Quick, what does Superman and a griffin-like beast known as a “bennu” have in common? If you answered “Nothing at all,” you’d be right … and also wrong.
In a scene that will likely inspire comparisons to James Cameron’s “Avatar,” Tarak confidently approaches the bennu that’s struggling against its captors’ chains. The two quickly bond over their shared enslavement and desire for freedom, though in a nearly wordless way that suggests Tarak has some implicit ability to tame animals. In any case, his calmness settles the creature down and allows him the chance to hop on its back and take to the skies. And with one magnificent flourish, Junkie XL’s percussive score kicks in and everything from the framing to the celebratory tone to the awe-inspiring visuals ties together with Superman’s noticeably similar moment in the spotlight when he learns to fly in “Man of Steel.”
In both movies, these respective sequences mark a rare moment where the rapid-fire pacing finally slows down and allows viewers to soak in the spectacle. Although Tarak doesn’t really get much more time to shine in the rest of the story, unlike Henry Cavill’s Kal-El appearing in practically every scene in “Man of Steel,” this extended flight at least gives audiences something to hold onto for next time. Even apart from their eerily similar-looking locations, both sequences showcase character through action and introduce an entirely new visual language to the film. And most importantly of all, the two depict heroes actually enjoying themselves as they perform impossible feats.
“Rebel Moon” and “Man of Steel” both have their unique strengths and weaknesses, but no two sequences in Snyder’s career better show us his purest, most unadulterated, and almost childlike sensibilities in action.
“Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire” is currently streaming on Netflix.