Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire is a cumbersome, disjointed space version of A Bug’s Life that’s solely saved and made viewable because of its outstanding cast. While visually stunning and somewhat engaging enough to keep a viewer’s attention, the writing is all over the place, making it constantly questionable why we’re supposed to care. The dialogue is so clunky at times that even the deliveries coming from great actors feel forced in every way.
Rebel Moon wants to be an epic with such intensity that it loses itself in an attempt to tell a compelling story. The CGI is acceptable; some of the creatures are genuinely riveting, as are the characters, but the pacing fumbles in its endeavor to take us through various sectors of different times and places. It’s obvious the film is meant to encompass one part of a story, but the arc doesn’t feel contained enough to leave a mark. There’s much to be desired, sure, but it’s hard to predict whether the second half will even manage to save it.
Rebel Moon Shouldn’t Have Been Split Into Parts
There’s also something to be said about how the film could’ve fleshed out relationships more to make it additionally appealing in the grand scheme of storytelling. Part of the reason why Star Wars: A New Hope works so well despite the slow steadiness of its narrative approach is because the character dynamics it’s setting up are thoroughly engrossing from beginning to end. It’s hard to decipher who we’re meant to trust and what relationship we’re meant to invest in here. In no way, shape, or form does Rebel Moon Part One feel like it knows what it wants to be.
However, it’s imperative to note that Sofia Boutella is an undeniable star. Kora is the most magnetic character in the story, and diving further into her past could have made the story even more inviting. Whatever we follow her through feels earned and thoughtfully crafted, which is also entirely due to Boutella’s performances. It’s clear as day that the actress is aware of her character’s heart and motives in a way that helps to bring the best to the surface. Michiel Huisman, Djimon Hounsou, Charlie Hunnam, and Stuart Martin also do an incredible job with the material they’re given.
Quiet moments in the film result in some of the most vulnerable displays of humanity, but they’re so scarce that it’s not enough to save the narrative from falling apart. Whether the R-rated director’s cut makes a difference is hard to tell, but when a film is released with this many questions left in the air, you have to ask yourself what the purpose of it is anyway. Who’s running the show, leaving one version clunky while another could potentially shine, and who has the time and patience to commit to both?
For a visually stunning film of this caliber, it’s unfortunate that the plot and characterizations don’t match the beauty. The third act is especially gorgeous, and the final few scenes leave off with the kind of space explosions that are always enjoyable to see for those of us who love the genre. Still, it’s not enough to make Rebel Moon Part One: A Child of Fire a film worth watching more than once or one that’ll be well remembered, either.
Rebel Moon Part One is now streaming on Netflix.