Years after Anakin Skywalker turned to the Dark Side but just before Princess Leia found a new hope, a group of brave warriors set out to save the galaxy by stealing the top-secret schematics of Darth Vader's planet-obliterating Death Star. Their story—one paved in courage and, potentially, the ultimate sacrifice—is given a brief, shining moment in the spotlight in "Rogue One," the first in a planned series of big-screen spin-offs meant to provide insight and shading to the "Star Wars" canon. Director Gareth Edwards (2014's "Godzilla") and scribes Chris Weitz (2015's "Cinderella") and Tony Gilroy (2012's "The Bourne Legacy") have made either a standalone feature or an unofficial Episode III 1/2, remaining faithful to what must inevitably happen at the risk of culminating in a downer of a third act. If their narrative and characters prove somewhat undernourished, credit is due in just how involving they ensure their every component finally becomes.
See Dustin Putman, TheFilmFile.com. for full review
