The first part of director Zack Snyder’s sci-fi epic “Rebel Moon” premiered on Netflix last December, and the second one this past April. Both received scathing reviews from audiences and critics (Armond White being an exception).
There’s a director’s cut coming, for both films, with Snyder warning us to expect a 6-hour version of ‘Rebel Moon’ … They’re each about an hour longer than the originals. Snyder has described them as “very adult” and “very R-rated.”
Today it was announced that Snyder’s ‘Rebel Moon’ director’s cuts will hit Netflix on August 2. The films also have new titles — “Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire” is now “Rebel Moon – Chapter One: Chalice of Blood” and the director’s cut of “Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver” is called “Rebel Moon – Chapter Two: Curse of Forgiveness.”
There is, according to Snyder, a lot of sex and violence in these R-rated versions and this all stems from his deal with Netflix that he can have a director’s cut released, at his own choosing, a few months after the PG-13 cuts were revealed.
Much like many of his films, Snyder’s “Rebel Moon - Part 1: A Child of Fire” bombed hard with critics — the most recent tally has it at 21% on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviews for the second chapter, “Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver,” were even worse (15% on Rotten Tomatoes).
If that’s not enough, Snyder recently told the RadioTimes that, despite lukewarm audience reception, his wish is to make as many as six ‘Rebel Moon’ movies.
There are plenty of Zack Snyder fans out there — they are loud and vocal about their admiration for the “Justice League” filmmaker. “Rebel Moon” was made for them. Sadly, I’m not one of his admirers. I found things to like about “Watchmen” and his “Dawn of the Dead” remake, but not enough to convert me to his church of moviegoing.