'The prequel they've always wanted': The Force seems to be strong with Rogue One: A Star Wars as early reviews are generally positive

By Justin Enriquez For Dailymail.com

Published: 16:55 EST, 13 December 2016 | Updated: 18:07 EST, 13 December 2016

The phrase 'Star Wars prequel' has not exactly been met by diehards with such positivity.

But perhaps that will all change with this latest chapter.

The early reviews of Rogue One: A Star Wars story have generally been pretty good as the film gears up for a wide release later this week.

The Force is strong: The early reviews of Rogue One: A Star Wars story have generally been pretty good as the film gears up for a wide release later this week

As the prequel trilogy featuring Episodes I-III are a bit of a sore subject for many fans of the epic franchise, many will be delighted to know that many critics feel the newest one is not like the others.

Peter Debruge from Variety said: 'For the original generation of Star Wars fans who weren't sure what to make of episodes one, two, and three, Rogue One is the prequel they've always wanted.'

Tony Hicks from the San Jose Mercury News reiterated that point as he wrote: 'Rogue One is a more-than-worthy prequel. Which is a first in the Star Wars universe.'

Proud: Mads Mikkelsen, Ben Mendelsohn, Riz Ahmed, Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Donnie Yen and Forest Whitaker - pictured from left to right - at the London premiere on Tuesday

 Famed critic and once former partner of Roger Ebert, Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times, praised the film for it's diverse cast and visual aspects of the film but thought the dialogue was a bit too straight forward and the soundtrack was heavy-handed.

Despite the small issues with the film, he gave it three-and-a-half stars out of five concluding:  'Mostly and most memorably, Rogue One is a bright light in the Star Wars canon.'

Ethan Sacks from the New York Daily News had very high praise as he wrote: 'It stands alone as the best Star Wars entry since 1980's The Empire Strikes Back. Yes, it's that good.'

High praise: Ethan Sacks from the New York Daily News compared the latest flick to 1980's The Empire Strikes Back, which many call the best of the franchise

Despite most of the early reviews being very positive there is a Dark Side, however, as some criticized the flick for being so striking visually but not having enough heart.

Bilge Ebiri for the Village Voice wrote: 'For all its vivid visual imagination, the film left me almost totally cold. And I say that as a man who has cried actual tears at more than one Star Wars movie.'

Stephanie Zacharek of Time Magazine said that this latest movie did something she didn't think was possible; it made her nostalgic for the Star Wars: Episodes I-III prequels as she felt the filmmakers were too careful with Rogue One.

Action man: Some praised the film for it's diversity as Donnie Yen is pictured in his role of Chirrut Îmwe

She said: 'Their freak-flag-flying zaniness almost looks progressive next to Rogue One, which is almost pedantic in its inoffensiveness.'

Richard Brody from The New Yorker heavily criticized the upcoming flick and even questioned whether the Star Wars franchise should be abandoned in his review.

He wrote: 'The director of Rogue One, Gareth Edwards, has stepped into a mythopoetic stew so half-baked and overcooked, a morass of pre-instantly overanalyzed implications of such shuddering impact to the series’ fundamentalists, that he lumbers through, seemingly stunned or constrained or cautious to the vanishing point of passivity, and lets neither the characters nor the formidable cast of actors nor even the special effects, of which he has previously proved himself to be a master, come anywhere close to life.'

'The film left me almost totally cold': Not all of the critics were pleased as Bilge Ebiri for the Village Voice praised the visuals but was not drawn to it emotionally

In the flick Felicity Jones plays Jyn Erso as she leads The Rebellion in a risky move to steal the plans to the Death Star.

The film co-stars Diego Luna, Donnie Yen, Riz Ahmed, Alan Tudyk, Ben Mendelsohn and Mads Mikkelsen.

It also features an all-star lineup including Forest Whitaker, James Earl Jones and Jimmy Smits.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story zooms into theatres on December 16 in the US preceded by the UK release on 15 December. 

Highly-anticipated: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story zooms into theatres on December 16 in the US preceded by the UK release on 15 December

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