Rogue One is the first of what I hope to be many stand alone anthology films released from Disney and Lucas Films. The movie started Felicity Jones as Jynn Erso. Along with Forest Whitaker as Saw Gerrera. Mads Mikkelsen as Galen Erso. Alan Tudyk, Diego Luna, Donnie Yen, and Riz Ahmed also star in the film.
Rogue One follows the story of a group from the rebellion while they try to infiltrate the Empire and steal the plans for the Death Star. The movie starts out with the newly formed, yes that's right newly formed Empire has come after Galen Erso. If I had to really guess the time frame would be around 5 years after the Galactic Empire formed in Revenge of the Sith. Erso had been working for the empire before it seemed and had given that life up to go back to his family. They wanted to get him to work on their "weapon". He of course accepted, know Jyn would be safe. She was hidden away until Saw Gerrera came to rescue her.
We cut to 15 years later. Cassian Andor is seen in an Imperial owned territory getting information about Galen Erso and an Imperial Pilot that had defected, the man had caused a scene so the Storm Troopers were alerted. Cassian escaped and the scene changes. We now see Jyn in a prison, and then she's being moved to the labor fields, and Cassian rescues her.
I believe that the start of this film really sets the tone for this movie. The movie has all aspects of the previous films, but is also focused more on the war aspect than the other movies. We also see Donnie Yen as what I would like to call an "Almost Jedi" he is a blind man who clearly believes in the force and uses his stick and blaster rifle to take out Storm Troopers. The only thing I didn't really like about the character was his constant chattering about the Force. I just felt like it was forced, but also we get it he believes in the Force.
We also see many characters we recognize, such as Governor Tarkin, Bale Organa, Princess Leia, and the mention of Obi Wan Kenobi. There is so much that this movie explains, it's just a great and epic adventure and I don't want to give a full on summary to ruin or spoil the film. I believe that if you're a fan of the prequels or the original trilogy, or just the original trilogy you owe it to yourself to see this film.
I give this movie a perfect 10. It ties directly into A New Hope. Much better than the Forcd awakens, and if expands the universe. Also the money you pay to see the film is worth the 7-8 minutes of Darth Vader, you get to see a different side of him than the past movies, be ready for it! I was going in expecting him to just have talking scenes, I was wrong so very wrong! I just can't believe the next movie doesn't come out for a year from now! I'll be going back to see this one a couple of more times!