Movie Review Rebel Moon Part 2: If you’re a fan of those slow-mo shots of space villagers and burly, shirtless space warriors wielding scythes like they’re going out of style, then Rebel Moon Part 2: The Scargiver is right up your alley. But let me warn you, this second installment of Zack Snyder’s space opera is even more tedious and unoriginal than the first one, and that’s saying something.
Look, outside of the few scenes where Anthony Hopkins nails it as the voice of Jimmy the Robot, there’s little here to get excited about. And Hopkins’ performance is a real head-scratcher – I mean, the man’s played some iconic roles, but this has got to be one of the oddest gigs of his entire career.
Jimmy the Robot is a pretty cool character, but that’s the only redeeming quality in this darn flick.
Do you know that the production team used 17,000 gallons of fake sweat to achieve the space warriors’ glistening, shirtless looks?
That’s enough to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool! It is like detailed work.
And the budget? It’s a whopping $450 million, making it one of the most expensive films ever produced. When creating a space opera of this magnitude, you can’t exactly skimp on the funds.
So, there you have it, mate. If you’re looking for a mind-numbingly dull and derivative space adventure, Rebel Moon Part 2: The Scargiver is the one for you. But you should look elsewhere if you’re after something with more substance and a lot less sweat-soaked silliness.
Spoiler Warning.
Rebel Moon Part Two: The Scargiver is now streaming on Netflix
| Property | Details |
| Title | Rebel Moon Part 2 |
| Director | Zack Snyder |
| Producer(s) | Zack Snyder, Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, Wesley Coller |
| Cast | Sophia Boutella, Charlie Hunnam, Djimon Hounsou, Michiel Huisman, Ray Fisher, Cary Elwes, Alfonso Herrera, Corey Stoll |
| Runtime | 122 Minutes |
| Banner/Studio | Netflix |
| Release Date | April19,2024 |
Movie Review Rebel Moon Part 2
This movie just doubles down on excessive violence, and sex is unlikely to improve this joyless continuation of Zack Snyder’s Kurosawa-inspired space opera. The issues that prevented the first “Rebel Moon” from truly taking off are still clearly present in this sequel.
Snyder’s apparent disinterest in eliciting compelling performances from his actors, coupled with the bland visual style and uninspired dialogue, weigh the film down. It has the feel of a project rushed into production, seemingly to compete with the current crop of “Star Wars” series on streaming.
While the most ardent Snyder defenders may find something to appreciate, “Rebel Moon Part 2: The Scargiver” comes across as a tired and uninspired follow-up for the average viewer. The film fails to build upon the modest strengths of its predecessor, instead retreading familiar ground in a visually drab and narratively uninvolving manner, with added violence and sex that feel gratuitous.
In the previous movie, a storyline was set up that is continued in Part 2. A large spaceship belonging to an oppressive, Nazi-like force arrives at a small, primitive Viking village on a distant moon. They demand the villagers’ grain. A woman named Kora (played by Sofia Boutella) fights off some of the soldiers.
She then decides the village needs to assemble a group of heroes to take on the invading imperial army. Kora sets out with a local farmer named Gunnar (Michiel Huisman), and they return with four heroes who will help defend the village.
After Kora and Gunnar gather the heroes, they return to the village with the good news that they’ve defeated the invading forces, led by the dastardly Admiral Noble (played by Ed Skrein). However, the villagers inform them that this is not the case—the bad guys will actually be arriving in just five days. It seems Admiral Noble must have been only mostly defeated.
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The villagers repeatedly offer the heroes food, but they never actually eat any of it. Now, the group must prepare to defend the village against the impending imperial attack despite thinking they have already won.
With only five days until the imperial forces arrive, the hero Titus (played by Djimon Hounsou) takes charge and rallies the villagers. The group of heroes then helps the villagers gather up all of their grain.
After that, the heroes spend the next 3 days training the villagers to become a skilled special ops force, teaching them tactics and combat techniques. They only have two days left before the attack, so they must work quickly to get the villagers battle-ready.
The heroes put a lot of effort into preparing the village and its residents for the impending showdown with the imperial army. It will be a real race against the clock to prepare everything in time.
Still, the bad guys have a Dreadnought spaceship capable of leveling entire cities, plus dozens of other smaller spacecraft and hundreds, if not thousands, of Stormtroopers. That will be hard for five trained warriors and a group of villagers who have never fought in a battle before to defeat!
