some scenes, as well as to direct some additional footage. The reshoots were done to improve the pacing, the character development, and the clarity of the story, as well as to add more action and humor to the film.
The final result was a film that was different in tone and style from the traditional Star Wars films, but also faithful to the essence and the spirit of the franchise. Rogue One was a film that showed the diversity and the complexity of the Star Wars universe, a film that explored the themes of hope, sacrifice, and rebellion, a film that paid homage to the past, while also paving the way for the future.
The Characters That Made a Difference
One of the most remarkable aspects of Rogue One is its ensemble of characters, who are diverse, complex, and memorable. Unlike the main Star Wars films, which focus on the Skywalker family and the Jedi, Rogue One features a group of ordinary people, who have no special powers or destinies, but who have the courage and the determination to make a difference. They are not heroes, but they become heroes by their actions.
The main protagonist of the film is Jyn Erso, played by Felicity Jones, a British actress who had been nominated for an Oscar for her role in The Theory of Everything. Jyn is the daughter of Galen Erso, a research scientist who was forced by the Empire to work on the Death Star project. Jyn was separated from her father when she was a child, and she grew up as a fugitive and a criminal, until she was recruited by the Rebel Alliance to help them find her father and the plans of the Death Star.
Jyn is a strong and independent woman, who has a rebellious and cynical streak, but who also has a compassionate and loyal heart. She is not interested in politics or ideologies, but she cares about her father and her friends. She is not a born leader, but she becomes one by inspiring others to follow her example. She is not a fan of the Force, but she learns to trust in it. She is not a part of the Star Wars saga, but she is the catalyst for it.
The main supporting character of the film is Cassian Andor, played by Diego Luna, a Mexican actor who had starred in films such as Y Tu Mamá También and Milk. Cassian is a captain and a spy for the Rebel Alliance, who has been fighting against the Empire since he was a child. Cassian is a skilled and experienced soldier, who has a strong sense of duty and morality, but who also has a dark and ruthless side, as he is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his mission.
Cassian is a complex and conflicted character, who represents the moral ambiguity and the harsh realities of war. He is not a flawless hero, but he is a loyal and honorable one, who learns to trust and respect Jyn, and who joins her in the final act of defiance against the Empire.
Another important character of the film is K-2SO, voiced by Alan Tudyk, an American actor who had voiced characters in films such as Wreck-It Ralph and Frozen. K-2SO is a reprogrammed Imperial security droid, who serves as Cassian’s partner and friend. K-2SO is a sarcastic and witty character, who provides comic relief and contrast to the serious and grim tone of the film. He is also a loyal and brave character, who sacrifices himself to protect his friends.
The film also features a diverse and colorful cast of supporting characters, who form the team of rebels that join Jyn and Cassian in their mission. They are:
- Chirrut Îmwe, played by Donnie Yen, a Hong Kong actor and martial artist who had starred in films such as Ip Man and Hero. Chirrut is a blind warrior monk, who believes in the Force and follows its guidance. He is a skilled and agile fighter, who uses a staff and a bowcaster to combat his enemies. He is also a wise and spiritual character, who recites the mantra “I am one with the Force and the Force is with me” to calm himself and inspire others.
- Baze Malbus, played by Jiang Wen, a Chinese actor and director who had starred in films such as Let the Bullets Fly and The Sun Also Rises. Baze is a former guardian of the Kyber Temple, who has lost his faith in the Force and relies on his heavy blaster cannon to survive. He is a cynical and pragmatic character, who acts as a foil and a protector to Chirrut, his best friend and brother-in-arms.
- Bodhi Rook, played by Riz Ahmed, a British actor and rapper who had starred in films such as Nightcrawler and The Reluctant Fundamentalist. Bodhi is a former Imperial cargo pilot, who defects to the Rebel Alliance after receiving a message from Galen Erso, revealing the weakness of the Death Star. He is a nervous and timid character, who struggles with his guilt and his fear, but who also shows courage and determination to redeem himself.
