It’s another year, another wait for the next Star Wars movie. We are all still hyped after Rogue One, but it’s going to be awhile before we see any new Star Wars content. Fortunately, there are plenty of movies to keep us entertained until Episode VIII comes out. They range from flicks that the stars of Rogue One made before the film, to films that influenced the creators to some fun ones to brighten your day after Rogue One’s kicker of an ending. There’s martial arts films, old school WWII movies, sci-fi flicks and a even a kid’s movie in there. Some of the films will help you see new things about Rogue One, others will leave you even more impressed with the actors’ talents. No matter what they bring to the table, they will keep you excited and entertained until December when we finally, finally get to see Episode VIII.
The Dirty Dozen
Star Wars has taken inspiration from classic WWII movies before. The original film got its aerial dogfights and tench run from The Dam Busters. But Rogue One took a… dirtier inspiration from Word War II. The Dirty Dozen is a film like Suicide Squad but doesn’t involve superheroes, no supernatural elements and is good. As the date for the D-Day invasion approaches, a dozen of the worst criminals in the Army are selected to infiltrate a German stronghold and kill Germany’s top-ranking officials. The mission is suicidal, but the men can walk free if they survive it. Some want to just walk, others see this as an opportunity for redemption. If you liked the team-building and infiltration aspects of Rogue One, The Dirty Dozen is a great film to watch. Like Rogue One, every character has a task and watching their plan play out makes for tense and nail biting drama. The movie is based on a novel, not real life, but the tension and the drama feel real as it plays out on screen.
Ip Man
Ip Man stars Donnie Yen as the title character. Ip Man is based on a true story of the martial artist who resisted Japanese occupation of China and would eventually go on to train the one and only Bruce Lee. The first film focuses on his life before he knew Lee, showing how he rebelled against Japanese rule in China during WWII. Before the invasion, Ip Man treats his martial arts as a hobby, prioritizing his family and friends over fighting. Even after the Japanese invade, he still keeps a low profile for his family’s sake. But as the boot of oppression presses down their necks, Ip Man must step up to the plate to defend himself and the people around him. If you enjoyed Donnie Yen’s performance as Chirrut and watching him kick Imperial ass, this is a great film to watch him in. Not only does it show case his martial arts, it showcases his acting ability. Like Rogue One it’s a film about resisting oppression. With a lot of badass fighting.
The Guns of Navarone
If The Dirty Dozen is too dark for you or if you just want more World War II flicks, The Guns of Navarone would be a great film to check out. The set up is as follows. 2,000 British troops being held prisoner behind enemy lines. Rescue is prevented by the two titular superguns guarding enemy lines. The guns must be destroyed to rescue the prisoners. This film takes a slightly fantastical approach to World War II. There weren’t any superguns in World War II, much less an elite team to destroy them. But if you suspend your disbelief, the film is really enjoyable and high-adventure. Gregory Peck is as likable as ever in the lead role and the rest of the cast is just as charismatic. Like Rogue One, there is a lead character whose point of view we follow, but the movie is about a team effort for a greater cause. The team gelling together is a big part of the charm of the movie. The Guns of Navarone is fun, WWII adventure!
Serenity
It’s hard to believe we’ve made it to number four on the list and have just gotten to another science fiction film! When the beloved show Firefly was canceled, fans rallied to save their show. The show never came back on the air, but they convinced Hollywood to give the franchise another shot. Serenity was put on the air in 2005 and was a huge hit with the fans. The original Star Wars influenced Firefly so it’s only fitting that the new Star Wars should take from Serenity. Both franchises share the same space-western aesthetic, and take a gritter approach to showing life in space with scuffed floors and dirty boots. Rogue One takes from Serenity the idea of a scrappy team coming together and putting everything on the ling just to get a piece of information out there. The teams do not defeat the ultimate evil, they just provide a key piece of data. Maybe in the Firefly universe a band of heroes will step up to defeat the Reavers once and for all thanks to Serenity’s crew, like Han, Luke and Leia defeated the Empire thanks to Jyn Erso and her gang.