The villagers’ training turns out to be quite straightforward. Thanks to Titus’s brilliant leadership, these hardworking folks quickly pick up combat skills. In just two short days, the villagers become expert marksmen, surpassing the capabilities of the imperial troops.
And the good guys are poised for victory with a skilled fighter like Tarak (played by Staz Nair) on their side, wielding a pair of hatchets and sporting an impressive physique. This clash between the scrappy village defenders and the imposing imperial force is shaping to be a cakewalk – hardly a challenge.
In record time, the heroes have worked wonders in whipping the locals into an elite fighting force. With their superior firepower and battle-ready physiques, the villagers are set to defeat the imperial invaders soundly. This is going to be easier than expected for our protagonists.
The fighting and slow-motion sequences do drag on a bit. There’s an excess of tedious action that almost becomes comical. Amidst all the spectacle, there are only brief moments of anything original.
Fortunately, the good guys overcame the imperial forces with relatively few losses, largely thanks to the skilled fighters. Sadly, the character of Nemesis (played by Bae Doona) does not make it, and the lovable Gunnar also meets an untimely end.
The film is also bogged down by lengthy exposition dumps and flashbacks that provide backstories for most of the principal characters. We learn about Kora’s past involvement in assassinating a princess, Regent Balisarius’ (Fra Fee) coup, and the various tragic histories of the heroes. However, these characters have little actual interaction beyond the obligatory exposition.
While the actors do their best to breathe life into the material, the dialogue often feels wooden and unnatural. Skrein does manage to have some fun chewing the scenery as the over-the-top villain. And the brief Princess Peach cameo provides a welcome moment of fun.
Rebel Moon Part 2 is a dull, derivative slog that fails to live up to the first film’s promise. Zack Snyder’s continued efforts in this space opera franchise have undermined the original’s modest merits.
The film would have been better suited as a series, allowing more time to properly develop the characters and their relationships rather than relying on Snyder’s crutch of incessant exposition. The compelling story of Kora’s past and attempts to evade her former adoptive father is far more intriguing than the tired “Seven Samurai in Space” premise.
Nemesis & Gunnar Are The Only Rebels To Die In Rebel Moon – Part Two’s Ending
In the climactic conclusion of Rebel Moon – Part Two, the film’s central conflict comes to a head as the small band of Rebel fighters face off against the overwhelming forces of the tyrannical regent. Despite the odds, the Rebels manage to mount a fierce and determined defense of their position.
During the intense battle, two of the core Rebel characters – Nemesis and Gunnar – are tragically killed. Nemesis, the seasoned and capable warrior, is struck down while leading a daring counterattack. Gunnar, the gruff but loyal ally, sacrifices himself to allow the other Rebels to escape the regent’s onslaught.
Their deaths are portrayed as poignant and impactful moments, underscoring the high stakes of the Rebels’ struggle against the oppressive regime. Amidst the chaos of the fighting, Nemesis and Gunnar are the only Rebels shown to perish in this climactic showdown.
The loss of these two crucial Rebel fighters heightens the sense of peril and the weight of their cause. It also further develops the remaining Rebels’ motivations and determination, as they are spurred on by the tragic sacrifices of their fallen comrades.
Princess Issa Is Still Alive In Rebel Moon – Part Two
In Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire, the details of Kora’s past, including what happened to Princess Issa, were kept mysterious. Issa was considered a divine being, with the power to revive the dead.
However, a tragic flashback in The Scargiver provides more clarity. It’s revealed that Regent Balisarius (Fra Fee) lured the King (Cary Elwes), the Queen (Rhian Rees), and Issa into an ambush. The King and Queen were killed in the attack. Balisarius then forced Kora to shoot Issa, as a test of her loyalty.
This shocking revelation sheds light on a pivotal moment in Kora’s history and the trauma she experienced while tasked with protecting the young princess. The scene underscores the ruthlessness of the Rebel Moon’s main antagonist, Balisarius, and the high stakes faced by the Rebel fighters.
How Kora Finally Kills Ed Skrein’s Admiral Noble
Rebel Moon – Part Two reveals that Kora’s victory over Noble in the first film was only a temporary setback. While Kora succeeded in killing the admiral, his body was recovered by the Imperium, and he was subsequently resurrected.
