Rogue One, a Star Wars spin-off, chronicles the events two decades after Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. It bridges the gap between the two trilogies, leading directly into the iconic opening scene of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.

You’re confusing peace with terror.

Research scientist Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen) has been hiding on the planet Lah’mu with his wife Lyra (Valene Kane) and their young daughter Jyn (Beau Gadsdon), away from the clutches of the Empire. However, Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) tracks him down and attempts to coerce him into returning to complete his work on the Death Star. Galen refuses, resulting in Lyra’s death and his own capture. Jyn narrowly escapes and flees to her designated hiding place, where she is rescued by Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker).

Rebellions are built on hope.

Fifteen years later on the desert moon Jedha, Saw Gerrera intercepts a message from Galen Erso, delivered by defecting Imperial cargo pilot Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed). Skeptical of its authenticity, Gerrera imprisons Rook. Meanwhile, Rebel Alliance intelligence officer Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) learns from an informant that the Empire is constructing the Death Star, a planet-destroying superweapon. Andor is also aware of the communication between Erso and Gerrera, but its contents remain unknown.

I’ve never had the luxury of political opinions.

Rebel operatives rescue Jyn Erso Felicity Jones) from an Imperial labor camp on Wobani and bring her to the Rebel leadership, believing that her relationship with Saw Gerrera, a friend of her father, Galen Erso, will be an asset in their mission to retrieve the message he sent to Saw Gerrera.

I’m one with the Force. The Force is with me.

Cassian and Jyn travel to the desert moon Jedha, controlled by the Empire. They are captured by Imperial soldiers, but later rescued by blind spiritual warrior Chirrut Îmwe (Donnie Yen) and his mercenary friend Baze Malbus (Wen Jiang).

We call it the Death Star. There is no better name. And the day is coming soon when it will be unleashed.

In his message to Saw Gerrera, Galen Erso reveals that he has secretly built a vulnerability into the Death Star that can disable it. However, his plan requires the Death Star schematics, which are heavily guarded and stored in an Imperial data bank on the planet Scarif.

Be careful not to choke on your aspirations.

ROGUE ONE is an impressive spin-off film that is both highly entertaining and incredibly engaging. Its cleverly written script integrates its story into the main Star Wars narrative, filling in the gaps and plot holes surrounding how Princess Leia and the Rebel Alliance learned of the Death Star’s vulnerability and how to destroy it, which was never explained in the main story.

I find that answer vague and unconvincing.

My favorite character in Rogue One is K-2SO, a sarcastic droid who provides much-needed humor in a tense and high-stakes film. I also adore the outer space action sequences. Finally, the climactic scene, which directly connects to the opening scene of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, with a majestic introduction to Darth Vader, is one of the most memorable moments in the Star Wars universe.

ROGUE ONE premiered at Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles on 10 December 2016. The film was theatrically released in Thailand on 15 December, one day before its theatrical release in the United States on 16 December.