The new Star Wars movie Rogue One will officially be released in theaters on Thursday, December 15, but selected press representatives were allowed to see the film beforehand and have already written initial reviews. We have presented the international critiques here for you.
Rogue One is a bold experiment: Does a Star Wars movie work without icons like Luke Skywalker or Han Solo, without lightsaber duels, without the Force? Is the background world also suitable for genres beyond “Space Opera”? Rogue One is the prototype of these new “Star Wars Stories” and is therefore scrutinized particularly critically.
Star Wars: Rogue One Film Review – What Does the Press Say?
Some lucky press representatives were able to see the film before its release on December 15, 2016, and have given initial reviews. While the film did not please every critic, a positive picture is emerging. And on one thing all critiques agree: Rogue One is not a cute, generic Disney film, but a hard-hitting action blockbuster!
The Time – Now It’s Action!
According to Dirk Peitz from Zeit, Rogue One has a lot of dramatic freedom that does not necessarily have to advance the plot of the larger saga. Rather, the text has intricately woven many narrative patterns and created the most convincing Star Wars film to date. Peitz also praises the consistent abandonment of the usual Star Wars baggage. The Force and the Jedi are hardly present, leaving only convincing and relentless action. The director has: “[…] made a largely post-ideological, simply effective film that is meant to work (and indeed works).”
Spiegel Online – Star Wars as a Political Statement
The Spiegel has viewed the new Star Wars film. Author Andreas Borcholte sees in this dark Star Wars war film a significant political statement, where the colorful diversity of the rebels stands against the uniform soulless fascism of the Empire: “For how could a group consisting of a self-determined woman, a Mexican, a Black, two Asians, a British man of Pakistani origin, a service robot, and various fantastical beings fighting an army of white-armored stormtroopers commanded by old white men not be understood as an uprising of diversity against an oppressor regime?”
Süddeutsche Zeitung – The Concept Generally Fails
Less positively, Tobias Kniebe from Süddeutsche Zeitung views the film. For him, the movie is proof of the “Lemon Principle”: squeezing the franchise to the last drop. And thus, the last drop is Rogue One, which according to Kniebe is an insignificant side story that lacks motivation and enthusiasm. Everything feels like it has been done before, and neither the characters nor their actors ultimately convince.
The Guardian – An Exhilarating Spin-Off!
Peter Bradshaw from the English site The Guardian found the film very good. Contrary to the more grim assessment of many colleagues, he describes the work as “an exhilarating, good-natured, and enjoyable adventure.” He also praises especially the performance of the strong female lead and the witty droid K-2SO, who for him represents a kind of anti-C3PO. Ultimately, for Bradshaw, it is the many masterfully intertwined allusions and cameo appearances from other Star Wars films that bring charm to the movie.
Chicago Sun Times – A Very “Star Warsy” Star Wars Film!
Richard Roeper from Chicago Sun Times was similarly enthusiastic about Rogue One. For him, the film even works as a completely standalone work that should appeal to people who have never been into Star Wars before. “It’s a solid space adventure, full of exciting action sequences, sprinkled with funny lines that stick in your mind even more due to the dark twists in the plot.” Star Wars fans, due to the many affectionate details and the unique flair, may enjoy it even more. Only the dialogues and the music are points of criticism in Roeper’s film review. The music is sometimes too intrusive and flat. The dialogues occasionally seem forced.
Variety – Finally, a Star Wars Film for Adults
Peter Debruge from the website Variety sees Rogue One as a Star Wars film made specifically for adults. “There are no Ewoks or Jar-Jar Binks characters just thrown in to appeal to preschoolers. The plot is structured less like a colorful video game, more like a gritty war film.” Therefore, younger viewers may not quite enjoy the film. However, Rogue One is for older fans just the predecessor they always hoped for Episode IV.
The Wrap – Just a Glorified Fan Fiction
While the English-speaking press is mostly full of praise for the film, The Wrap sees it less positively. Author Alonso Duralde says: “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is for the fans. However, in the most negative sense of the word.” There isn’t enough plot, not enough character development, and thus not nearly enough material for excitement. Instead, the film is a 133-minute hunt for Easter eggs and cameo appearances, for which the hardcore fans can pat each other on the back for discovering.
What do you think of the reviews? Will you be going to the cinema, or have you already seen the film? I am certainly very excited about the movie, and the reviews confirm my hopes for a dark, adult Star Wars film.
By the way, those who want to experience the battles from Rogue One can do so in Star Wars: Battlefront!
