Just so you know, this post has a few SPOILERS.

We recently watched ‘Rogue One’ for reasons I can’t remember. And, like the previous times after the end of the film, we (boys and me) waxed lyrical about how much we enjoyed it.

I love the Star Wars films, ever since I watched the original trilogy way back. The prequel trilogy was a bit of a slog, with a couple of highlights here and there, but, in my humble opinion, ‘Revenge of the Sith’ was worth sitting through the first two.

When ‘Rogue One’ came along, I was interested to see how it would tackle the events leading up to ‘A New Hope’. With a cast of unfamiliar characters, I was not expecting to be blown away by it.

What appeared to be plot convenience in 1977 is fleshed out into an essential part of the story of the rebels and their fight against the Empire as we learn how a small, one-man fighter is able to blow up the huge, seemingly impenetrable Death Star, and why it would have that one tiny flaw in the first place.

At the start of the film, we meet Galen Erso, played by Mads Mikkelsen. A disillusioned Imperial scientist, he’s in hiding with his wife and young daughter on a remote planet.

But he’s tracked down by Director Orson Krennic, played by Ben Mendelsohn, who had originally manipulated Galen into working on the Death Star’s superlaser; he wants Galen to return and finish his work.

When Galen refuses, his wife is murdered by Krennic’s troops, and their daughter, Jyn, having witnessed her mother’s death, manages to hide away. She’s later rescued by Saw Gerrera (played by Forest Whitaker), a veteran of the Clone Wars and part of the rebellion against the Empire, who had earlier helped the Ersos.

When we catch up with the adult Jyn (played by Felicity Jones), she’s no longer with Saw Gerrera, but in prison for smuggling. She’s freed by a rebel spy, Cassian Andor (played by Diego Luna), and his reprogrammed Imperial security droid, K-2SO (voiced in deadpan, delightfully bitchy fashion by Alan Tudyk).

The Rebel Alliance wants Jyn to find her father, who had returned to work on the Death Star, but who may have vital information for them despite working for the Empire.

Obviously, there’s more detail, which I won’t go into. Suffice to say, Cassian goes with Jyn to make sure she locates her father. Their first stop is her former saviour, Saw Gerrera.

The story doesn’t hang about, and we’re taken from planet to planet in pretty rapid succession. But each planet is different enough, and it helps to be given the name of the planet before we ‘land’. Interestingly, only one planet isn’t named, but it’s pretty obvious which planet it is.

Arguably, two of the most recognised characters we see are Governor Tarkin and Darth Vader. I thought there would only be glimpses of them but, Tarkin, especially, has ample screen time.

The other characters who flesh out the film are a former Imperial pilot, Bodhi Rook (played by Riz Ahmed); Chirrut Îmwe (played by Donnie Yen), a blind monk with a spectacular fighting style and who frequently invokes the Force; and Baze Malbus (played by Wen Jiang), the monk’s self-proclaimed bodyguard.

So, what is it about ‘Rogue One’ that, for me, just about edges it very slightly past the original trilogy?

I think a lot of it has to do with my age. I was so much younger when I watched the original trilogy, and I loved the almost innocent feel of ‘good vs. bad’, knowing the good guys would win. Now I’m in my 50s, I know there’s no such thing as ‘all good’ and ‘all bad’.

‘Rogue One’ has a darker feel and, ultimately, it’s a story about doing the right thing, no matter the price. It doesn’t shy away from the fact that, in a war, people die, and there’s nothing glorious about it. It shows that both sides are guilty of atrocities, even the side you want to win, the ‘good guys’, and that innocents get caught in the crossfire.

Despite the number of characters, there isn’t any unnecessary meandering into anyone’s back story. I feel it has the right amount of detail. We get to fill in the blanks in Jyn’s life, from little girl to adult, in broad brushstrokes, through dialogue and action.

I enjoyed Felicity Jones’ portrayal of Jyn. Although tough as nails, able to take care of herself, there were times her vulnerability showed through. I liked that she spoke up for herself and wasn’t intimidated by whatever situation she found herself in; she was quick on her feet.

In my opinion, all the actors did a first-rate job with their characters. Donnie Yen’s monk was a personal favourite.

The effects, especially the space battles and the depiction of the Death Star as it comes into a planet’s orbit, was fantastic, as was the scenery on each planet, especially Scarif.

Another thing I enjoyed was the attention to replicating the familiar detail seen in ‘A New Hope’, not only with the characters but also the settings, in particular on Yavin 4.

How the film ends for the characters… that caught me completely by surprise the first time. And that’s another point in favour of the film.

As for the end that leads into ‘A New Hope’… it captures perfectly the panic of the crew of the disabled rebel command ship as they’re racing to escape, knowing their ship is being boarded. That whole scene might well be my favourite in the entire film.

The original trilogy will always be special – ‘Return of the Jedi’ is my favourite of the three – but ‘Rogue One’, with its, in my opinion, brave, tight storytelling has, most likely, become my overall favourite.

Why 'Rogue One' Is Possibly My Favourite Star Wars Film