-
Don’t Forget, It’s a War Movie!: A Rogue One Review
Although all of the Star Wars films are about, well, war, Gareth Edwards’ installment into the franchise structurally lays itself out as such. While the other films are science-fiction, fantasy, action, adventure, and western films, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a flat out war movie and it wants you to know that. The premise of the film is simple: the Death Star has been created, but there’s a flaw in the system forged by Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen), a rebel taken hostage by the Empire. Our main characters must then fight their way into Imperial territory and retrieve the plans before all hope is lost. If you have…
-
The Force Entertains, but Does it Awaken Anything New?
Spoilers Ahead Star Wars: The Force Awakens is pretty much exactly what you would expect it to be. It’s fun, well-produced, and has great visual effects and action scenes. Tonally, it feels reminiscent of the original trilogy but technologically compatible with today’s standards. It touts itself as a Star Wars for a new generation, and in that respect, it delivers admirably. But underneath its flashy veneer, does the movie have much in the way of substance? Its plot and themes are essentially a retread of those in the original trilogy. Like Lucas infamously said in one of his interviews about the prequels, “it’s like poetry, it rhymes.” No longer is…
