Rogue One: A Star Wars Story prioritizes boring plot over developed characters. It has unnecessary threads, contrivances, distracting fan service, shallow themes, dry relationships, generic dialogue, a convoluted climax, heavy exposition, and predictability. These shortcomings are amplified by thin emotions. Romance is faint, conflicts are external, villains feel distant, and there's no growth. The acting offers brief outbursts in a sea of reserved and dull demeanors. Despite the extreme situations, every protagonist is a blank slate. Ultimately, Rogue One avoids the intimacy needed for viewers to connect. Instead, it's a series of events parading as a pointless story fragment.
Technically, Rogue One is good, not great. The editing adds cross cuts, messy pacing, and sluggish momentum. Its effects combine practical with digital, yet its uncanny CGI of real people is uncomfortable. The underutilized cast has skill and diversity, but lacks star power. Its imagery uses motion, depth, lighting, scale, and bland colors. The music can feel like an imitation but usually elevates the mood. Its production design is tangible, retro-futuristic, elaborate, slightly fresh, and often drab. The versatile sound provides famous sci-fi, abundant action, smash cuts, muffling, and distortions. Overall, Rogue One's capable craft is impeded by an emphasis on trivial nostalgia.
Writing: 3/10
Direction: 6/10
Cinematography: 7/10
Acting: 6/10
Editing: 6/10
Sound: 9/10
Score/Soundtrack: 8/10
Production Design: 8/10
Casting: 7/10
Effects: 7/10
Overall Score: 6.7/10
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