December 2019, that was the last time we got a Star Wars movie. But Star Wars fans have been hit with a steady wave of content.
Between Visions, Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Book of Boba Fett, nobody can realistically say the fans have been starved for stories from a galaxy far, far away.
Yet, out of that entire television period, one of the best shows to come out and one of the only shows that genuinely deserved to go on the big screens was The Mandalorian. Its production value was so high that some of us, including myself, spent years wondering if we were ever going to see it on the big screens. On May 25, that dream was fulfilled.
This film serves as a direct theatrical sequel to the streaming series. When the original show debuted in 2019, it operated on a groundbreaking television budget of roughly $100 million for its first season and went on to generate billions in cultural capital, streaming subscriptions, and merchandise.
For this cinematic leap, director Jon Favreau and producers Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni were handed a $165 million budget to bring the duo's next chapter to life. Returning actors include Pedro Pascal as the voice of Din Djarin, alongside Sigourney Weaver as Colonel Ward and a stellar supporting cast.
The synopsis follows The Mandalorian and Grogu as they are officially enlisted by the New Republic.
They are sent on a high-stakes mission into the galactic underworld to rescue Rotta the Hutt, the son of Jabba the Hutt, from a ruthless new criminal warlord. It is a straightforward setup that leans heavily into the classic space-western roots of the franchise. Because the film comes from the exact same creators, the core DNA of the property hasn't changed; instead of doing a show, they just did a movie.
Visuals
For the visual effects enthusiasts out there, The Mandalorian is renowned for popularising the use of the Volume. This is the one show that brought in and utilised this technology, which, instead of a green screen, wraps a big screen completely around the characters.
The environments are displayed within the screen, creating a realistic feel to the character being in that world instead of struggling with flat green screens. On a massive theatre screen, that technology pays off beautifully.
There is one breathtaking shot of Mando facing a giant monster where the framing, colour and contrast are so perfect that the frame of the scene could confidently be wallpaper in itself.
The director and cinematographer clearly knew they had a beautiful picture because they hold the shot so you can take it all in and marvel at what is happening.
The movie captures the exact same sense of planet-hopping adventure that made the series so engaging. It widens the scope of the Star Wars universe, making it feel like a true universe by taking you from extreme futurism to complete jungles.
It is a very well put-together adventure that lets you meet different characters and experience these environments from the Mandalorian's perspective, which was a standout element about the show and this film. Alongside the visuals, true Mandalorian fans get to hear that recognisable and catchy soundtrack blasting through bigger speakers.
The action set pieces are equally top-tier, and this is from the opening. Even if someone walks into the theater completely blind to who these characters are, the movie doesn't explicitly tell you who they are, but the first 20 minutes do a good job establishing exactly how much of a badass the Mandalorian is. The opening sequence picks elements from the Star Wars universe to build an action scene.
Creatures and gladiators
One of the highlights of the film is its imaginative handling of creatures. If you are into creatures in Star Wars movies, the second and third acts deliver some very interesting sequences that throw different creatures with different abilities at you.
It even throws in an element of Gladiator early in the second act, involving a specific primary character Mando is supposed to get. It offers a cool contrast to what we expect from that particular species and keeps you totally hooked with some very creative creature fights.
These moments also do a good job of reminding you just how dangerous nature and these planets can be outside of the typical Star Wars good vs bad tropes.
The film is a two-hour ride, but you do not feel the long runtime because they feed you a constant stream of great action and beautiful visuals. While the first two acts focus squarely on the Mandalorian, Grogu surprisingly gets a moment during the third act.
The filmmakers do something unexpected with him that elevates his character and completely justifies Grogu being in the title of the film.
But what I truly appreciated about that scene is that there is very little dialogue, letting you watch Grogu do his thing without speaking, which is very good visual storytelling. The film also introduces an extra villain who, despite having basic motivations that aren't deeply explored, has cool poses and moves like a ninja, basically. I remember thinking that he was such a cool villain.
Gripes
The film isn't perfect, and my biggest gripe is just how much the story is oversimplified. Characters constantly tell you what they are going to do, where they are coming from, and where they are going. Instead of letting the audience piece things together, certain aspects of the plot are repeated too many times that it feels like the film is working extra hard to make sure you understand what is happening.
This was frustrating because it felt like it was clearly made for kids and didn't really respect your intelligence as an audience. While it makes sense to keep things approachable for people who have never seen the show, the first two acts are weighed down by unnecessary exposition.
Additionally, while the use of puppets and animatronics has always been a core part of The Mandalorian, there are moments where they look a bit janky and wonky, making me wish they had used CGI for some particular scenes.
For parents bringing kids, be aware that there is a particular scene in a villain's lair featuring a small creature and a dog-like beast that has a tense, disturbing atmosphere. It is not so gruesome that it will give kids nightmares, but the framing and composition might make a very young audience uncomfortable.
If you have watched the series, you probably remember the blue Macaron. Well, they are back again, and they are shamelessly given a healthy amount of screen time.
Just a good time
The story from A to Z is simplified enough to be understandable and approachable for those who have never watched a Star Wars story. However, a person who has followed the Star Wars universe and watched the Mandalorian series will have a much greater time.
Recognising the Easter eggs, pulling characters from other properties, and understanding the history behind the armour and why they keep their helmets on make the movie very satisfying to go through.
As a longtime fan of the show, I still believe it is one of the best Star Wars properties out there.
The oversimplification was a problem for me, but just as a cinematic experience, this was a good time in the theatre. It respects The Mandalorian’s reputation, and I absolutely enjoyed the visuals and action set pieces.
You do not strictly need to have seen the show to enjoy this film; in fact, if you were to step away from the Star Wars elements and approach purely as a space adventure with weird creatures, you will have a great time in the theatre.
