Do you like Star Wars?
How about Lord of the Rings?
Rebel Moon is a cacophony of sci-fi tropes.
Sofia Boutella in Rebel Moon.Image: Netflix
Pieces are clipped from every inch of sci-fi history and put back together into one big package.
Which, admittedly, isnt necessarily a bad thing.
The problem with the way Rebel Moon does it though is its not really about anything.
Ray Fisher plays one of the warriors who doesn’t get much to do.Image: Netflix
All of the movies and franchises named above are about something grander than themselves.
Rebel Moon has long speeches about loyalty, family, honor, purpose, all kinds of things.
Kora is a mysterious woman living a humble life in a remote farming village on the planet Veldt.
Admiral Noble, played by Ed Skrein.Image: Netflix
Each character who joins Kora and her friends creates a new pocket of the movie.
New planet, new creatures, quick action scene, and were off to the next thing.
We also spend a good chunk of time with the evil Admiral Noble played by Ed Skrein.
Noble is ruthless and captivating.
With the exception of Kora, the films heroes are paper-thin.
Each is discovered, looked at, and then filed into the background.
Watching this film, thats a fact thats both slightly encouraging but also restrictive.
Theres lots of plot and character left to explore, and one or two unexpected twists along the way.
That means, as Rebel Moon Part One ends, youre left scratching your head a bit.
Snyders visuals, design, and creature effects are all second to none.
Those things absolutely make what youre watching entertaining.
But when the film ends, you dont feel like youve learned much beyond whats unfolded on screen.
Who are these characters?
Why should we care?
Whats this all been about?
Rebel Moon Part One: A Child of Fire opens in select theaters Friday.
Itdebuts on Netflix December 22(7 p.m. PT December 21, to be exact).
Want more io9 news?
Get your finest dark clothing and all your creepy things, part one ofWednesdayseason two is dropping in August.
