Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon Director’s Cut: More Violence but Not Much Change

Zack Snyder has now released his much-anticipated director’s cut of Rebel Moon, but after watching the nearly 3.5-hour first part, it’s hard to say this version is radically different from the PG-13 original.

While Snyder hinted that this cut would explore ‘two entirely different timelines,’ viewers are left feeling it’s mostly the same film, just longer and filled with more blood and gore.

The extended version adds a 25-minute opening sequence, reminiscent of a chilling scene from The Walking Dead, but this moment serves as backstory for a character that isn’t even that crucial to the plot.

There are slight expansions on characters like Kora, and the film includes some additional lore at the end. But despite having over an hour of extra content, the overall story doesn’t feel substantially different, which makes the runtime feel a bit bloated.

The movie’s R-rating does bring added layers to the action, with more explicit violence and some uncomfortable scenes, which Snyder admits help clarify character motivations.

It’s clear that Snyder has a detailed vision for this universe with a mix of sci-fi and fantasy, incorporating concepts such as alien priests and other cosmic oddities. However, the script reportedly lacks depth, leading to weaker performances from even otherwise talented actors.

This director’s cut seems primarily aimed at fans who enjoyed the original Rebel Moon. Any hopes that this new version would significantly improve the story may be dashed. Fans may want to proceed with caution if they’re considering diving into Part 2.

In previous interviews, Snyder discussed the difficulties of creating both PG-13 and R-rated versions of the film simultaneously, acknowledging that various scenes had to be altered or cut altogether to fit the desired ratings.

The new version of Rebel Moon, both parts now streaming on Netflix, was intended to be an epic journey, but viewers will have to decide if it’s worth their time in this alternative cut.