Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon Bags Much-Needed Recognition From Oscars Amid Awful Criticism
Zack Snyder is a renowned filmmaker who has made some incredible movies for the DC Universe. His most recent release for Netflix is Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire which hit the streaming platform on December 15, 2023. It stars Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Ed Skrein and Michiel Huisman in primary roles. The movie is a visually striking piece with all quintessential Zack Snyder moments packed in. However, a few reviews from critics have landed the movie in a bad light.
Rebel Moon Reviews: Eye-Candy Visual Effects With No Story
The latest Zack Snyder flick has garnered a few average and harsh reviews that say the movie is packed with striking visual effects but no plot that can tie it all together. The New York Times review says that calling the movie “a “Star Wars” pastiche — with a dash of “Dune,” a lick of “Lord of the Rings” and a whole heap of “Seven Samurai”— is both glaringly accurate and somewhat redundant.”
Snyder has crafted a mythical and fantastical flick that blends aspects from various popular fantasy universes. The cliche arcs are present, but somehow Snyder’s magical touch makes the movie somewhat different from the rest. If the movie had a better storyline, it would have been a smashing hit no doubt. On the other hand, the visual effects are so good that the movie has made it to the Oscar shortlist for the coveted award.
Oscars shortlist for Best Visual Effects:
• The Creator⁰• Godzilla Minus One⁰• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3⁰• Dial of Destiny⁰• Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning⁰• Napoleon⁰• Poor Things⁰• Rebel Moon Part 1⁰• Society of the Snow⁰• Across the Spider-Verse pic.twitter.com/OyQRIrBeBZ
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) December 21, 2023
Visual effects seem to be the saving grace of the movie with cool modern effects and striking scenes that will take your breath away. Snyder left no stone unturned while trying to lure people with the so-called eye-candy mechanism even when there is no story to keep the viewer interested. At the same time, making it to the Oscar shortlist for Best Visual Effects is a great achievement in itself. It gives the movie a much-needed boost amidst the reviews and critiques it has received.
Zack Snyder’s Other Works
Among other Snyder movies, Justice League seems to be the top choice among many fans. In an Avenger-esque way, Snyder united various DC superheroes in one movie and showcased some of the best action scenes to create a massive showdown of powers. The four-hour saga delights every fan with striking imagery and a vivid storyline that holds significance for every individual hero too.
He has also made 300, a war epic set in Spartan times. His flair for action and violence is incredibly apparent in the same. Army of the Dead and Army of Thieves are other movies he made for Netflix. These are set in a connected universe where people do anything and everything to survive. His work exudes human’s core instinct to protect and forge ahead.
While Rebel Moon seems like a melting pot of stories and themes from various other universes, we like to think that this first part is just the beginning. Snyder always makes sure to go beyond the surface and offer something unseen in every project.
