REBEL MOON- PART TWO: THE SCARGIVER (NETFLIX) (2024)

SYNOPSIS: REBEL MOON — PART TWO: THE SCARGIVER continues the epic saga of Kora and the surviving warriors as they prepare to sacrifice everything, fighting alongside the brave people of Veldt, to defend a once peaceful village, a newfound homeland for those who have lost their own in the fight against the Motherworld. On the eve of their battle the warriors must face the truths of their own pasts, each revealing why they fight. As the full force of the Realm bears down on the burgeoning rebellion, unbreakable bonds are forged, heroes emerge, and legends are made.

MOVIE REVIEW:

Zach Synder’s much maligned space opera epic, Rebel Moon finally releases its "concluding" chapter. And is it good enough to redeem the mediocre part one? However just like the Synder’s DC universe, the answer remains divided and barely satisfying on the whole.

If you can still vividly recall since it has been well four months since A Child of Fire. Kora (Sofia Boutella), the former Imperium soldier and the rest of the remaining motley crew of warrior, insurgent and nobleman returns to Gunnar’s (Michiel Huisman) village after defeating the evil supreme commander, Atticus Noble (Ed Skrein).

Obviously Noble isn’t dead but good for them, the entire Kora’s gang and the villagers under the leadership of General Titus (Dijimon Hounsou) continue their preparation to fight against the looming space nazis and their elaborate range of weaponries and machineries.

For a movie built on such shaky ground and generic narrative, it’s a miracle Rebel Moon needs a sequel to trash out the rivalry between a rebel and a mad commander. Scargiver is basically a rehash of the first. The characters are so shallow, uninteresting that Synder needs to throw in a round table introduction scene to give them a backstory each.

If you can survive the first hour which consists of boring exposition, the expected love affair between Kora and Gunnar and the issue on grain, the last remaining hour is a showcase of Synder’s trademark slow-mo, lens flares and lightsabre fights. It also saw the return of Anthony Hopkins who voiced Jimmy, a mechanical fighting robot which can easily take down numerous enemies at one time.

Let’s be frank about it. Scargiver is entertaining no doubt especially the later part of the movie. The visual effects seem more accomplished for the most part. And if you are big fan of Synder’s visual excesses, you will enjoy all the chaotic action set pieces and bombastic sound effects.

But hold your space horses, Synder has promised Directors cuts with longer, alternate scenes and some sexual tension. We are not sure how many of Netflix audiences or Synder fans will be keen on these. The biggest problem lies in Scargiver is not even the concluding chapter since well there is a slight twist in the end. Believe it or not, the writers have promised another four more chapters on the way assuming Netflix continues to provide the funds. Don’t be shock if our attention are waned by then.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee