Watching it, it\u2019s not difficult to tell. Maybe it\u2019s the narration at the beginning that was clearly once an opening crawl, or the rather familiar story, or the moment where a character quite literally fights with lightsabers.<\/p>\n
But that comparison makes one thing very clear \u2013 Rebel Moon is not where it needs to be in terms of a sci-fi epic.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s an admirably ambitious project. Part One, titled A Child of Fire, and Part Two, The Scargiver (set for release in April), were filmed together, with Snyder immediately proclaiming it a franchise \u2013 perhaps slightly prematurely.<\/p>\n
Following the success of Zack Snyder\u2019s Justice League<\/a> (famously known as The Snyder Cut), the filmmaker is also releasing director\u2019s cuts of Rebel Moon, with higher ratings. It all seems like a\u00a0lot<\/em>, for a rather mediocre story.<\/p>\n Rebel Moon follows Kora (Sofia Boutella), a young woman with a mysterious past who\u2019s made a quiet farming colony her home.<\/p>\n But when it\u2019s threatened by the armies of the tyrannical Regent Balisarius (Fra Fee), and particularly his henchman Admiral Noble (Ed Skrein), she\u2019s forced to take action, seeking out warriors from neighbouring planets to help her make a stand.<\/p>\n It certainly has redeeming elements. Snyder\u2019s world-building is impressive \u2013 as we\u2019re whisked off across the universe for this epic journey, we meet bizarre and brilliant side characters (that would have been great to see more of), with Jena Malone rocking up in a particularly surreal role.<\/p>\n Visually, it\u2019s absolutely beautiful, and there\u2019s no denying it\u2019s an epic offering, particularly when it comes to Netflix\u2019s catalogue. It also has some much-needed heart. Boutella is convincing as Kora, the fighter ready to risk it all to save her newfound home.<\/p>\n But, overall, it just needs more. The characters are interesting and have potential but, with the exception of Kora, we\u2019re barely introduced to them before we\u2019re whisked off elsewhere.<\/p>\n Stars like Charlie Hunnam, who plays Kai, Ray Fisher, who plays Darrian Bloodaxe, and Bae Doona, who plays Nemesis, certainly aren\u2019t the problem, giving nuanced performances where they can. It\u2019s what they\u2019ve been given to work with.<\/p>\n There are whispers of interesting backstories and small moments that show us who this group of warriors that we\u2019re supposed to care so much about are \u2013 but they\u2019re few and far between, to the point that it won\u2019t be surprising if viewers leave the experience forgetting most of their names.<\/p> It\u2019s clear from how Snyder and the cast talk that there was a huge amount of thought put into the characters and their stories, with Skrein revealing to RadioTimes.com<\/a> that he filled six pages of notes from just his first chat with Snyder.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, this work is barely seen on screen \u2013 instead, we\u2019re whisked off once again to another corner of the universe, instead of spending just a bit longer with these characters, a choice that could have made a huge difference.<\/p>\n Perhaps it\u2019s an unfortunate side effect of splitting the film into two parts \u2013 which often works much better at the end of a franchise rather than the beginning, and with well-established stories.<\/p>\n What worked well with Dune<\/a>, an already well-loved IP, doesn\u2019t quite track with a new story like Rebel Moon. Clearly much of the action and story has been saved for Part Two, with Part One providing a huge amount of exposition and set-up, at least when it comes to the new world we\u2019ve been introduced to.<\/p>\n The assumption is that our patience will pay off when it comes to April \u2013 but that\u2019s a lot to ask of an audience.<\/p>\n Whether it\u2019s worth sticking around to see what Snyder will do next with it is up in the air \u2013 as is whether fans will find it worth their while to also watch the director\u2019s cuts \u2013 as, despite its title, Rebel Moon: A Child of Fire won\u2019t set the world alight.<\/p>\n Now would have been a good time for an epic new sci-fi franchise. As confidence in the MCU<\/a> is waning, and the DCU<\/a> has yet to make a huge splash under James Gunn, there\u2019s certainly an appetite for something new, especially from such a well-established filmmaker as Snyder.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, though, Rebel Moon isn\u2019t the one to tie our hopes to.<\/p> ![\"Doona](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/mx0960v1000005.1516R2CC-Cropped-60d1998.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"Doona")
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