Re-Written: Rogue One

Every now and again you get a film, more often than not inspired by, based on, or shooting off, from pre-existing material, that just isn't as good as it could have been. And sometimes I get to thinking, "I reckon I could have done better". This is Re-Written, where I take a movie, good or bad, and make better, at least in the plot department. First up, Rogue One.

For a film touted to be putting the War in Star Wars, Rogue One spent far too much time developing its uninteresting characters, jumping from boring planet to boring planet, and trying too hard to drive home a half-assed message about hope. Oh what could have been.

Act 1

We start the movie already on Jedha. Jyn, Cassian, K2S0 and the rest of the crew, along with just enough nameless cannon fodder, are just another rebel cell in a galaxy wide war. There’s no tragic backstory for Jyn, nobody cares about Bodhi’s defection, it’s mentioned that he knows a lot about Imperial fleet systems from his past, but everyone knows each other from the start, save for one Orson Krennic, a new member of the team sent direct from Alliance HQ. Naturally there’s some distrust at first, Krennic being the new guy and all, but within the open 20 minutes he’s proved himself to the team. Not in some pointless firefight but in a raid on an Imperial convoy, one carrying kyber crystals, large crystals used in various laser weapons. Along with these crystals is a data file relating to their intended purpose, for use in the primary weapon for the DS-1 Orbital Battle Station, code name Death Star, a massive space station being constructed in orbit above the planet. Now realizing the danger of the station, and being the only people around who might be able to stop it it, Rogue One makes a decision, to try and destroy it themselves. However their recent raid has apparently brought the ire of the local garrison, and Rogue One soon find themselves holed up and under heavy fire from a superior military force. Before long stormtroopers have whittled Rogue One down to just Jyn, Cassian, K2S0, Baze, Chirrut, Bodhi and Krennic. Knowing they cannot win, the team evacuates, jumping to lightspeed just as the various booby traps they left behind incinerate a number of Imperials.

Act 2

Finding themselves alone in space Rogue One holographically meets with the leaders of the various military groups that make up the Alliance. They discuss the threat that this Death Star poses and come to a decision, they must obtain the schematics from the archives on the planet Scarif. To do so however, will force them into a head to head confrontation with the Empires best troops. This causes some troubles amongst the council, with many being unable to condone what will surely be a suicide mission, and one that if failed, will cost the Alliance greatly. Ultimately it is Krennic who convinces the council to go ahead with the mission by giving them a plan. He, along with a small detachment of troops, will travel to the heart of the Empire, to the planet Coruscant, and launch an attack. He believes that the Empire will draw all troops not committed to battle back to Coruscant to defend it, unaware of the trap that is being laid. Meanwhile the remainder of Rogue One will launch an all out assault on Scarif, overpowering whatever garrison remains and securing the plans. Krennic soon finds himself tearing through space toward Coruscant. It is at this point that he is revealed to be an Imperial agent as a Star Destroyer exits hyperspace and intercepts his shuttlecraft. He and the rebel troopers are marched out and he watches as the troopers are executed. Cue the arrival of Darth Vader himself. He greets Krennic personally, and Krennic informs him that all is going to plan.

Act 3

Unaware of Krennic’s betrayal, Rogue One finds themselves en-route to Scarif after rendezvousing with the rebel fleet. Crowded into U-Wings, they begin to move toward the planet’s surface enmasse. Things are going well, Bodhi uses his Imperial know-how to get them past a massive shield system, the force lands, and things rapidly fall apart. Envision Saving Private Ryan’s D-Day landing sequence. Rebel soldiers are massacred, U-Wing landers are torn apart by heavy weapons and the full force of the Imperial Army is brought to bear for the first time on-screen. It is a withering depiction of the titular star wars, both terrifying and epic in its execution. Eventually the rebels gain a foothold, sheltered behind various wreckage and beach dunes, spread out and in general disarray. Rogue One signals to the fleet above, telling them fall back, it’s a trap. Just as the fleet is about to evacuate a star destroyer exits hyperspace in the middle of the group, crushing the largest ship and unleashing its considerable firepower on the various smaller craft. The Alliance forces are trapped, both on the ground and in orbit. However, a small craft, a blockade runner by the name Tantive 4. Tantive 4 touches down just beyond the battle on the ground and gets a signal out to Rogue One. If they can fight through enemy lines they’ll be able to secure the plans and catch a ride off-planet. Making one desperate last push the Alliance ground troops manage to break through the Imperial forces and the main Rogue One group reach the bunker where the plans are held. It is now, in orbit, that we see Krennic, resplendent in his all white regalia, and Vader making plans to secure the bunker. They recieve a message, the bunker has been breached, and depart immediately. Arriving just in time to see Rogue One fleeing, Vader begins to pursue while Krennic attempts to outflank them. Knowing they cannot outrun Vader, Rogue One fights in a desperate manner. One of them stays behind, attempting to delay Vader for as long as possible, while the others run. When one falls, the next takes their place. The only one who offers any real resistance is Chirrut, who engages in a short but violent duel with the Sith Lord. Finally Jyn is all that remains. She escapes the bunker and is crossing the shallow water to Tantive 4 when Krennic sidelines her, gunning her down. As she falls the throws the plans to rebel soldiers waiting at Tantive 4. The ship lifts off, leaving her behind but with the plans safely aboard. Krennic is angry, but not as angry as Vader, who promptly kills him as punishment for his failure. Vader radios his ship and tells them to pick him up and begin pursuit of the rebel blockade runner. The credits roll as the camera pans over the smoking ruins on Scarif with bodies, both Imperial and Alliance, as far as the eye can see.

Conclusion

How does this re-write improve Rogue One? Simplicity. Not every character requires a tragic backstory, and the fact that each and every one of them is setup to die from the word go renders almost any pre-movie development meaningless. Perhaps the greatest strength of the re-write however, is the pace. The first 2/3's of the original film move at an incredible pace, throwing in 5 planets, an excess of uninteresting plot and numerous pointless action scenes and, by the time the third act roles around, it's a miracle if the viewer has any level of enthusiasm. To solve this issue I've narrowed the locations down to 3, Jedha, Rogue One's transport, and Scarif. The structuring of the action is also setup to allow breathing room. The first act has two action sequences, both of which drive the plot, and the second act has no real action whatsoever. It is in this second act where the viewer has time to take everything in, to really get to grips with the stakes of the situation. The third and final act is nothing but many action sequences strung together into one big one, the idea being that all the build up done in act 2 is paid off in a huge way. Ultimately, my version of Rogue One is a trimmed down film with a fun twist regarding Krennic, and a more impactful and dangerous Vader. It's a cleaner, smoother flowing film allowing for easier viewing, and a film that will likely never bore the audience.