Rogue One Characters.
Star Wars movies have
always made stars not hired them but Rogue One is different in that respect,
there is a blend of veteran actors such as Madds Mikkelsen as Galen Erso and
lesser known actors such as Felicity Jones who has a few big titles to her name
but hasn't been given that one role that makes her stand out, until now. Here
are my thoughts on the characters in Rogue One and their portrayals.
Jyn Erso Played by Felicity
Jones.
Jyn is the main protagonist
for Rogue One and so her casting was very important, it needed to be someone
who could make a female character look badass much like Carrie Fisher did with
Princess Leia. Felicity Jones does that very well without making Jyn seem cold.
Throughout the movie Jyn has a lot of emotion to go through, be it despair as
her father is killed in front of her or the feeling of honour as she rallies
the group that later becomes 'Rogue One' to scarif. Jyn shows that she is
willing to do whatever she needs to in order to help the rebellion succeed so
that her father’s death and hard work isn't in vain. Jyn shows the rebellion
what 'Hope' really is by taking a gamble on Scarif which pays off.
Character rating
9.5/10
Galen Erso Played by Madds
Mikkelsen.
Galen Erso is the man who
created the Death Star, the most powerful weapon in the galaxy capable of
obliterating a whole planet. This meant that he had to be cast as someone strong
and sinister, now there aren’t many men in the world who can play a strong
sinister character better than the veteran Madds Mikkelsen. Erso has a strong
air about him, you feel as if he is always in control of his own fate until the
very moment he dies. Mikkelsen portrays him as a good father and a hard worker
and for someone in charge of building the death star you’d only expect him to
be one of those things. The character himself has a lot of depth from wanting
to look after his family to being forced to work for the Empire he has a lot to
be careful of especially trying to purposely flaw the death star for the use of
the rebels. His sacrifices ultimately come good as the death star is destroyed by
the rebels thanks to his planning.
Character rating 9/10
Cassian Andor played by
Diego Luna
Andor is a rebel captain
and does as he is told, he is loyal and strong willed but is less willing to
risk his own well being or make big decisions that others would. Luna plays
Andor like a total good guy even though at times his actions are questionable. He
begins his relationship with Jyn in charge and soon falls to her strong
leadership skills and is willing to take order from her. From the first scene
Andor is seen as a resourceful guy who is clever which is seen several times throughout
the movie on Eadu and Scarif.
Character rating 8/10
Orson Krennic played by Ben
Mendelsohn
Krennic is an imperial
leader and much like other imperial leader is not low in self confidence and
smarts, he knows how to get what he wants, be it by killing or other harsh
means. He wants control of his own project an throughout the movie shows that
he is more than capable of taking charge until power is taken from him by Grand
Moff Tarkin. This is what really unhinges him. Mendelsohn has a strong career
behind him and brings intensity much like Peter Cushing did in the original Star
Wars movie, you know he is in charge and scenes such as the one he has when
Vader is first seen, show he can bring that intensity and create great work.
Krennic is eventually undone by a Galen Erso just be more intelligent than him,
he tries all he can to stop Rogue One but by then its too late.
Character rating 9/10
KS2-0 Voiced by Alan Tudyk
KS2-0 is the first Droid we see in the movie,
he is an imperial droid stolen and reprogrammed by the rebel alliance to aid
them. He also serves as the movies comedy much like Drax in the Guardians of
the galaxy film he says what is on his mind, several times blurting out the
very lows odds at which a plan is successful much to the anger of his partner
Andor. KS2-0 shows that he is very capable of learning like a human even
showing emotion towards other characters and getting upset when Jyn shoots a
similar droid questioning ‘if she knew it wasn’t him’ he eventually sacrifices
him self for the good of the alliance after doing everything he can to help Jyn
and Andor.
Character rating 7.5/10
Saul Gerrera Played by Forest
Whitaker
Saul is a rebel outside of
the rebel alliance, he is a militant leader who is very careful about who he
lets near him. He looked after Jyn whilst she was young and now lives on Jedha,
a war torn planet being stripped of the valuable Kyber Crystal that the empire
needs for the death star’s weapon. He is known to have been a problem to the
empire for a long time but not been caught. He understands when it is time to
give up and Whitaker, another veteran gives a great portrayal of a man who is
just holding on for hope that something good will happen and to not see the
imperial flag fly high anymore. His eventual death is him acknowledging that he
has fought all he can and it is time for him to give up.
Character rating 8/10
Chirrut Imwe played by
Donnie Yen
Imwe is one of the most
interesting characters in this movie, he is former guard for the now ruined
Jedi temple on Jedha and provides us with another view into the force as a
living thing, he talks of how energy surrounds a person before they are going
to do something. Most of the people around him react like they think he is
crazy to believe such a strange old religion, none of the people around him
have seen or have proof of the force existing with further makes them wonder
when Imwe believes in it. He falls valiantly using the force to guide him to
the comms transmitter switch where he is eventually killed. Yen does some great
work as Imwe especially as he is blind and wise two things that give the
character such depth when looking at his physical and mental traits.
Character rating 8.5/10
Baze Malbus played by Wen
Jiang
Malbus is best friends with
Imwe although you wouldn’t think it due to his constant teasing of the force
and his rituals, he is the heavy gunner, the guy who is straight forward with
his work and is always there to help when needed. He boats an interesting
arsenal of weapons which makes him one of the more fun characters to watch
during actions scenes because you never know what hes going to pull out next.
Jiang is a strong actor who makes Malbus looks like a legit tough guy so when
he finally gives in to Imwe and opens himself to the force in his final moments
it’s a real shock.
Character rating 7/10
Bodhi Rook played by Riz
Ahmed
Bodhi is the defector, the
man Galen Erso trust to take spread word of the death stars’ creation and bring
the message to Saul Gerrera stating how to destroy it. Bodhi really is wimp
when we first see him, Ahmed showcases a great range of facial expressions in
Bodhis first scene as he believes he is being taken for as a liar by Saul and
his group and that they are going to do away with him. Eventually Bodhi dies by
giving even MORE to the rebel alliance than just the way to defeat the death
star, he is killed when trying to establish comms with the above rebel fleet and
a grenade is thrown into the shuttle he is in. He starts the movie as a wimpy
defector but by the movies end it’s a sad loss and he is a hero.
Character rating 7/10
That’s all the main cast
but there are a few other who have lesser parts, not to say they are lesser
characters that need addressing.