I can see why this one is split in parts as it's clear to me that Mr Snyder is after a franchise. The difficulty with this one is the making of it, because as always making something great requires a lot of work. And this saga has an epic scope. The closest match in the recent offerings I have is the Hunger Games, because similarly to it, Znyder's universe is tied to an almost mystical MotherWorld and their rulers. Ones that are not so benevolent to their subjects.
The narrator gave a reason that the MotherWorld used all its resources to expand, and then its people had no choice but to become conquers or become another lost civilization. Luckily, they were smart enough to invent wormhole technology. Stuff that I'd like to screenshot, but cannot because Netflix has done something to block the shots.
Well, the thing is major is that it's like SW or ST. The MotherWorld became the ruler of galaxy, and they refer to it as a galactic power, but unlike the other ones, this one is a Monarchy. And it has a king. The main character claims that she was a bodyguard to a princess, who wielded a power of resurrection. And that it ran in their bloodline.
Then the evil struck and for some reason the King and his whole family were slain. Assassinated by unknown party, although I have my suspicion on the General Balisarius. One that raised Arthelais from an orphan to be a unique war hero that the General refers as "the one of the most decorated war heroes in the galaxy." The twist is that Balisarius slain her family, and then brought her up as his own.
Personally, to me, that reference points to Marvel's big purple guy, Thanos. But even though he has 'powers,' they are based on technology and not in some random mutation or the Ascension methods. The large audience just doesn't have the knowledge at this point. However, as the story begins, we learn that the King has sent a dreadnought to hunt down rebels. Ones that are claimed to be the ones that murdered behind the assassination plot. And as it happens to be, the ship is running out of food supplies.
So, they stop on a moon. A living one that has its own fauna and flora. They bring down the ship to low orbit and dip it in the atmosphere, before they decent in the village, and ask the farmers for supplies. "10 000 bushels," the general demands, and the audience learns that they can only produce 12k. Therefore, the order is a death order for the village. One that they cannot comply, and yet, it is what they have to do after the general slays the village elder.
To make sure that the villagers just doesn't flee, he leaves behind a small band of soldiers. One's that act like savages. The oppression is their business. You might even think that the village is never going to produce the goods, as the guys are complete pigs. Whole situation culminates when one night they grab a local girl and go down nasty business. It's just they don't know that the MC is lurking in the village and she cannot take it no more. So she marches in their house and puts down the whole band all on her own.
It is the first proper fight sequence, and it shows the MC being a master of gun-fu. After it, she tells the villagers that they are doomed and because of it, the villagers send her and the village boy to recruit a war band. One that can put up a fight, and to lead them they need a "legendary" General Titus, that Baltasarius refers as, "battlefield genius."
So in a way it is lending aspects from countless stories that go all the way back to Greek mythology. Except their band cannot be recruited from the Moon. So the MC and BoyWonder or rather ManWonder travels to a local space-port, where MC enters in the local watering hole. She goes and asks around for Gen Titus location, and in the process the ManWonder gains the attention of a bar thug. Thug grabs ManWonder by the balls and asks, "How much?" and then he goes to tell that "everything is on sale."
There just isn't rules or authorities to keep the law in the rebel moon. Only good will of their people. The MC cannot take it, so she threatens the thug and throws him out. A few moments later the thug return and the audience is given on the best bar fights in the filmed history. It is short and brutal and full of gun-fu. But it doesn't end in MC's victory, as the thug is put down by a thief with a ship.
He offers the pair a way to get to Titus, but his first stop is on another backwater planet to get a barbarian. One that is for some reason honourable as he's paying 300k debt to a rancher. It's just the beast the rancher is farming is the best representation of griffon that I've ever seen. The MC of course doesn't have the coin, but she's willing to bet on the barbarian taming the beast.
It is the taming part that is the best, because it shows that character being truly fearless. Almost like Conan. It's just I cannot get refer it in any other way, especially as the 'barbarian' doesn't ever put on armour. Maybe space barbarians only need a cloak, the loincloth and some boots. The biggest disappointment in him is that he doesn't drag the beast in the cargo hold.
Next one is legendary swords woman, who also makes a show fight by taking down a humongous arachnid drow. I'm referring to the dark elf, because it is the only reference to their half elf, half spider species. Almost as if they are centaurs, but darker, much darker.
With three people and ManWonder in the team, they go to find General Titus in his lowest point outside the gladiatorial arena. You'd think seeing him laying in the gutter, covered in God knows what, that it's a mistake. However, the MC doesn't give, because she has seen him lead. Yet, the General asks, why and the MC gives him a reason, revenge, because the redemption path isn't enough.
Man, people in the Znyder's galaxy hates rulers, and the MotherWorld. So in a way it's the Imperium of Man behaving badly, and in many places you get WH40k references. Yet, ZnyderVerse isn't a really, really bad place. It's not like ST Mirrorverse evil. But it's not a nice one either. You can see it in the latter part of the film, where the last team member gets recruited just before the betrayal.
The betrayal leads to another before the final fight happens. If I'm honest, the bar fight and the taming of Griffon are much better than the final fight, which leaves a lot of open for Mr Znyder to take further. Looking at it overall, it's not a bad film. It's an opening for a saga and maybe to a franchise. Most certainly, it's not a one-star movie. Just roll a fat one, shut your brain off and allow it to take you away for two hours and change.
arstechnica.com
