Julio Diaz

Pensacola News Journal

Carmike Bayou 15 was packed Friday night with fans eager to be among the first to see "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," the first spin-off from the series of adventures taking place "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away."

We won't make with any spoilers in the text here, but suffice to say, those who stayed after the film to share their opinions with PNJ Entertainment Editor Julio Diaz universally loved the movie.

Fans praised the story, the new characters, the action, the emotion and the film's surprises — of which there were many, despite us knowing from the original "Star Wars" that the Rebellion would succeed in gaining the plans to the Death Star.

We spoke to about three dozen fans during a long conversation following the first local screening, and each said they'd give the film an "A" grade. It's important to note, too, that this wasn't simply a group of hardcore "Star Wars" nerds (though certainly, we had them, too).

Want to know more? Check out the latest episode of the PNJ Movie Club Podcast for a complete discussion. Diaz is joined by LaVonne French, squad leader for the Parjai Squad of the 501st Legion, the "Star Wars" costuming group, and freelance photographer Phil Bailey. The podcast will discuss spoilers after the first several minutes, but don't worry, we give you plenty of warning before we do. Listen, enjoy, and please feel free to leave your comments with your thoughts on the film!