I recognize Snyder is a divisive film maker. His bombastic style filled with visual spectacle and a lot of slow motion paired with a general lack of subtly or irony is not everyone's bag. But I most often enjoy his classic storytelling with his operatic screencraft. Rebel Moon is his ode to Seven Samurai by way of mixing the cinematic language of Star Wars and Lord of the Rings (with maybe a bit of David Lynch's Dune thrown in for good measure) and it is one big epic space opera that if you let yourself enjoy it will take you on an incredible ride!
In some ways it is ironic that Rebel Moon is a Netflix production as it is clearly designed for the largest screen you can possibly find. Freed from studio interference, Snyder can let loose with this fanboy movie fantasies and he does. Rebel Moon leaps from the screen and tells much of it's story through the visceral impact of its visuals. It does lean a little too heavy into the narration but there is so much world building going on here there may have been no other option. Snyder dreams big and Rebel Moon is an attempt to capture as much of that as possible. For me it mostly does with only little gripes here and there. In fact most of the time I'm glad he erred on the side of more is more.
The story may be straight forward but there were a few little surprises along the way. This is the sort of story telling that is a throw back to serial style genre pics of the past told in modern CGI glory. It is famously developed from a pitch for a Star Wars film and it shares much with that film in the way it is a love letter to a different era of film making, a pulp-sci-fantasy adventure that wears its heart on its sleeves and has no apologies. It never talks down to its audience or relies on cheap takes. Snyder haters will hate it. His fans will adore it. But I think that most going in with an open mind will just enjoy the spirit of pure adrenaline adventure.
Bring on part two!
Rebel Moon Part One: A Child of Fire
Starring: Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Charlie Hunnam, Michael Huisman, Staz Nair, Doona Bae, Ray Fisher, Cleopatra Coleman, Anthony Hopkins, Alfonso Herrera, Jena Malone, Ed Skrein, Fra Fee, Corey Stall, Cary Elwes, Ray Porter
Director: Zack Snyder
Writers: Kurt Johnstad, Shay Hatten, Zack Snyder
No comments:
Post a Comment