Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Feminist Rating: ♀ ♀ ♀ ♀

Overall Rating: ✮✮✮✮

In the past few years there has been a sudden surge of superheroes in mainstream movies. I’m not just talking about Marvel and DC movies. I’m talking about superhero themes.

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Most mainstream movies have borrowed the major themes found in superhero movies and it has evolved into every single movie being a sloppy indistinguishable film which generally portrays regular people finding out that they have some kind of power and that they must use to fight a villain while also grappling with the weight of their responsibility, their own inner turmoil, and the attraction to a marginalized female who silently supports them.

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The themes found in superhero comics have been popular for a long time but it has gotten to the point that every mainstream movie contains them and of all of the films that are released in a year, none of them truly stand out. Except for one.

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Before I go any further, I should say that I am a huge Star Wars fanatic. I grew up reading the expanded universe books, collecting cards and action figures, and watching the original movies on VHS over and over again. I loved that it portrayed a strong and commanding female character who I could look up to. Princess Leia isn’t just a princess, she is a fierce fighter and a strong leader. However, after suffering through the prequels, it was hard to believe that I’d ever see a movie set in the Star Wars universe that I would like.

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Rogue One embodies what I love about Star Wars. It covers a time in the Star Wars universe that isn’t generally discussed and introduced interesting characters that helped to make the plotline of A New Hope much more coherent and added intricity to the story. The only problem was the bizarre use of CGI to bring a dead man back to life. In a perfect example of the creepiness of wandering into the uncanny value, Grand Moff Tarkin looked terrifyingly inhuman. I’ll be happy if I never see another movie with CGI people that look like they belong in Polar Express.  

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Rogue One isn’t a superhero story. It’s a mission. It’s a daringly conceived film in the vein of Bridge Over The River Kwai about a group of misfits who come together to steal the plans of the Death Star and save the universe. It has the gritty realism of a film about the dark and deadly side of the Empire while also maintaining the hopeful idealism of the original films. It’s a unique blend of fan-service and true cinematic integrity that we just don’t see anymore.

Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) is not like Rey from Force Awakens and she is not like Princess Leia either. She is a completely different female character and while that doesn’t seem like a lot to ask for, you’d be surprised how many female characters are exactly the same because they’re created by men who don’t know a thing about women. Jyn is a reluctant hero and criminal who may not be a cheery and charismatic heroine like Rey but she is a determined, scrappy, and tenacious leading lady who doesn’t let anyone get in her way. The struggles she has survived may have given her a tough exterior but it’s her toughness that allows her to be the badass she is.

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In many movies it’s the female characters who have the most interesting narratives and, not only that, they are also much more capable than the men yet they still support the male narratives (i.e. The Matrix, Edge of Tomorrow, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, How to Train Your Dragon 2 and even The Lego Movie). This is called the Trinity Syndrome which gets its name from Trinity from The Matrix. However, if the movie follows any one story, it’s Jyn’s. The narratives of the other characters take a backseat to Jyn’s arc but it is their mission that is at the forefront which makes it different than any other Star Wars film.

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Do I wish there were more female characters in the movie? Of course. Do I also wish that they didn't include a creepy CGI Princess Leia at the end? Sure. But despite its flaws, I think it's perfect a movie for those of us who grew up watching Star Wars while also being a great stand-alone film that anyone can enjoy. At the end of the day, Rogue One adds a lot of depth to the franchise.  

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Rogue One doesn’t solely rely on nostalgia like The Force Awakens. Instead it introduces a whole new set of characters (and more insight on characters we don’t get to see much of in the original films) and a deadly mission that shows the treachery of the Empire and also sets the stage for the originals.