It was really, really good. I'll try to give a vague idea as to why without spoilers
To start out with, I'll admit that I was biased against this film when I went to see it. The trailers all looked like they were trying too hard, and Jyn Erso came off as an obnoxious protagonist. I gave it a chance on good faith, however, and I'm really glad I did.
The plot was superbly well-crafted. I'm the kind of person who endlessly picks apart small details while watching movies, which can make many films very tedious for me. On the flip side of that, though, when the plots and subplots all interconnect and flow with one another and the pacing is on point, it's a completely magical experience. This movie nailed it. It's the best time I've had going to see a film in a very long time.
A lot of people have a problem with the character development in this film. I don't. I much prefer nondescript characters over the "unique special snowflake" variety, and this crew did their job. I also related to Jyn in a way I didn't expect, and found the majority of character decisions and reactions to be believable. And the reason that they treated the characters the way that they did was made evident, at least in my opinion, by the ultimate destiny of the story and the tone of the film.
So... there's my two cents! An A+ film that I wouldn't mind seeing again. As for whether it was better than "The Force Awakens," that's really a matter of personal taste. They are so vastly different in tone that I really can't even compare them in that way. I have to say I'm leaning more toward Rogue One, though, as the themes really struck a cord with me on a personal level.
