Chiasmus cult cinema trailers - "Rogue One" (2016). *These will be ongoing posts, courtesy of the A.Glass DVD collection. As I offer via Chiasmus Cult trailers, my summarized overviews*

How do you redeem George Lucas disastrous 1990s prequels and J.J Abrams tedious redux of "Star Wars" (1977) as a 2015 reboot called "The Force Awakens"?  Well, Gareth Edwards 2016 "Rogue One" written by Chris Weitz, who able to encapsulate the war scenario, of a Galaxy at war, hence what Star Wars is all about, and also the struggle and fight against Fascism, which is essentially the Imperial forces warring with the multi alien species, racially diverse and inclusive Rebels.  Rogue One definitely delivers itself as the more gritty, violent and rapid paced conflict movie of the franchise.

Based around events leading up to Star Wars, as the Rebels are trying to sabotage and stop the advance of the Imperial Forces taking over whole Star Systems, with their network of spies, and Imperial defectors offering hints to what  newer weapons are being developed, which as we all know now, is the "Death Star", with the capacity to destroy whole planets, powered by Kyber crystals, which, ironically, powers 'Lightsabers', as well also know, the Jedi have been wiped out (sans "Yoda" and "Obi One Kenobi" in hiding), with "Darth Vader" and "The Emperor" the only two remaining Sith Lords controlling everything with their might is right philosophy (sound familiar?).  

"Rogue One" action is relentless, and so is the story telling, starting with the opening sequence as "Galen Erso" an ex-Empire military scientist, hiding out on a beautifully lush, volcanic tainted planet, which was actually Reynisfjara in Iceland, with his wife and daughter.  Tracked down by the ambitious Imperial weapons director "Orson Krennic", played with an authoritarian charm by Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn.  Aware that he was eventually going to be found by Krennic to work on the Death Star, in the first of many violent sequences in Rogue One, Erso's wife is gunned down, and his daughter is able to hide in a bunker, specifically built for these inevitable events.  The daughter  being "Jyn Erso", the main antagonist in the movie, as she grows to adulthood, played with an innocent, yet urgent resolve, by English actress Felicity Jones.  And in a series of coincidental events (or guided by the "Force") she is able to form a ragtag team of Rebel sympathizers to take on Krennic, and steal the Death Star plans.  Aware, that her father has built in a weakness into the massive weapon.  Have you not seen "Star Wars"?

Gareth Edwards stays as true as one could be to that direct prequel to "Star Wars", not over stating "Rogue One" as a sophisticated prequel, but rather a movie that works so well to the Star Wars lore, right down to the technology used, which appears mainly analog, to the soundtrack, actions sequences, and authenticity of its set designs, planets, uniforms and overall sentiment of the movie.  Obviously special effects have improved, and there is a lot of CGI used in the movie, mixed with actual models, watch for the Star Destroyer imperial ships.  Yet, it was one of the most heavily reshot and rescripted movies of the Star Wars franchise, with two versions of the movie, the one that we know and have seen, and another version which has the overall tone, yet is almost a completely different movie.  According to Disney officials, Edwards first cut was too warlike and "gritty", so at the cusp of Rogue One being released at the boxoffice,  director and screenwriter Tony Gilroy was brought in at the 11th hour to  "lighten" up the movie.  But, not by much, this is still a war movie, and following the storytelling and chronological events leading to Star Wars, the death toll is significant, as all the cast, including Jyn Erso and her Rogue One unit are all killed.  As they deliver the Death Star plans to "Princess Leia" (a CGI, not so convincing version of a young Carrie Fisher, who passed away after the film was released) at the 11th hour.  Yes, you allowed to feel emotional watching this, as one by one they are all killed off by Orson Krennic's Imperial Stormtroopers.

And it is the final sequence, after "Jyn Erso" and her faithfully and flawed, yet at the same time tenuous relationship with "Cassian Andor" played by Mexican actor Diego Luna, successfully send the Death Star plans to Prices Leia's awaiting ship, in a wounded embrace, on the beaches of Scarif, filmed at Laamu Atoll (Maldives).  While a thermonuclear style explosion is seen in the distant ocean, courtesy of the Death Star (via "Grand Moff Tarkin", and a rather convincing CGI make over off the late Peter Cushing) single reactor 'shot' to destroy the Imperial base and all the Rebels trapped on it, including Krennic.  Erso and Andor hug each other in the face of certain death, as the shockwave engulfs them both.

Enjoy "Rogue One" with "Star Wars" (1977), "Empire Strikes Back" (1980) and "Return of the Jedi" (1983), preferable the not the re-edited versions that George Lucas rushed through after his own prequel mess.  Find the originals.  Or just watch Rogue One on its own, defined by its own cult appeal, on how the Star Wars universe may all be rewritten once again, either to appeal to old fans or newer ones.

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(A.Glass 2025)

All CHIAMUS Cult Cinema trailers/commentary to date: chiasmusmagazine.blogspot.com/search/label/Chiasmus%20cult%20cinema