Saving Private Ryan
Speaking of gritty, it doesn’t get much grittier than Saving Private Ryan. The brutal depiction of D-Day in this Steven Spielberg film is harsh, gory and sticks in your mind. It probably served as inspiration for the beach sequences during the Battle of Scarif. The two battles are on a beach and aren’t shy about killing off characters. This is war after all. And of course, just like the other movies on this list, there is a plot about a team going behind enemy lines. This time a group of men must bring back the titular Private Ryan because all three of his brothers have died in battle and the Army doesn’t want him to die to and devastate his family. If you haven’t seen Saving Private Ryan, it’s considered one of the best World War II movies ever produced. The film was nominated for eleven Academy Awards and earned Spielberg his second Best Director Oscar.
Apocalypse Now
Apocalypse Now is another gritty film that helped inspire Rouge One. Yes, it’s a film about going behind enemy lines, but this one takes place during the Vietnam War. The film transplants the plot of the novel Heart of Darkness from the jungles of the Congo to 1960s Vietnam. It demonstrates how war dehumanizes combatants on all sides of the war and makes them into monsters. Rouge One touches on this theme with Cassian and Jyn. Cassian is willing to murder innocents to complete his mission. Jyn is hardened and has lost hope in the Rebellion. Apocalypse Now goes much, much further with the dehumanization and exploration of the theme of war’s inhumanity. More than just one innocent is killed by the protagonists and their enemies aren’t a terrible oppressive Empire, but rather people who just live in Vietnam. Apocalypse Now is a difficult film to watch, and is a lot more brutal with it’s depiction of war than Rogue One is. But it’s a great film and well worth watching, even if it’s less fun than the newest Star Wars flick.
Baraka
This isn’t a war movie or even a fictional story. In fact the movie doesn’t have a story at all. Rather, it’s a series of images exploring natural life and technology. The images come from all over the world and show a range of lives and cutlures. Baraka is one of Gareth Edwards favorite films. He ranked it number three on his list of favorite films. He said of the film, “It’s one of my favorite movies, that was a big reference. Obviously, stylistically, we went handheld, but [on the planet] Jedha you feel it a little bit more.” Jedha’s crowded, cramped and diverse scape does look like it could have come out of Baraka. Obviously, Baraka is a lot more abstract that Rogue One. There’s no protagonist or even characters or story. But the imagery clearly made an impact on Edwards. If you liked the cinematography of Rogue One you should check this film out and see where the director got his ideas for his landscapes and cities!
The Hidden Fortress
The Hidden Fortress should be required watching for all Star Wars fans. It’s a Japanese historical drama film or jidaigeki. This film by Akira Kurosawa influenced George Lucas’ screenplay for the original Star Wars. Yes, George Lucas got the word Jedi from jidaigeki. It tells the story of a General who must rescue a princess who is behind enemy lines. You can already see the plot similarity to the original Star Wars. And to Rogue One. While there’s no princess in distress in Rogue One, there is the imperative to get behind enemy lines for a vital mission. The idea of a bickering pair working together opened the original film and The Hidden Fortress. The idea returns in Rogue One with Churruit and Baze lovingly poking at each other with barbed words. Like we said, this is a must-watch for Star Wars fans since it has had such a big impact on the film both old and new.
The Book of Life
This list has been kind of a downer. Fortunately, there is a few movies that I can recommend that should brighten your day. This animated film stars Diego Luna, aka Captain Cassian Andor, as Manolo a guitar playing bullfighter who finds himself caught up in a bet between gods. He must travel through the Land of the Dead to return home and be reunited with the love of his life, Maria. The movie takes inspiration from the Mexican holiday The Day of the Dead. It’s bright, colorful, funny and full of song. If you want to hear Captain Andor sing, this is the movie for you! But if you like Diego Luna and his performance in Rogue One, this movie demonstrates his talents and will cheer you up after watching Rogue One’s grimmer inspirations.
The Wizard of Oz
Okay, this one may seem like an odd choice to associate with Rogue One. Afterall, Rogue One is a sci-fi war drama and The Wizard of Oz is a musical fantasy. What do these two have to do with each other? Well, Star Wars has always had an element of the fantastic to it. In an interview with Screenrant, Gareth Edwards said, “I personally found films like The Wizard of Oz a parallel as well. You have this woman who’s on this journey and along the way, people end up joining or coming together.” Besides, Star Wars has always had an element of the fantastic to it. Both of our female protagonists do not have supernatural powers to overcome their problems but rather must have faith, Jyn in the Force and Dorothy in the fact that she can go home. Like The Book of Life and unlike most of the other films on this list, this is not a war movie. Rather, it’s something to give hope and inspire.