‘Rogue One’ is a rip-roaring ride but doesn’t offer anything new

“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” was supposed to be a bit different as the very first Star Wars stand-alone movie. Sure, it takes place in the Star Wars universe, but it’s the first film not part of the Star Wars canon. That means we get entirely new characters, new story lines, even new planets. No one in the family trees of Luke Skywalker, or Han Solo, or Princess Leia or Obi-Wan Kenobi need apply. “Rogue One” is basically virgin territory for the imaginations of Star Wars storytellers.

And yet, this galactic spin-off seems so awfully familiar, it can’t help but be a little disappointing.

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Don’t get me wrong. It’s all very well done and a worthy installment in the Star Wars series. But for those looking for a somewhat fresh take on this far, far away galaxy, you’ll have to look elsewhere. “Rogue One” may not be an entry in the official Star Wars canon, but it might as well be. Star Wars’ gravitational pull is so strong that this spin-off stays in very close orbit.

As in the most recent Star Wars film, our hero is a heroine, Jyn Erso, played winningly by Felicity Jones. Her father Galen abandoned her as a youngster so he could work on the Empire’s ultimate weapon, the Death Star. Left to fend for herself, she turned to a life of petty crime which ultimately landed her in prison. When the rebels suddenly break her out of prison, her life changes dramatically. The rebels have a mission for her.

The rebels know the Empire is up to something. They’ve heard rumors about a new weapon. Her mission is to steal the design plans of the Death Star. Despite a series of setbacks, Jyn remains undaunted. And over time, this once reluctant rebel becomes the most rebellious of them all.

The bulk of the film is then made up of virtually non-stop battle scenes, in the air, on land, and inside Empire headquarters. This movie really puts the “wars” in Star Wars. And this is all very familiar territory for Star Wars fans, what with all those iconic Stormtroopers, the out-manned but scrappy rebels, the aerial dogfights, the blasters and light sabers, and of course, the Force.

Jyn and her merry band of rebels include a blind monk-like seer who constantly preaches “Follow the Force and the Force will protect you,” shades of the Jedi Masters. She’s also teamed up with a wise-crackin’ robot named K-2SO, who’s like a tougher version of C-3PO.

Clearly these are tips of the hat to its Star Wars predecessors and there are countless more. Jyn even has major father issues similar to Luke Skywalker’s. That’s all well and good, up to a point.

But if “Rogue One” wants to put its stamp on the franchise, to somehow alter or even just shade the way we see the Star Wars world, it fails. At times, the movie seems to be yearning for an emotional power that has always been beyond the reach of Star Wars movies. I appreciate the yearning but it remains a bridge too far for “Rogue One” as well.

But it’s still a rip-roaring good time for fans.