Are Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon Director’s Cuts Any Good?

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Are Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon Director's Cuts Any Good?

Summary

  • Zack Snyder’s director’s cut of
    Rebel Moon includes
    improvements in storytelling and character development that die-hard fans will enjoy.
  • The addition of foul language and graphic details may not necessarily improve the overall sci-fi universe of
    Rebel Moon
    for every viewer.
  • While the director’s cuts of
    Rebel Moon
    show some progress, they may still fall short of completely saving the franchise from criticism.

As a devoted sci-fi enthusiast who’s been following this genre since the days of Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica, I must say that the Rebel Moon universe has shown remarkable promise, albeit with a few missteps along the way. The frequent use of foul language in the dialogue seems to me like the scriptwriter was stuck on Earth while penning the dialogues for this intergalactic saga. It’s as if they forgot that we’re dealing with alien species here!

Four long years of passionate pleas, strategic negotiations, and high-profile support finally culminated in the DCEU’s Justice League being re-released on March 18, 2021, restoring Zack Snyder’s original vision. This unique wave in Tinseltown brought a sense of triumph and relief to comic book enthusiasts like myself. The man who breathed life into films such as the 2007 blockbuster ‘300’ and the 2013 hit ‘Man of Steel’ is now attempting to recreate that magical spark yet again with ‘Rebel Moon’, a project he not only directed but also co-wrote and co-produced.

What’s his approach this time around? Unlike the last project where Warner Brothers Pictures heavily constrained him (until the overwhelming support made it impossible to ignore), Netflix appears to be backing filmmaker Zack Snyder all the way with “Rebel Moon: A Child of Fire.” The initial episode premiered on Netflix in December 2023, and five months later, in April, “The Scargiver” episode was released.

Netflix executives proposed an intriguing idea to Snyder: granting him more creative freedom by having him film extra content for a mature-rated version, which he willingly undertook. However, this presents a challenge – these “director cuts” not only need to satisfy fans of the previous films but also appeal to those who were less than impressed with the initial two movies, A Child of Fire and Scargiver. Given that both received widespread negative reviews (with some particularly harsh critiques), will the rechristened A Chalice of Blood and Curse of Forgiveness alter the public’s and critics’ perception? Will the inclusion of more violence, explicit content, and profanity prevent the Rebel Moon series from becoming a costly imitation of Star Wars? Lastly, did the engine room giant face on the Dreadnought receive any explanation in these new versions? Let’s delve into it together to see if there have been any improvements made.

Changing the Introduction Helps Rebel Moon Immensely

As a cinema enthusiast, I’d like to express my appreciation for Zack Snyder’s innovative approach in immediately demonstrating a striking shift in his new film, Rebel Moon. Instead of the traditional opening crawl to relay the backstory, he plunges us straight into the current grasp of the Imperium, showcasing Atticus Noble and his troops mercilessly annihilating a planet and its inhabitants in search of Bloodaxe insurgents. This not only establishes a sense of urgency but also introduces key characters. We discover that Atticus favors a femur bone as his weapon, and the villains have an unusual practice of collecting the teeth from their victims.

In essence, while the portrayal of nudity among the fictional pagan witches might be unnecessary, it seems to serve as Snyder’s attempt at shock value. However, there are still plenty of those slow-motion scenes that some viewers may find tiresome. It’s worth mentioning that each fight scene, whether it’s Atticus facing the villagers or Kora saving Sam from soldiers, has been amplified with more graphic details for effect, a choice that adds realism to the science fiction genre but might irk certain returning audience members.

In the initial critiques of the film, Jimmy, the advanced android mechanical knight from the fallen king, was often overlooked. However, in the original versions of Rebel Moon, Jimmy stood out as a complex character due to his role as a forgotten but sophisticated robot programmed only to fight when he realized it was necessary. Although his appearances were limited in A Child of Fire, A Chalice of Blood depicts him continuing to be a solitary figure, yet surreptitiously assisting those on Veldt – tasks such as fixing Kora’s spaceship and delivering food to the villagers under cover of darkness. At one point, Sam and Aris even seem to acknowledge his presence without directly interacting with him.

As a longtime fan of epic fantasy stories, I found this to be a step in the right direction that even die-hard fans of Snyder will appreciate. The chapter-like transitions and dialogue summarizing the actions of our rebels were particularly effective, adding depth and coherence to the narrative. However, there was still an excess of expository dialogue about our main heroine, Kora, which I found somewhat jarring and difficult to work around, as it is crucial in developing her relationship with Gunnar.

All the Foul Language Doesn’t Help the Rebel Moon Sci-Fi Universe

In the expanded versions of Rebel Moon, there’s an additional element: the liberal use of profanity. This futuristic universe, devoid of any Earth references, seems to have adopted these expletives as if they were native to this world. The characters, whether heroes or villains, employ them frequently, which somewhat undermines their significance in a narrative where the consequences are so profoundly high. Moreover, the use of “Hell” implies religious connotations, which may not be necessary for the storyline.

Before we step into Curse of Forgiveness, though, the ending of Chalice of Blood teases more information about the mysterious giant face in the engine room. While a full explanation is never given, it appears that she is in pain every time the King’s Gaze travels between galaxies. This definitely motivates audiences to watch the sequel, given that Kora plants explosives on her face to blow up the ship.

While Chalice of Blood looked better in its first half, Curse of Forgiveness had more emphasis placed just before or during the Battle of Veldt. There are a few scenes that should have been left out, though. Even though they have played it straight this entire time, both Kora and Gunnar are late for the village’s roll call because they were in bed together. Jimmy destroys a band of Hakshaws (blue orcs) spying on the village, which deflates his epic entrance in the grand battle later on.

In addition to the unimportant scenes, brief snapshots of past events provide a richer understanding of all of Kora’s companions. The bond between Nemesis and the young boy deepens, as does Sam and Aris’s relationship. It’s nice to see that relationships other than Kora and Gunnar are highlighted in this climactic act, making it clear that the story of Rebel Moon isn’t solely focused on them but expands to encompass a broader narrative.

Is Rebel Moon Part One and Two Saved?

Are Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon Director's Cuts Any Good?Are Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon Director's Cuts Any Good?Are Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon Director's Cuts Any Good?

As briefly mentioned, the most interesting edit in Curse of Forgiveness has to be the huge being that seemingly powers the main Imperium cruiser. While she was present in The Scargiver, the intergalactic goliath actually stands up and speaks, even if it is just Kora seeing this in her mind. It is indeed an epic shot when the camera pulls back, and the audience takes in this huge ancient android. Audiences will surely find this scene memorable — the living machine also teases that she has sisters who will hear of Kora’s bravery. While the entire film as a whole is still not majorly improved, the enhanced war and this mechanical interaction makes Curse of Forgiveness much better than The Scargiver.

Zack Snyder has consistently excelled at crafting director’s cuts for his films, and this is evident in the case of ‘Rebel Moon’. The extended, more contemplative versions have undeniably kept this contemporary science fiction series from slipping into the abyss of streaming anonymity. Here’s hoping a third installment will go into production soon. By the way, all four parts of ‘Rebel Moon’ can currently be streamed on Netflix.

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2024-08-05 00:01