Actors: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna,
Riz Ahmed, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Jiang Wen,
Forest Whitaker.
Rating: 10 out of 10, They finally got
the prequel thing right for A New Hope (the original Star Wars movie). This
movie tells the back story to the acquisition of the death star plans which
were the focal point of that first movie. This movie was all about adding
texture which is provided in relentless fashion. The female lead absolutely
rocks and there’s a gentle graying of the strict white and black of rebel
versus empire. The desperate state of the rebellion and the signature battle
which this film culminates in will truly resonate with any Star Wars geek
(guilty as charged). They even resurrect two actors from that first movie, one
of whom has been dead for nearly 40 years. Old Hammer Films favorite Peter
Cushing is back as Grand Moff Tarkin and not for just a glimpse either; truly
remarkable what they achieved in his case. Even without the galaxy far, far
away back drop this was a kickass action flick with just the right amount of
sly humor injected along with those heaping piles of nostalgia. I loved it.
MVP: Donnie Yen as Chirrut Îmwe, a
blind warrior who really, really believes in the Force