Rating of
2.5/4
An Amalgamation of Things Done Better
Chris Kavan - wrote on 12/27/23
Zack Snyder may be able to present some great visuals and flashes of brilliance with the first part of Rebel Moon but it is hampered by the fact it is highly derivative and puts little effort into fleshing out what should be some interesting characters.
The set-up takes a fair bit to get going as we are first given a bland history lesson, some viking-esque farming tradition and are introduced to Kora (Sofia Boutella) and Gunnar (Michiel Huisman) who form the core of the film. Kora is an outsider who has found a home - but still doesn't quite fit in while Gunnar is a savvy harvest master who is also a bit of wild card (at least for his farming community). But when the Imperium arrives, led by Admiral Atticus Noble (Ed Skrein), it quickly changes things as the violent men quickly make their presence known. However, it also awakens something inside Kora who, after protecting a young girl and taking down a small garrison of men, realizes she must protect her people and needs help doing so.
Thus, most of the film follows the duo as they track down and recuit a motely crew of warriors - pilot Kai (Charlie Hunnam), outcast Prince Tarak (Staz Nair), note-at-all-lightsaber wielding swordswoman codename Nemesis (Bae Doona) and, most importantly, fallen general Titus (Djimon Hounsou). The films wisks us away to many planets and presents some stunning scenery but everything feels so... familiar. There's your Mos Eisley cantina of lowlifes, a beast-training sequence ala Avatar, a spider-creature worthy of Shelob - and the list goes on.
But for all the flash of introducing these characters - most are given barely a cursory backstory. Take Nemesis - we know she can use those swords and, later, learn she has taken down a number of officers due to her children being killed and that she is (partially) robotic in nature - but that's it. And others are given even less - Anthony Hopkins voices a robot that is a combination between C3PO and battle droid and it looks like he may play some part in the story - until he runs off and isn't seen again until the final shot of the film. Likewise, Jena Malone, Ray Fisher and Cleopatra Coleman are all wasted as the senior "rebels". Other than some fancy face makeup - you don't get a real sense of what these people stand for.
The film is serviceable but rushes things so much that the world-building and story is seems secondary to making things look pretty. And look pretty it does - but aside from some great visuals - and over-use of slo-mo - there isn't a lot more going for Rebel Moon. At least it kept my attention but I can't say I'm dying to see the second part.
