Sofia Boutella on How Hard It Was To See REBEL MOON Getting "Demolished" By Film Critics, But Will Defend it Forever
It wasn’t easy for Rebel Moon star Sofia Boutella to see all of the negative reviews that came out for Zack Snyder’s sci-fi adventure film. This was a passion project for the director, something he’s been working on for a long time, but it didn’t quite click for a lot of people and the film currently has a 21% on Rotten Tomatoes. During a recent interview with Vulture, Boutella talked about how she was feeling when the bad reviews started to roll in, saying:
“I always thought that I was fully armed to take on those punches, and then I read the critics that came down on ‘Rebel Moon’ and it really affected me. I’m just gonna be honest about it. I feel like I’m carrying it for everybody that cared so much about this project, and that’s what affected me. Not the way I look. If anything, I’ve been pretty lucky and people like my work in it, but the movie was criticized.
“It really affected me for all of those who put so much heart, tears, and sweat in this project. It’s hard to see something being demolished to that extent. I’m proud to have been part of it, and if there is no more ‘Rebel Moon,’ it will be a very important part of my life that I will defend forever.”
Yeah, a lot of work, time, effort, and money goes into developing huge epic movies like this! It’s not easy! So, I still can’t understand why these kinds of projects move forward into production when they clearly aren’t ready. While the acting is fine, and it’s beautifully shot, the script and story clearly needed more work. Rebel Moon seriously could’ve been a great freakin’ film! But it was basically a poorly-written sci-fi remake of Seven Samurai. I have yet to talk to anyone that has actually liked the movie.
We’ve still got the sequel coming out next month, and then we are going to get two three-hour extended cuts of those films after that. I do hope the sequel is better, but it’ll probably be more of the same.
In the story, a group of ragtag rebels rise up to fight against a giant, evil Empire. It’s set in a “peaceful colony on the edge of the galaxy that finds itself threatened by the armies of the tyrannical Regent Balisarius. They dispatch a young woman with a mysterious past to seek out warriors from neighboring planets to help them take a stand against the Tyrant.”
The Scargiver “continues the epic saga of Kora (Sofia Boutella) and the surviving warriors as they prepare to sacrifice everything, fighting with the brave people of Veldt, to defend a once peaceful village, a homeland for those who have lost their own in the fight against the Motherworld. On the eve of their battle the warriors must face the truths of their own pasts, each revealing why they fight. As the full force of the Realm bears down on the burgeoning rebellion, unbreakable bonds are forged, great heroes emerge, and legends are made…”
Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver is scheduled for release on April 19. What did you all think of the first Rebel Moon movie? If you liked it, I’d be curious to know what aspects of the film you enjoyed.