Star Wars: 10 Things You Learn Re-Watching Rogue One
6. It's Definitely Still A War Movie
Rogue One is not a science-fiction film, it's a war movie that simply happens to take place in the Star Wars universe. On a second viewing that becomes even more apparent. There is a major lack of fantasy in this film and it's mainly based around combat, military secrets and warfare. And this is a great thing.
Not only was it fascinating to see such a different genre played out in a family-friendly franchise like Star Wars, but it shows the limitless potential of the franchise to adapt to different genres, and as a place where a writer can tell any story. It takes the franchise in an exciting direction and suggests an exciting, diverse future for the Star Wars franchise.
The ending, in which everybody dies, can be compared to the ending of many war films where the characters sacrifice themselves for their military cause and the film is ultimately an emotional tribute to their heroism. It sits alongside the likes of Saving Private Ryan, Sahara and Bataan in that respect, and is undoubtedly a war movie.