Back in April, when I first started this blog, I had the intention of focusing my reviews on TV shows, because there are already enough movie review sites. But here’s the thing: I LOVE STAR WARS. So much so that I thought if I became an Aerospace Engineer, I may have a good chance at becoming a spaceship engineer (hey, you never know). As a diehard Star Wars fan, I bought the ticket to Rogue One 10 minutes after it went on sale. I saw it twice, and I can’t help but write about it. Like my other review posts, this review is also going to be spoiler-free, because I believe that there is a special place in hell for those people who spoilers stories. Also, it kind of bums me out when I see articles about the movie I want to see but haven’t seen yet that contains spoilers…so, no spoilers.
Before I proceed, please spend about 30 seconds staring at these Rogue One character posters, so you know who I’m talking about. Rule number 3 of Star Wars fandom: learn the full names of the character. Rule number 1 is watch all the movies, and rule number 2 is episodes 1 through 3 didn’t happen.
Let’s talk about the characters: HOLY CRAP THEY ARE NOT ALL WHITE!!! Captain Cassian Andor is played by Mexican actor, Diego Luna. He did an interview with Esquire, where he talks about the importance of diversity in film:
“I never, never even thought about it. I mean, I guess, as a kid, I probably sent enough messages to the universe that one day it became true. But now, as a professional actor, I never even thought about the idea. And when the news came to me that [director Gareth Edwards] was interested in me for a role, I was just, like, amused and couldn’t believe it. I was so shocked. But when I finally got it, I was like, ‘I’m perfect for this! I’ve been getting ready my whole life for this job without even knowing it.'”
When he says he never even thought about it, he’s not just talking about how hard it is to get a role so iconic like the one in Star Wars universe. He’s speaking from the perspective that all major roles cast in the previous Star Wars movies have been predominantly white, English actors. There has been a few exceptions in the form of Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian), Samuel L. Jackson (Mace Windu), and in the most recent Force Awakens, John Boyega (Finn), but no Hispanic actors have been cast as a major role in the past Star Wars films. Jimmy Smits as Bail Organa, while awesome, is not really a major role.
Speaking of diversity in the cast…wouldn’t it be awesome if a world-class martial artist Donnie Yen got cast as a former protector of the Jedi temple, Chirrut Îmwe? And wouldn’t it be awesome if he got to do some bo staff action? And wouldn’t it be awesome if he had one of the best lines in the movie? Star Wars genie says, “what can I say except you’re welcome.” (That was a Moana reference. You’re welcome.) Chirrut and Rey make me want to learn bo staff. I’m almost certain it’ll come in handy in both zombie apocalypse and in galaxy far far away.
One thing I noted after seeing Rogue One for the second time is that all of the characters start to grow on you. At first I thought Cassian needed to get over his trust issues, and Bodhi Rook seemed a bit too frazzled and scatter-brained (he has a good reason to be, however). When I saw Rogue One the second time, I didn’t have to focus so much on the plot. Instead, I could appreciate the character development more, and imagine their back stories. I understood why Cassian is acting the way he is, and of all of the Rogue One crew, I really really liked Bodhi a whole lot more the second time. Also, the actor who plays Bodhi, Riz Ahmed, is HILARIOUS and geek enough to spam Gareth Edwards with audition videos then sign up without having read the script.
“I signed up for the movie not having read a script or knowing where the character sat in the movie. I’ve got to be honest, the character was a different character at that point. He had a different name and a different relationship to the rest of the team, and he really evolved once I signed on and once I started shooting, even. They decided to start expanding the role and introducing him earlier and he became more integral to the story and the rest of the team. It’s interesting, looking back, that I signed up knowing nothing, but ultimately I’d sign up for a Star Wars movie to make tea, just to be around that level of creativity.”
Shall we discuss how awesome our fearless leader – Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) – is? The first thing I said when I saw Rogue One trailer was: “YES! Finally a female character got the lead role in a Star Wars movie!!!” There was Rey in Force Awakens, but our beloved J.J. Abrams stuck to his style and kept the trailer very non-descriptive, whereas in Rogue One, there’s no doubt that Jyn is the main character. I have seen some comments along the lines of, “Until now I thought Star Wars was for boys.” It’s true…and not true. If we are talking about how Star Wars has been marketed, then yes, all of the toys and tee-shirts are found in boys section. I frequented boys tee-shirt section growing up, because pink sequined butterfly was too fabulous for my taste. If we are talking about the Star Wars extended universe, then you’ll quickly discover that there are many kickass female characters aside from Leia Organa: Jaina Solo, Mara Jade, Witches of Dathomir, Nightsisters, Sabine Wren, Ahsoka Tano, just to name a few. So really, there has been a lot of amazing female characters in Star Wars universe; just that it took some time for the movies to catch up to the books. As Felicity Jones perfectly sums it up, it’s not like a giraffe is a lead…because that would be weird indeed.
Lastly, please take a moment to read the column by Mark Hamill, remembering Carrie Fisher.
I am one with the Force; the Force is with me.