The recently released Rogue One: A Star Wars Story has been met with a generally positive reception. It is the first spin-off movie of the Star Wars franchise, as well as the first movie in over 30 years to take place during the time of the Original Trilogy. The main questions are: is this movie what Star Wars fans have long been waiting for, and is it capable of creating new fans of the Star Wars franchise? The answer to both of these questions is an emphatic YES.

Rogue One sets itself apart from all other Star Wars films in a variety of ways. It immediately contrasts from its predecessors by the exclusion of an opening text crawl to introduce the plot of the film. Another key characteristic of Rogue One is that it is much darker in tone than the movies of the Original Trilogy. It does a good job of adding depth to the Rebellion by revealing its grittiness as soldiers obey morally questionable orders.

Rogue One has a plot that is both entertaining and engrossing. It follows Jyn Erso, the daughter of the primary architect of the Death Star, as she joins the Rebellion and, along with several key allies, sets out on a journey to retrieve the Death Star schematics from the hands of the Empire. Admittedly, the plot starts slow and somewhat confusing for the first third of the movie, as the film jumps from planet to planet while introducing the main and supporting characters. However, the pace of the film quickly hits full stride and is entertaining right to the end. The final act of the movie contains what is one of the most action-packed battles of the entire Star Wars movie franchise, consisting of a Rebel ground assault on an Imperial facility and a massive space battle against Rebels and Imperial starships.

A major determining factor of any film’s success is the quality of its characters. Rogue One has this area covered. The main protagonists of Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor are complex, and the supporting characters are likeable, with the robot K-2SO and the martial arts warrior Chirrut Îmwe as the breakout fan favorites. Also, the villain, Director Krennic, is a perfect fit as a classic Imperial officer. The characters in this movie are distinct from one another, and they all feel necessary in their own ways. The acting performances in the film are all of a high caliber, with the entire cast making their respective characters stand out.

The settings of Rogue One are stunning and varied. The characters explore a wide variety of locations, including Jedha, a sand planet filled with sacred temples, Eadu, a dark and ominous planet that is home to an Imperial research base, and Scarif, a vibrant beach planet where a massive Imperial data complex is located.  The variety of the locations helps to keep the movie fresh as the plot moves along.

In addition, Rogue One has a lot to offer veteran Star Wars fans. The movie is full of appearances made by characters of the original Star Wars film. Peter Cushing makes a triumphant return as Grand Moff Tarkin through the use of computer-generated imagery. The CGI of Tarkin is superb, with Cushing looking quite real.  Carrie Fisher also returns as Princess Leia via CGI, but the CGI is easily recognizable. Darth Vader makes a few appearances throughout the movie, which are menacing and fulfilling to witness. The movie is filled with subtle references to the Original Trilogy that only devoted Star Wars fans would recognize, such as the use of actual unused footage of Rebel pilots from Star Wars: A New Hope. Rogue One ties in perfectly with the original Star Wars film, with Rogue One ending at almost the exact scene where A New Hope begins.

Overall, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a worthy addition to the Star Wars cinematic universe. It is easily one of the best Star Wars films, with its quality being on par with that of the Original Trilogy. Its characters are likeable and fitting for the Star Wars universe. Its settings and action sequences are stellar. Rogue One is a must see for all Star Wars fans, and it is a film that will almost certainly attract new fans to the Star Wars franchise.