In many ways, I think that Rogue One is similar to Revenge of the Sith. Both movies have a messy beginning and middle, which is partially salvaged by a strong third act that leaves people with a more positive impression leaving the movie. I don’t mind the characters being underdeveloped, though I think a little more screen time of them working together as a team would have helped me care about them more and view them as a group (a la The Dirty Dozen).

My main issues with Rogue One are that I don’t like how the Death Star’s exhaust port flaw was made into a deliberate, significant act of sabotage rather than just a small oversight in construction. I also think that the ending doesn’t line up with the beginning of ANH since Vader literally sees the Tantive IV fleeing from the battle with his own eyes, but in ANH, Vader never mentions that, and Leia acts like she has plausible deniability.