Noble returns to Veldt seeking vengeance and even keeps the scar Kora has inflicted on him, seemingly honoring it as a mark of his previous encounter with “The Scargiver.”
Unfortunately for Noble, he failed to learn from his previous mistakes. His arrogance and unwavering belief in the Imperium’s superiority led to the defeat of his forces and his second demise. After a brutal sword fight aboard the exploding Dreadnought, Kora could trap and behead the villain, though this was depicted off-screen to maintain the film’s PG-13 rating.
Unlike his apparent survival in the first movie, Noble’s beheading in Rebel Moon – Part Two suggests his defeat is more permanent this time.
What other challenges did Kora face in Rebel Moon – Part Two?
In Rebel Moon – Part Two, Kora faced several other significant challenges beyond confronting the resurrected Noble. She and the other Rebels had to mount a valiant defense of their hidden base against the overwhelming onslaught of the Imperium’s forces, requiring strategic planning, resourceful tactics, and immense bravery from the Rebel fighters.
As the Rebels faced increasingly daunting odds, Kora had to help keep the spirits and determination of her comrades high. This involved inspiring leadership, rallying the troops, and ensuring their collective resolve remained strong in the face of adversity. The Rebel group was not without its own tensions and divisions. Kora had to deftly manage these interpersonal dynamics, reconciling differences and ensuring the Rebels remained united in their cause.
Additionally, Kora’s traumatic past, including the forced killing of Princess Issa, continued to haunt her. She had to grapple with these lingering emotional wounds even as she led the fight against the Imperium. Overcoming these multifaceted challenges was crucial to the Rebels’ ultimate chances of success against the formidable Imperium forces.
Ray Fisher’s Rebel Moon – Part Two Cameo Explained
In Rebel Moon – Part Two, fans were treated to a surprise cameo appearance by actor Ray Fisher. This addition to the film’s roster of characters was a welcomed nod to the actor’s previous collaboration with director Zack Snyder.
Fisher’s role, while brief, served further to expand the narrative world of the Rebel Moon saga. His character brought a sense of gravitas and added depth to the ongoing struggle between the Rebels and the oppressive Imperium forces.
The inclusion of Fisher’s cameo demonstrated the filmmakers’ commitment to crafting a rich, interconnected universe. It also hinted at potential future connections or crossovers that could emerge as the Rebel Moon story unfolds.
For devoted fans of Snyder’s cinematic vision, Fisher’s appearance was likely a delightful Easter egg, serving as a subtle yet meaningful link between the director’s past projects and the new Rebel Moon franchise.
The Real Meaning Of Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver’s Ending
Rebel Moon—Part Two: The Scargiver’s Ending powerfully culminates Kora’s personal journey across the first two installments of the franchise. At the heart of her arc is the process of accepting Veldt as her new home and embracing the notion of being truly loved.
Through her experiences, Kora had become hardened, her decades of unrelenting combat numbing her to the very idea of love. But by becoming an integral part of the village community and falling for Gunnar, she was able to reconnect with her own humanity once more.
Crucially, Kora also learned to forgive herself for the harrowing past choices she had made, including the forced killing of Princess Issa. This allowed her to prove that she was far more than just a merciless killing machine for the tyrannical Imperium – she was a fierce protector of her newfound home and loved ones.
This theme of redemption and the reclamation of one’s humanity extends beyond Kora’s character arc. Many of Rebel Moon—Part Two’s other heroes grapple with their own guilt and shame over past misdeeds. Yet despite facing seemingly insurmountable odds, they choose to stay and fight, driven by their belief in a just cause.
Significantly, the film’s ending does not require these characters to sacrifice themselves in order to find atonement. While some, like Gunnar and Nemesis, do meet their end, the majority of the rebels live to continue the struggle. Their faith and courage in battle are ultimately rewarded, offering a sense of hope and optimism for the future.
Through these narrative threads, Rebel Moon – Part Two delivers a poignant and thematically rich conclusion that resonates on an emotional level. It is a story about the power of community, forgiveness, and the reclamation of one’s humanity in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Verdict
Looking ahead, the reported pivot to a “find the lost princess” storyline for the rumored third installment feels like a transparent attempt to blend Star Wars and Super Mario tropes. While that could work, one can’t help but wonder if Snyder will drown it in slow-motion visual excess.
