After Rebel Moon – Part One left many questions unanswered, the prompt release of the sequel was crucial to ensure the franchise’s chances for success. Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver picks up where its predecessor left off, following the freshly assembled band of rebels as they fight back against the might of the tyrannical Imperium. Combining Zack Snyder’s unique style with the epic atmosphere of a space opera, Rebel Moon has all the makings of a classic franchise.
Sadly, it appears that Rebel Moon won’t replace Star Wars any time soon. The franchise’s first two installments being released directly to Netflix has made its success practically impossible to measure, and a lukewarm critical reception hasn’t helped matters. Even so, Rebel Moon has an undeniable charm that seems to be a holdover from its previous place within the Star Wars franchise.
The Scargiver sees the rebels return to the moon of Veldt where they begin preparations to resist the Imperium. With the villainous Admiral Noble resurrected and out for payback against protagonist Kora, also known as the film’s titular fugitive, the stakes are firmly established for a large-scale showdown. As the first film was almost all build-up, Part Two seemed to promise a good deal of action.
Rebel Moon: The Scargiver Takes A New Approach To Franchise Storytelling
Typically, franchises are made up of standalone stories that combine to create a bigger picture. Rebel Moon takes a similar approach to Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy, spreading a single story over multiple movies. Personal preference aside, it’s a curious evolution of cinema, and it’s one that makes the fledgling sci-fi franchise feel somewhat lopsided. Where the first film was all exposition, the second is almost all action. In other words, neither really works without the other.
In fairness, The Scargiver features solid sci-fi action. It’s classic Snyder, with gritty visuals and liberal use of slow motion, but it’s all presented in the most sleek and accessible manner possible. There’s very little to dislike, even if the film feels somewhat unoriginal due its heavy use of sci-fi tropes (and some narrative holdovers from its Star Wars connections).
The Scargiver is hardly groundbreaking, but it’s sound escapism. Its characters are further fleshed out, loose plot threads from the first film are picked up, and future developments are teased. It’s a commendable second entry into a budding franchise that could, with a little luck and good faith, become a well-loved sci-fi staple in the future.
Rating: 65%
Summary: Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver may not reinvent the genre, but it builds adequately upon its predecessor. It’s packed with well-crafted action and impressive visuals, making it a solid sci-fi sequel.
Highlight: Some of the cinematography stands out as particularly visually impressive, accentuating the grand scale of Snyder’s vision.