Zack Snyder’s Netflix original action blockbuster, “REBEL MOON – Part 1: The Child of Fire,” first overwhelms viewers with its sheer scale. The grandeur of the story, the diverse cast of characters, and the visual splendor exemplified by its VFX make it a true “epic” worthy of the name.

As the first part of a two-part series, this film depicts a space opera set in the vastness of the universe. On a scale that encompasses the entire galaxy, numerous planets, massive nations, alliances, and diverse alien races are visible. There are also droid-like characters, which evoke memories of “Star Wars.” While classic space operas include “Star Wars” and “Dune,” this film shares a worldview closer to “Star Wars.” While “Dune” focuses on a protagonist whose fate is bound to a specific planet, “Rebel Moon” feels more akin to the adventurous spirit of “Star Wars,” as the protagonist gathers allies and takes action of their own volition.

The story centers on the protagonist, who lives in a peaceful village, gathering allies to confront the approaching empire. This setting powerfully evokes Akira Kurosawa’s timeless masterpiece Seven Samurai. The characterization of the protagonists also strongly resembles the samurai in Seven Samurai. Each of them is an “outlaw” who has stepped outside the bounds of society, either being pursued for some reason or living in despair. However, they come together for the common goal of saving the village and choose to fight once again. This atmosphere also resonates with the Western masterpiece “The Magnificent Seven,” which pays homage to the Japanese classic “Seven Samurai.”

Seven Samurai (Amazon Prime Video)

One of the most thrilling movie epics of all time, Seven Samurai (Shichinin no samurai) tells the story of a sixteenth-century village whose desperate inhabitants hire the eponymous warriors to protect them from invading bandits.

In particular, the similarities with Seven Samurai are as follows.

• Kora and Kanbei Shimada (Seven Samurai): In Seven Samurai, Kanbei Shimada, who leads the samurai as an experienced and calm leader, is very similar to Kora. Kora also has a military background and takes on the role of gathering allies and leading them to protect the village. His past and his quiet yet resolute determination mirror Kanbei’s resolve to lead others.
• The diversity of the companions and their respective roles: In “Seven Samurai,” samurai with different sword skills and personalities come together to form a unique team. For example, the free-spirited Kikuchiyo, the loyal Kurozō, and the earnest Katsushiro each interact with the villagers in their respective roles and work together to fight. In “REBEL MOON,” the allies gathered by Kora include a former general, a bounty hunter, a rebel warrior, and an alien, among others, with diverse backgrounds and skills. The structure where they collaborate and leverage their respective strengths to confront the imperial army mirrors many aspects of the role division among the diverse samurai in “Seven Samurai.”

Furthermore, in terms of being a grand space opera set in outer space, I felt a strong influence from Star Wars. In particular, the atmosphere of the original Star Wars trilogy’s Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope is reminiscent of the protagonist’s adventures across various planets and the gathering of allies.

In summary, this work is a distillation of the best elements from “Seven Samurai“, “Star Wars“, and other futuristic science fiction works. As a result, there are indeed many familiar elements. On the downside, it may feel like a patchwork, and some may find it lacking in originality.

And this grand scale and visual beauty truly shine on the big screen. It’s a shame that, as a Netflix original, it wasn’t released in theaters. It’s a film I would have loved to experience in IMAX.

A new story born from Star Wars, conceived over 20 years

REBEL MOON is based on a proposal that director Zack Snyder made to Lucasfilm more than 20 years ago as a spin-off of the famous Star Wars series. Although it was not accepted at the time, the director continued to nurture the idea for many years, and with the robust backing of Netflix, he has now released it as a completely new original work.

As reported by TIME magazine, “Snyder had considered reimagining this project as part of the ‘Star Wars’ series. However, following Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012, Snyder ultimately decided to develop the story within an original universe.”

What to Know About Zack Snyder’s Action-Packed Space Epic Rebel Moon

The Netflix sci-fi film follows a band of rebels who join forces to rise up against the brutal and tyrannical Motherworld empire.

Given this production background, it was no surprise that viewers felt a sense of déjà vu, as if they had seen something similar to Star Wars before. However, this film is not a mere imitation, but rather a work that embodies the “what if Zack Snyder directed Star Wars?” scenario. In contrast to George Lucas’s adventure-filled tales aimed at young audiences, ‘REBEL MOON’ is dark, weighty, and filled with a serious, adult-oriented atmosphere. This style is an extension of the worldview Snyder has consistently depicted, filled with the struggles and conflicts of gods and heroes. It reminded me of Zack Snyder’s “Justice League: Zack Snyder Cut.”

The concept art also has a dark atmosphere.

Rebel Moon Concept Art, Pace Wilder

Back in 2021 I had the incredible opportunity to work with Zack Snyder on a few keyframe concept artworks for his films Rebel Moon – Part 1 and 2. The movies ended up looking awesome, huge thanks to Jojo Aguilar for the opportunity. I’m not sure who originally designed the ship in these images, if anyone knows please let me know so I can credit them! Also shoutout to Jared Purrington, who I believe designed some of the earliest concepts for the films.

