Rebel Moon Part 2 Review: Snyder’s Galactic Odyssey

The idea of a Galactic Empire isn’t new to us; it’s been a recurring theme through various projects over time. The epitome of this concept was first seen in Star Wars nearly 50 years ago. However, in 2023, Zack Snyder presented his take on a tyrannical galactic empire with Rebel Moon: A Child of Fire. While his vision was commendable, the execution fell short. Now, in 2024, Snyder aims to redeem himself with the sequel, Rebel Moon: The Scargiver. Has he succeeded in restoring Zack Snyder’s legacy? Let’s discover in this review of Rebel Moon Part 2.

In Rebel Moon Part One, we meet Kora, a fugitive from the Empire seeking refuge on the farming planet of Veldt. When the planet’s safety is jeopardized by a fleet led by Admiral Atticus Noble, Kora embarks on a quest to recruit warriors with a vendetta against the empire. She succeeds in killing Noble before he reaches Veldt, but by the film’s end, we learn that Noble is, in fact, still alive.

The Good

Rebel Moon Part 2 opens with the revival of Admiral Noble by The King’s Gaze medical team. His first words upon awakening are, “Set course for Veldt. The Scargiver is on Veldt.” Throughout the two-hour film, the standout performance comes from Ed Skrein as Admiral Noble. His presence, villainous mannerisms, the toxic, manipulative aura in his eyes, and delivery of dialogue outshine all others in the movie.

Another character who could have been a delight was Anthony Hopkins as Jimmy, the sentient robot. During his brief appearance in the movie, he leaves an impact. One can only imagine the epic experience with more screen time for him, but for some reason, Snyder chose to limit him to less than 10 minutes.

As news of the impending invasion reaches Veldt, the farmers decide to use their crops as a shield, knowing Admiral Noble’s goal is to take their harvest. This strategic move gives Kora, her warriors, and the farmers an advantage.

In the harvesting scene, the cinematography is stunning, complemented by a well-placed musical score. While the excessive use of slow-motion scenes during the harvest may muddle the experience a bit, it remains beautiful. It seems Snyder took into account past feedback and improved the visual and musical appeal. However, the story seems neglected, much like in the first part.

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The Bad

As the war begins, what was meant to be the movie’s highlight turns out to be mediocre. While I understand heroes facing overwhelming odds, killing Nemesis, the katana-wielding badass, in the first 10 minutes of the war feels comical. She was introduced as the fiercest swordswoman in the galaxy, yet three soldiers overpowering her seems implausible. Additionally, the developing chemistry between her and the young child is left unresolved. If Snyder intended to kill her off so swiftly, why build hope for her redemption? It doesn’t make sense at all.

Not just that, General Titus, a decorated and experienced soldier, is portrayed as literally turning his back to enemy fire and miraculously remains unharmed. It’s as if Stormtroopers have found some competition. The battle sequences are quite predictable, but what disappointed me the most was how predictable Admiral Noble’s death was.

As Noble was strangling Kora with that lightsaber-doppelganger sword in the background, I had a feeling Gunnar would grab it and stab Noble in the back, and that’s exactly what happened in Rebel Moon Part Two. Moreover, the movie fails to justify its title, “The Scargiver” Why Kora is called The Scargiver remains a mystery Zack Snyder left for us to solve.

If you think the chaos of Rebel Moon Part 2 ends here, you’re as mistaken as Snyder was about The Scargiver’s reception. We now know Atticus Noble wasn’t the primary antagonist but merely a pawn of a mastermind named General Balisarious. Surprisingly, after a cameo lasting less than two minutes in the first film, he’s entirely absent in this sequel. Well, almost. He does make a fleeting appearance in a flashback.

Why they made this decision baffles me. I mean, if we know who the main villain is, why keep him hidden? Picture watching Star Wars without Darth Vader—it just wouldn’t be the same, right?

And The Ugly

Now, let’s discuss the main problem I have with Rebel Moon Part 2, Princess Issa. Alright, everything we’ve witnessed so far revolves entirely around the demise of the King, Queen, and most crucially, the princess gifted with healing. The entire story of Kora, the overarching theme of “The Slain King,” everything hinges on the death of this princess.

Guess what General Titus says by the end of Rebel Moon 2? “The Princess is still alive.” I mean, seriously? So what was all this for? Why did that poor farmer have to take a shot in the head if the darn princess was still alive? This just makes the story so irrelevant because Kora’s driving motive, revenge, is completely nullified. Moreover, as viewers, we all went in expecting answers to the mysteries from Part One, but no, most of them remain unanswered. Zack Snyder claimed that the director’s cut releasing in August will answer all our questions; hopefully, I guess.

Now, onto the final aspect of Rebel Moon Part Two, the characters. Kora is essentially what Luke Skywalker would be if you took away his emotions and presence, and gave him a permanently frowned face. Kora’s character remains as lifeless as it was in the first movie. The only time she shows a shift in expressions is when Gunnar dies, but other than that, her expressions remain fixated on just frowning.

General Titus, on the other hand, was portrayed in a much better light and depth, so kudos for that. However, when it comes to Nemesis, a character who singlehandedly stood her ground against a giant spider monster, was nerfed completely in Rebel Moon 2. Zack Snyder was like, “Can she kill a monster ten times her size? Yes. Can she fend for herself against three soldiers? Nah.”

So, Mr. Snyder, I’m reclaiming my cookie point. The same goes for Jimmy; with more depth and screen time, his character could become a draw for viewers in this movie and its planned six sequels. However, it seems Zack Snyder isn’t fond of dollar bills.

On a final note, did Rebel Moon Part 2 address what was wrong with Part 1? Yes, it did, but not what really needed fixing. Part 1’s main issue was a disjointed story. While VFX and other aspects needed attention, we might have overlooked them if the story had connected with us, offering something fresh.

Rebel Moon: The Scargiver has the trademarks of a Zack Snyder film—cinematography, score, and slow-motion effects—but it lacks the most vital element: a soul that resonates with audiences, immersing them in the movie. Therefore, in my view, The Scargiver is indeed a blemish on Zack Snyder’s legacy.