Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon – Part 2: The Scarred Ones isn’t so much a sequel as it is a continuation of events that unfolded in the first film, Rebel Moon – Part 1: Children of Fire. Atticus Noble, the brutal Imperial Admiral, is active and more vengeful than ever. With blood in his eyes, he is ready to destroy everything in order to return Korra, the traitor in “Rebel Moon,” to his master, the brutal regent Barisarius, and avenge the humiliation he has suffered. Unaware of this imminent danger, the rebel fighters prepared to consider Wirth their homeland.

When they discovered that the enemy was coming in five days, they immediately decided to let the villagers, who had never set foot on a battlefield in their lives, fight against the kingdom’s highly advanced military forces in just two days. ‘ Worth training. Farm tools were turned into weapons, and there were a few detonators here and there. Most importantly, this group of paranoid people are almost confident that they can face the kingdom’s army.

Starz Nair and Djimon Hounsou in a still from “Moon Rebellion: Part 2”

Almost half of the second chapter of the Rebel Moon saga shows the villagers preparing for the big battle or giving long speeches, and the other half covers the actual battle. We also learn the tragic backstories of the rebel fighters, each of whom carries the scars of their homeworld regime. More of Korra’s secrets from her time as a soldier on her home world are revealed. Rebel Moon Part 2 ticks all the boxes for a loud sci-fi epic these days – special effects-heavy action set pieces, clunky exposition and lots of explosions. That’s pretty much what happens in Rebel Moon: Part 2: The Cutters , on an over-the-top scale. But the drama of the props belies the drama of the characters.

What inherently fails this film is its sluggishness, brevity of sincere dialogue and character depth, lack of innovation, unnecessary subplots and shoddy CGI. Had the movie been shorter and more clearly written, Moon Rebellion Part II might have had a better chance of resonating with the Star Wars fans it’s trying to appeal to. However, if you managed to survive the first installment, this sequel might be a surprising bonus. While I hesitate to call it a victory, Rebel Moon Part 2 is certainly an improvement over the oddly paced Rebel Moon Part 1. This time around, director Zack Snyder seems to be trying to avoid the first film’s mistake of packing a lot of information together without telling the story naturally. There’s also not a ton of new characters to keep up with like in the first installment.

That doesn’t mean Snyder has given up on his agonizingly long slow-motion shots, which don’t do much except extend the runtime. If anything, there are more of them now. Snyder has long relied on his iconic shots, but at some point, he had to start questioning its merits, beyond “it looks cool” reasoning.

Jimmy’s character is a silent but observant bystander

There are other welcome changes. Sofia Boutella’s Kora comes off as a real human being this time around, rather than just someone who’s perpetually irritated and creepy just because the script says so. While her performance in the first film was still one-dimensional, here we see her take on more tones. We also see her smile for the first time. However, the romance angle between her and Gunnar feels forced, and the film could have easily been done without it. While the first movie tried to establish their romantic relationship, when it actually happens here it feels like smoke and mirrors. To be honest, the romance in the first film also felt unexpected and unnatural, and it continues to do so in the sequel. It would have been nice to see Gunnar’s character grow in a more meaningful way, especially as his character seems to have acquired a fighting instinct or two and is no longer as goofy as he originally was. [Spoiler Alert] His calmness also ultimately played a big role in deciding the fate of the fight. Alas, this potential storyline was nipped in the bud.

Djimon Hounsou’s General Titus also plays a larger role here than in the first part, where he was reduced to a prop. Titus planned the entire battle, taught the rebels how to fight and defend themselves, and determined the peasants’ strategies for future battles. The guilt of the past overwhelmed him, and now he wanted to make amends. While we get a lot more of Titus this time around, not all of it is without flaws. Titus was known for his military genius, but he had few qualms about leading a group of inexperienced and untrained peasants into battle against a ruthless empire. He never stopped to check reality with his companions. The character comes across not as a controlling mastermind but as a delusional leader with something to prove.

Charlotte Magee in Rebel Moon: Part 2

Of all the characters, Jimmy, Anthony Hopkins’ sentient robot, is my favorite. He is a silent but keen observer, observing everything that goes on around him. His flower crown is now replaced by an antler crown. Although he has limited screen time and only a few lines of dialogue, his impact is powerful. Yet once his screen presence evokes hope, the next scene takes over, leaving little time for the emotion to breathe.

The script could have done more justice to his character as Ed Skrein’s Atticus Noble (indeed, the writers were very keen to keep him alive). Skrein plays the restless, impatient Atticus deftly. He convincingly conveys the burning rage of his character and how it takes over the very fiber of his being. [Spoiler Alert] Skrein is particularly good at having a heartfelt conversation with Cora and trying to convince her that this battle is not a good idea for the citizens of Wirth and that she would be better off giving up on the idea and surrendering. Unfortunately, due to the limitations of the script, we lost more opportunities to witness his talent.

“Slasher” improves on the first film in some ways, but many of the same flaws hold it back. If you haven’t seen the first part, you’re not missing out on much, you can watch Moon Rebels Part 2 on Netflix after watching a basic recap of the events of the first film. But the sequel treads the same forgettable path. The first part is basically an introductory movie, with Korra and Gunnar traveling to different planets to gather warriors who might be interested in fighting the tyrannical homeworld and saving the farming colonies on the moon of Velt. In part two, this ragtag group goes into battle as scripted. There’s a setup and a payoff, but very little in between. If you’re expecting the cinematic glory of “Star Wars,” “Seven Samurai,” or “Guardians of the Galaxy,” the films from which the “Moon Rebellion” saga is based more than just those, be prepared to be disappointed.

Rating: 2.5/5