Rogue One (2016)

Another installment of STAR WARS is offered but here the characters from the other ones are seldom seen. I watched with anticipation as a young girl named Jyn oversees her parents in distress from the Empire. Quickly we jump forward and see her (Felicity Jones) being rescued from servitude. Her father is making a destructive weapon and sends her a message which confirms he really wanted to stall so it would never be used. She has to convince the Rebel Alliance, before Luke Skywalker has joined them, that she is telling the truth and she wants to find the plans on Scarif that will disclose the death weapon's weakness. If some of this sounds familiar, you are correct, because it surprises <SPOILER ALERT> the audience since the ending of ROGUE ONE takes the audience right to the beginning of the movie that started it all back in 1977: STAR WARS...very kewl. A long battle scene ensues and most of you can probably guess the ending since you saw that science-fiction epic in the many years that have elapsed. The action is suspenseful and rewarding as this holds up well every bit the equal of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. [4.8 STARS]