Daggus – Rebel Moon, Pat Presley

Daggus – For Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon Part 1, I was tasked with the concept for the mining planet where our heroes went searching for the mysterious sword-master. This was the first concept art that helped establish the oppressive industrial gothic look of the city. I had a blast working on this planet with PD Stephen Swain. Cheers!

Grand cosmic stage design and VFX

The VFX quality in this film is exceptionally high, with realistic and dynamic depictions of spaceship battle scenes, characters’ special abilities, and the movements of aliens. Zack Snyder’s signature slow-motion action scenes remain intact, adding a sense of weight and beauty to even the slightest movements, thereby amplifying the intensity of the battles.

Additionally, the film maintains a consistent dark and heavy tone throughout. It aligns with Snyder’s previous work, “Justice League: Zack Snyder Cut,” visually expressing a more serious and profound worldview rather than a mere bright adventure tale.

One of the most striking aspects of the art design is the original enemy, particularly the “Spider” design. The fusion of its biological eeriness and metallic structure creates a sci-fi aesthetic that evokes a sense of otherworldly horror while also imparting a certain beauty.

The protagonist Kora’s inner conflict and the road to recovery

REBEL MOON is a flashy sci-fi action film that also depicts a profound human drama centered on the protagonist Kora’s “atonement.” She is not simply a hero of justice. She carries the indelible burden of her past as a soldier of the invading empire “Motherworld,” having taken many lives with her own hands and driven the princess, who is key to the story, to her death.

Her peaceful life in a remote village is merely a temporary respite from that past. Her willingness to risk her life to protect the town stems not from mere goodwill, but from a painful desire to atone for her sins and do something right with her tainted hands.

This story gains even more depth as Kora gathers companions and encounters others who, like her, carry wounds from their past. A former general who drowns himself in alcohol, a swordsman who wields his blade driven solely by vengeance, a roughneck who has lost his purpose. Among these outcasts, each bearing irreparable wounds, Kora finds the same “weakness” and “pain” she carries within herself.

And they, in turn, empathize with Kora’s struggles, bonding over their shared wounds to form a “surrogate family.” This journey to gather companions is also a story of “rebirth,” as Kora confronts his past and rediscovers the meaning of life through his connections with others.

In Part 1, only a glimpse of this journey is depicted. However, the themes of “redemption” and “rebirth” are at the heart of the grand narrative of ‘REBEL MOON’ and will undoubtedly be the highlight of future developments.

Part 2 isn’t the end: laying the groundwork for the universe

This film, “REBEL MOON – Part 1: The Child of Fire,” is not merely the first part of a two-part series. It serves as an essential foundation, heralding the beginning of a grand “universe.”

The most direct connection is to the sequel, “Part 2: The Scarred One.” The story of Part 1 concludes with the protagonist gathering allies and concluding the first battle. Many mysteries and character backstories remain unresolved, and the full-scale war with the empire is hinted at as the focus of Part 2. It is a straightforward relationship where the continuation of the story is assured.

However, the true appeal of this series lies beyond that. Director Zack Snyder has publicly stated the existence of an R-rated “Director’s Cut Version” (a version re-edited to reflect the director’s original intent), separate from the main film available on Netflix, which includes more intense violence and deeper character development. It is a unique endeavor by the director, responding to fans who once longed for a Director’s Cut version of “Justice League.” Comparing the main film with the “complete version” may lead to a completely different level of understanding of the story and characters.

『REBEL MOON — ディレクターズカット』R指定予告編 – Netflix

Furthermore, the story of this world does not end with the film. A grand plan has been announced to expand the world through various media, including comics that depict the backstories of each character, animated works that explain the world’s background, and even cooperative video games. For example, the past of the dual-wielding swordsman Nemesis is depicted in the comics, and so on, with each medium organically interconnected.

Pre-Order Rebel Moon: Nemesis

Based on Zack Snyder’s Netflix movies! Written by award-winning comic creator Gail Simone with art by Federico Bertoni.
REBEL MOON: NEMESIS will delve into the story of the Netflix films’ cyborg sword master Nemesis, played on-screen by Doona Bae.

These elements demonstrate that REBEL MOON is not a standalone film, but rather the first step in a massive franchise, similar to Marvel’s MCU, where various stories coexist. After enjoying the movie, you can explore the characters’ pasts further through other media. It is this deep world-building that is the most significant appeal of this film, which has been crafted with the future in mind.

Summary: Prologue heralding the beginning of a magnificent universe

The film “REBEL MOON Part 1” was not intended to conclude a single story but rather to serve as a prologue, focusing on presenting the vast worldview that is about to unfold and the anticipation for future developments.

Zack Snyder’s unique visual style is breathtaking, but the story’s structure feels familiar in many ways, leading to divided opinions. As a result, evaluating the film independently is challenging. It serves more as an invitation to a larger project, with its actual value only becoming clear when considering future developments such as sequels, director’s cuts, and comics.