Zack Snyder and Christopher Nolan forged a strong friendship when Snyder was chosen to direct Nolan's story for Man of Steel back in 2010. Despite the controversial reception of Snyder's film Watchmen, Nolan praised it as a superhero team-up movie ahead of its time. Recently, amid the release of Snyder's Rebel Moon, which received critical backlash, Nolan went on record stating that Snyder has greatly influenced modern superhero and sci-fi films.
Snyder's most recent film, Rebel Moon: Part One: A Child of Fire, has sparked discussions among film enthusiasts. While critics have largely given negative reviews, the movie has risen to the top of the charts on Netflix.
In a profile dedicated to Zack Snyder in The Atlantic, Christopher Nolan emphasized that Snyder's storytelling has had a profound impact on numerous contemporary comic-book and science-fiction movies. Nolan noted that Snyder's films exhibit his love for the immense possibilities that cinema offers. According to Nolan, Snyder's goal is not only to create a fantastical and heightened reality on screen but also to stir and enthrall audiences. Nolan explained to The Atlantic, "There's no superhero science-fiction film coming out these days where I don't see some influence of Zack. When you watch a Zack Snyder film, you see and feel his love for the potential of cinema.
Fans of Snyder were thrilled to see such high praise from one of the industry's greatest filmmakers. One fan even compared Nolan's acclaim to that of one King acknowledging another King, suggesting that only someone of Nolan's caliber truly understands Snyder's superhero blueprint. However, some critics speculated that Nolan's support might stem from his desire to back his friend amidst the negative reviews for Rebel Moon.
While opinions are divided regarding the first Rebel Moon film, Netflix has announced the upcoming release of an R-rated director's cut, which will feature one hour of additional content, as confirmed by Snyder himself.
Rebel Moon: Part One - A Child of Fire received a low rating of 24% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 137 reviews, making it one of Snyder's lowest-rated films on the platform. The audience score, currently at 64%, is heavily skewed due to biased reviews from both Snyder's fans and detractors.
Critics agreed on Rotten Tomatoes that Snyder's distinct visual style remained present throughout Rebel Moon but criticized the storytelling, citing an over-reliance on various sci-fi and fantasy tropes. Owen Gleiberman of Variety described the film as a Star Wars knockoff, while David Fear of Rolling Stone noted that the storytelling became muddled amidst the excessive world-building.
Despite the negative reception, Rebel Moon: Part One - A Child of Fire attracted 23.9 million viewers in its opening three days on Netflix. The sequel, Rebel Moon: Part Two - The Scargiver, is scheduled for release on April 19, 2024.
