Rogue One: Restoring Integrity to the Galaxy Far, Far Away

After we all witnessed a new franchise (2015 to 2019) that focused more on recycling well-known plots, Gareth Edwards achieved something much more with Rogue One. But what sets this film apart from all the others in the newer franchise? For starters, it's the atmosphere and visuals that are recognizable from the classic The Empire Strikes Back. 

The feeling of helplessness and hope that wakes up now and then, but you're afraid to believe it because it's so hard to imagine that you'll eventually achieve your goal. That's what the characters faced in the original 1980 classic, and that's what we can see in Rogue One.

Note: Oops, this article contains spoilers for Rogue One.

The Darker Side of the Star Wars Story: Atmosphere and Realism

I mentioned the atmosphere earlier. What does that mean? Unlike villains who are sometimes so unconvincing, and believe me, there is nothing worse than having a villain in a film who is anything but the embodiment of evil. 

In films like The Empire Strikes Back and Rogue One, the enemy is more than just strong; most importantly, it is convincing. But it is not just the villains that stand out in Gareth Edwards' work; it is also the colours that prevail throughout the film. Aesthetics and sophistication are almost non-existent. In fact, the ships are old and worn out, and the leading actors, despite their strong characters, show exhaustion at times. Even though it is a space fantasy, the whole time you get the impression that you are watching a war film where you are not sure whether the main characters will reach the point of breaking at any moment.

When Antiheroes Show Human Complexity

Why do I have the impression that I'm watching a movie in which the main characters try to remain clear-headed and strong-willed through constant battles? The answer lies in the two main characters: Cassian Andor and Jyn Erso. These two characters are a clear indication that Gareth Edwards didn't want to make a space-fantasy fairy tale, but a movie that doesn't hesitate to show the cruel side of human nature.

Cassian doesn't give the impression of a perfect hero at the beginning of the movie. In fact, after he shoots an informant in the back to make sure he won't be caught, he leaves the audience in doubt. Why? Well, the guys in Star Wars don't usually do that.

Jyn Erso, on the other hand, doesn't show any desire to join the rebels at the beginning. Furthermore, she's not a fighter for justice; she's just a petty criminal trying to survive. And how could she be anything else when she was raised by Saw Gerrera-an extreme rebel so violent that his own alliance kicked him out?

The gray reality these two characters experience from the beginning of the movie is actually the best part. It is their "dirty hands" that make the final scene even more significant and grand. The sacrifice they made at the end is a clear indication that you don't have to be perfect to enter the "Hall of Heroes." And most importantly, Jyn and Cassian made the film as realistic as possible for a space fantasy fairy tale.

A Legacy for Multiple Generations: Why Storytelling Matters

In the end, Rogue One is much more than just another film in the Star Wars franchise. Why? While all the other films tried to impress with as much action as possible, and even competed to see who would copy the original story from the late 70s, Gareth Edwards focused on something completely different. He wanted to show that human character is not black-and-white, even in a fictional world, a galaxy far, far away. Gareth decided to focus on the final sacrifice and how magnificent Jyn and Cassian's last act was, when they finally realized that in life, you need an ultimate goal worth giving your life for.

It becomes clear that this film was never supposed to have a happy ending. No, it had a completely different role: to provide a different view of the galaxy. To show all of us that a story can be told in a much more realistic way. Who knows, maybe thanks to this film, a new story will follow, full of creative moments and without relying on the old hit formula.