- Saw Gerrera, played by Forest Whitaker, an American actor and director who had won an Oscar for his role in The Last King of Scotland. Saw is a veteran rebel leader, who has become a radical and a extremist, using violent and ruthless methods to fight against the Empire. He is a paranoid and unstable character, who has a history with Jyn, as he raised her after her father was taken by the Empire. He is also a link to the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, as he first appeared in that show as a young freedom fighter.
These characters are not only diverse in their backgrounds, ethnicities, and personalities, but also in their motivations, beliefs, and roles. They are not a cohesive or a harmonious team, but they are a team that learns to work together and to care for each other. They are a team that represents the diversity and the unity of the Rebel Alliance, and the hope and the courage of the Star Wars universe.
The Film That Made History
Rogue One is not only a film that tells a story, but also a film that makes history. It is a film that revolutionizes the Star Wars franchise, and sets a new standard for the future films. It is a film that pays homage to the past, while also creating something new and original. It is a film that connects the dots, while also leaving some mysteries. It is a film that surprises, delights, and moves the audience, while also challenging and inspiring them.
One of the ways that Rogue One revolutionizes the Star Wars franchise is by being the first film that does not follow the traditional formula and structure of the main Star Wars films. It is the first film that does not have an opening crawl, a prologue that summarizes the background and the context of the story. It is the first film that does not have the iconic Star Wars logo and theme music at the beginning.
It is the first film that does not have the episodic numbering and the subtitle. It is the first film that does not have the familiar transitions and wipes between scenes. It is the first film that does not have the Force as a central element of the plot and the characters. It is the first film that does not have a clear distinction between the light and the dark side, the good and the evil, the heroes and the villains.
Instead, Rogue One is a film that creates its own identity and style, while also respecting and honoring the legacy and the essence of the Star Wars franchise. It is a film that has a more realistic and grounded tone, while also having a sense of wonder and adventure. It is a film that has a more diverse and complex cast of characters, while also having a strong and compelling protagonist. It is a film that has a more original and standalone story, while also having a strong and meaningful connection to the main Star Wars saga. It is a film that has a more daring and risky ending, while also having a satisfying and hopeful resolution.
Another way that Rogue One revolutionizes the Star Wars franchise is by being the first film that uses cutting-edge technology and visual effects to create a seamless and immersive experience for the audience. It is a film that uses practical effects, such as models, miniatures, and animatronics, to create a realistic and authentic look for the film, while also using digital effects, such as computer-generated imagery (CGI) and motion capture, to create a stunning and spectacular look for the film.
It is a film that uses real locations, such as Iceland, Jordan, and the Maldives, to create a diverse and exotic look for the film, while also using digital sets, such as the Death Star and the Scarif Citadel, to create a futuristic and impressive look for the film. It is a film that uses archival footage, such as the original X-wing pilots from Star Wars, to create a nostalgic and familiar look for the film, while also using digital resurrection, such as the young Princess Leia and the late Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin, to create a controversial and innovative look for the film.
Rogue One is a film that pushes the boundaries and the possibilities of filmmaking, while also respecting and honoring the traditions and the legacy of the Star Wars franchise. It is a film that showcases the artistry and the craftsmanship of the filmmakers, while also showcasing the technology and the innovation of the filmmakers. It is a film that creates a visual feast and a spectacle for the audience, while also creating a emotional journey and a story for the audience.
The Conclusion
Rogue One is a film that deserves to be watched and appreciated by every Star Wars fan and every film lover. It is a film that tells a story that is both familiar and new, a story that connects the dots between the prequel and the original trilogy, a story that shows the darker and more realistic side of the galaxy far, far away.
It is a film that features a group of characters that are diverse, complex, and memorable, a group of characters that have no special powers or destinies, but who have the courage and the determination to make a difference.
It is a film that revolutionizes the Star Wars franchise, and sets a new standard for the future films, a film that pays homage to the past, while also creating something new and original. It is a film that surprises, delights, and moves the audience, while also challenging and inspiring them.
Rogue One is the Star Wars story that changed everything. It is the Star Wars story that you need to watch.
