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Netflix subscribers have similar complaints about the new film Rebel Moon, which is currently the streaming service's most-watched title.
The new fantasy film is the latest release from writer-director Zack Snyder (300, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) and has edged out Aardman's sequel Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget and thriller Leave the World Behind in the charts . Snyder's epic is the first chapter of a two-part franchise that will end in 2024.
Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire was added to Netflix on Thursday (December 21) and received a barrage of negative reviews from critics, including The Independent, who called it “a borderline incoherent shambles” in a one-star format designated review.
While other critics seemed to agree with this verdict, giving the film a paltry 23 percent rating on review site Rotten Tomatoes, subscribers who have seen the film seem to disagree. At the time of writing, Rebel Moon has an audience rating of 69 percent.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the film is doing better with audiences than critics – Snyder is a director with a solid fanbase, and that fanbase has been outspoken in their support of his new film on social media.
But even the most ardent Snyder fan seems to think there's a problem with the film – that it needs to be longer. Social media is abuzz with reports claiming that “Rebel Moon” has pacing issues and that Netflix should have released the director's cut, which was held back in favor of a big reveal in early 2024.
“I think Netflix holding back a longer – and from what I’ve heard, better – edit has really backfired,” one viewer wrote, while another added: “There were a few slight pacing issues for me, but I can imagine that these will be more or less remedied by the longer cut.”
Other subscribers agreed, with one commenting on X/Twitter: “So when is the extended version of Rebel Moon coming out? I still have 30 minutes left, but I want a longer version.” Elsewhere, another chimed in: “It's just disgusting and greedy not to release the entire Director's Cut on Netflix straight away.”
See more reactions below.
Meanwhile, Forbes wrote how Rebel Moon will “suffer” from Netflix's decision to hold back the director's cut to keep Snyder's fan base interesting.
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Snyder has been vocal about the fact that there is an extended cut of the film that is not suitable for younger viewers. He revealed that Netflix asked him to make a longer version of the film and he said the result was “almost like a different film.”
He told AP: “It's not an 'extended cut' of this film – it's almost a different universe.” [the new cut] lives on than this film.”
Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire, which Snyder co-wrote with Kurt Johnstad and Shay Hatten, is about an army of warriors taking on the Empire, a military that rules a fictional galaxy and a farming colony on the Moon threatened. The film stars Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Ed Skrein, Michiel Huisman, Doona Bae, Ray Fisher, Charlie Hunnam and Anthony Hopkins.
Doona Bae in “Rebel Moon” on Netflix
(Netflix)
The film can now be streamed on Netflix, part two will be released on April 19, 2024.