Well, I finally saw Rogue One and I, too, see it as one of the best Star Wars films I've seen. In comparison to Force Awakens, the contrast is unbelievable. I've already told my opinion on it so I don't have to tell about that. Rogue One, thankfully, was a huge step forward.
This film really expanded the SW universe, for the first time showing us that the Empire was more than the Death Star.
The new places, most notably Jedha and Scarif, seemed like new and living additions to the group of planets we've seen before. Here, the world seemed alive and believable, unlike in the last film. Also, the characters were okay. They weren't great but they didn't bother me either. That's the best I can ask from a Star Wars film, I guess.
In addition to it's overall solidness, there were some very memorable scenes and shots that many of the other films lack. For example, the shots with star Destroyer above Jedha looked absolutely marvelous. Also, Eadu's and Mustafar's design worked here very well. And Vader's ending scene... I don't think I'm exaggerating if I say it's my favorite Star Wars scene ever!
All in all, this is the kind of Star Wars film Disney should do more. The characters were realistic and believable, the different potentials of the universe were utilized and certain great scenes sealed the deal. Sadly, I'm not going to see the Last Jedi. I never wish to see Rey, Finn and Kylo again so I guess I'll wait for the next spin-off before I return to Star Wars.
