Jack Goes Confidential: Jack Does ‘Star Wars’

The following is not a review…

Think of it as more of a ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY overview.

First off, bear in mind what we’re getting here is not only the big picture of the holiday season but a movie projected to become the leading box office hit for all of 2016!

An all-in gross of $450 to $500 million in domestic ticket sales is not out of the question.

And that’s pretty amazing for a franchise expansion any way you cut it.

No spoilers in this piece.

However, remember that ROGUE ONE is a stand-alone offshoot with mostly different characters in a galaxy far, far away—with the exception of Darth Vader who is again distinctively voiced by James Earl Jones.

(I wanted him so badly proclaim: THIS is CNN!)

The setting is just prior to the events of 1977’s original STAR WARS (A New Hope) as we follow a band of rebel alliance operatives with a mission to capture the plans for the empire’s Death Star—a lethal weapon of mass planetary destruction.

And yes, you WILL feel connected as the storytelling takes us back to the beginning while expanding the universe.

So what’s it all about?

To my of thinking it’s a tribute film.

A first rate fan bridge in the universe between last year’s THE FORCE AWAKENS and the upcoming Episode VIII set to open December 15, 2017.

While things begin somewhat slow and talky, they sure shift into an exciting and action-packed  final act guaranteed to please both casual fans and geeks alike.

So thank you, Walt Disney.

Some random thoughts:

* ROGUE ONE features excellent set design.

Translation: While it is technically up to date, you never lose the feel of its association to the very beginning of the franchise.

* John Williams‘ musical score does not back the soundtrack of this film, but it’s fun picking out riffs from his haunting score and theme throughout the production.

* Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso and Diego Luna in the role of Cassian Andor are perfectly cast by British director Gareth Edwards.

* You can’t have anything Star Wars without a supporting droid, right?

K-2SO does the honors here by adding just the right mix of feel good smiles to the proceedings.

* The CGI assisted resurrection of deceased actor Peter Cushing on the screen as Grand Moff Tarkin is mind blowing.

Given that he died in 1994.

The movie is showing at practically every local theater complex with the vast number of screens devoted to it at each.

But the FASTEST sellouts will most likely occur in those premium large screen auditoriums like The Grand Screen, ETX, X-D, and IMAX formats.

So reserve for those showings early!

A line within the movie suggests to ‘TRUST THE FORCE!’

ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY delivers on that promise.

My grade: B