Zack Snyder’s new flick, Rebel Moon (or, the full deal: Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire), kicks off with a scene straight outta Star Wars. Picture this: a farmer tags along with a mysterious warrior to a shady cantina. There, one of those weird pig-faced aliens starts trouble, and our warrior buddy, Kai, steps in to throw down some slick moves. Then, cue the entrance of a smuggler named Kai—wait, not Han Solo, but close enough. Yeah, Rebel Moon feels like it’s hanging out in a galaxy not too far, far away from Star Wars.
Childhood Dreams on Screen
Snyder admits he cooked up this film when he was just an 11-year-old kid wowed by Star Wars. But here’s the kicker: he hasn’t tinkered with it much since then. I mean, seriously, in 46 years, all he’s added is this: “What if Star Wars mixed with Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai?” And that’s pretty much Rebel Moon’s story. About a decade back, Snyder pitched this idea to Lucasfilm as a legit Star Wars deal. When they said “nope,” he twisted it a bit, trying to create its own universe. But, honestly, it’s still pretty Star Wars-y. Think sci-fi meets medieval, packed with robots, bounty hunters, grimy space hangouts, and tons of troops that look crazy familiar.
Same Galaxy, New Twists
But Snyder’s thrown in a few extras. Compared to the official Star Wars movies, Rebel Moon has more of everything: blood, foul language, semi-nudity, and hints of sketchy stuff. It’s got more flashy lens flares, slo-mo action, and a color scheme that’s, uh, mostly different shades of brown. Plus, loads of awkward speeches to explain stuff.
Where’s the Fun?
The flick’s vibe seems to scream “more grown-up” than Star Wars, but really, it’s just more teen. It ain’t adding layers to its world or diving into deep themes. You’ve got the clear-cut good guys and bad guys, and usually, you can tell ’em apart by how good-looking they are.
Meet the Players
The big bad? Admiral Atticus Noble, not Darth Vader. He’s tight with the Regent, not the Emperor, ruling over the Realm, not the Empire. Then there’s our hero, Kora (Sofia Boutella), who left the Realm to team up with Gunnar (Michiel Huisman) in a farming village on Veldt, not Tatooine. And guess what? They’re fighting back against Atticus, just like in Seven Samurai.
Plot Points? Not So Much
But here’s the letdown: once Kora gathers her bunch, they don’t really do or say anything major. It’s a bummer. Cool outfits, tough-yet-sexy Boutella, Skrein being a sleazeball—actors doing their best with not much to work with.
What’s the Point?
Zack Snyder’s. Nothing super thrilling happens. No challenges to face, no obstacles to beat, no Death Stars to blow up. Despite the flick’s epic vibes, the story’s kinda meh. Seems like Snyder’s aim was to lay the groundwork for Part Two: The Scargiver, dropping next year. Part One feels a bit empty.
Strangely Likeable
But hey, there’s something oddly charming about Rebel Moon. It’s unapologetically dumb, plain ol’ pulpy stuff. And it’s such a massive serving of fan fiction that it makes you want to high-five young Zack Snyder’s from 1977. He never thought his scribbles would hit the big screen, but guess what? Dreams do come true. The film might not be top-notch, but the story behind it proves even the wildest childhood dreams can happen.