The trouble with trying to create original sci-fi epics in the spirit of star Wars is that the classics are so culturally ubiquitous that new films always seem like pale imitations. Zack Snyder is far from the first director to take this reality as a challenge to prove how, given the right ideas, stars and studio, the wheel can be reinvented, or at least cleverly reimaginedBut The Birth of Snyder Rebel Moon film franchise – The second part of which just dropped on Netflix is ​​so narratively derivative, emotionally inert and overlong that the entire project feels like it’s just floating along in sluggish vibes rather than moving towards its intended destination.
Between the two (so far) interconnected films, which together run just over four hours, the story told in Rebel Moon – Part One: Child of Fire And Part Two: The Guard it seems like it should be more complicated. But in almost everything that determines Rebel MoonHeroic heroine Cora (Sofia Boutella) and her quest to overthrow a fascist empire with the help of a ragtag group of freedom fighters from across the galaxy.
First part introduced Cora as a former Imperial soldier hiding on the agrarian planet Veldt after her adoptive father, Balisarius (Fra Fee), disowned her as part of his plan to seize control of the empire. After years of following Balisarius’ orders to kill alongside his Admiral Noble (Ed Skrein), Cora has come to realize the cost of resisting the might of the Imperium. But her love for the Veldt and its people, such as wheat farmer Gunnar (Michiel Huisman), was enough to convince her to stop hiding. Child of fire never seemed all that interested in figuring out how Cora’s little rebellion could become formidable enough to legitimately challenge an intergalactic power. But the film does introduce other righteous warriors, such as blacksmith Tarak (Staz Nair), former general Titus (Djimon Hounsou), and cyborg assassin Nemesis (Duna Pae), whose unexplored backstories seem so could be vital parts of a compelling story.
First Rebel Moon played out like a two-hour slog as Cora rallied her newfound allies to Veld’s side between set-piece sequences, each resembling the sort of subtly creative, slow-motion action sequences Snyder is known for. By ending the story with Cora seemingly killing Noble, the film appears to be setting the stage for what’s to come. Scargivers to hit the ground running and finally clarify what Snyder was trying to achieve with his thinly veiled Luke Skywalker counterpart. But instead of pushing Rebel Moonhistory forward in a meaningful way, Scargivers instead, it restores the ground already established by its predecessor.
And while he spends some time pointing out the existence of a larger universe filled with potential for interesting stories, these gestures are so clumsy that it feels like Snyder has no clear vision for this franchise beyond its ability to imitate things. . you’ve seen somewhere else, although done with much greater skill. You can almost hear Snyder remembering how shocked he was Matrix how a disoriented nobleman returns from the dead to Scargivers with a series of tubes attached to various parts of his pale body, encased in a sticky chrysalis.
“Noble” is not the worst film, but Scargivers introduces him as a Darth Vader-like figure as he strangles his subordinates to remind them who he is. Back on the Veldt, Cora’s relief quickly fades as rumors of Noble’s resurrection spread and it becomes clear that the Imperium intends to attack the planet for its disobedience. But instead of leaning into that looming feeling of fear, Scargivers instead doubles his Seven Samurai inspired by a series of scenes meant to emphasize that the people of the Veldt are just farmers who need the protection of Korra and her allies.
How ScargiversAs U.S. farmers sing hymns as they harvest their crops, Snyder appears to be following in the footsteps The Hunger Games films where music played an important role in establishing a deeper connection between District 12 and the Appalachian region of the United States. But when you actually listen to what the farmers have to say, the biggest takeaway is that they will be helpless to defend themselves from the Imperium because all they know how to do is cultivate the land with simple tools. These details were already obvious in the first film, which is partly why Cora lays them out in Scargivers feels so stupid. At the same time, however, the new film’s story is so thin that it’s hard to imagine Cora having anything to say to her followers other than to warn them that they won’t all survive the coming battle.
Boutella and her co-stars do an excellent job of making these characters feel like who they are. could be persuasive under the best circumstances. You can see flashes of genuine imagination as the gang comes together to share their stories, as if this knowledge could somehow hold the secret that will help them defeat Noble and Balisarius. This is not true, but it shifts for a short time ScargiversThe focus shifts from Weld to other, more inspired worlds in flashbacks that feel like snippets from more exciting films brewing in Snyder’s subconscious. But these moments are unfortunately brief and ultimately don’t add much context to the story, which drags on at a glacial pace due to the amount of time it takes. Scargivers focuses on Cora and the others, essentially expecting an attack.
Even at its explosive climax, when the Imperium falls upon the Veldt, Scargivers has an air of underpreparedness because it’s not entirely clear how this single battle will make a difference on a larger scale. Dune was able to avoid this problem by making Arrakis a uniquely powerful planet due to its valuable natural resources. But Scargivers it lacks the kind of world-building that makes it possible to understand why people want what they are willing to kill for. Instead, the film ends with a cliffhanger and a twist that is surprising only in how forgettable the character involved is.
It’s far from the ideal note for the second installment in the sci-fi film franchise, which has cost more than $166 million to produce so far. But this is where Snyder is comfortable stopping. Ironically, it wouldn’t be so offensive ifRebel Moon – Part Two: Scargiver was a suitable period at the end of a sentence. Snyder has made it clear that he wants to continue doing these things, and Netflix has recently signed a new general contract with himit seems very possible that he could do just that.
Rebel Moon – Part Two: Scargiver also stars Ray Fisher, Eliza Duffy, Anthony Hopkins, Alfonso Herrera, Stuart Martin, Cary Elwes and Charlotte Maggie. The film is currently streaming on Netflix.
