“The Mandalorian and Grogu brings back Star Wars to the big screen in the most satisfying way. It’s a fun and action-packed adventure that is also visually stunning, masterfully balancing practical effects with CGI.”
After 7 years, Star Wars is finally coming back to cinemas. The Mandalorian And Grogu marks the big-screen debut of this iconic duo, who first appeared on Disney+ in 2019. The Mandalorian ran for three seasons and also had an interlude with The Book of Boba Fett. To this day, the acclaimed series remains the most popular series on Disney+. It has earned 42 nominations at the Emmy Awards and won 15. This makes sense for the saga to return on the big screen with familiar faces. It can gather the fans around something they love while introducing a new generation of kids to these beloved characters. So, was this worth the wait?
STAR WARS IS BACK ON THE BIG SCREEN
Everyone who knows me knows how much of a fan of The Mandalorian and its era I am. Thus, my excitement for this film is the highest it’s been since Revenge of the Sith when I was a kid. Star Wars is back on the big screen, and let’s stay it right away, it doesn’t disappoint. These films were made for kids, but everyone can enjoy them. Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni know that. If you haven’t watched the series, you can go to see this film and totally understand. The same thing goes if you have never seen Star Wars before. For The Mandalorian and Grogu, they made sure this film can be an entry point in this franchise for a new generation of fans. And that’s what it is all about.
Of course, if you have seen The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Ahsoka, as well as being a huge Star Wars fan like me, you will be rewarded by watching this film. There are elements from all over the saga, deep cuts that fans will recognize. There are animated characters who make their live-action debut, like Embo and Rotta the Hutt. In addition, Zeb from Star Wars Rebels doesn’t just get a cameo this time but a fully secondary role. The gladiator scene is a love letter to the Original Trilogy, seeing the creatures from the Dejarik game in actual action. There’s something for every Star Wars fan.
A FUN CLASSIC ADVENTURE
The Mandalorian and Grogu is a lot of fun. From start to finish, it’s an entertaining adventure that is classic Star Wars with familiar Original trilogy story beats and themes. In a lot of ways, it reminds me of A New Hope and Solo: A Star Wars Story. Indeed, it’s a self-contained story that is its own thing while still being part of a larger universe. It doesn’t have a huge scale, but it doesn’t need to. That is actually a good thing. Because of that, it can really focus on its characters; it feels more intimate.
Right from the opening scene, Jon Favreau sets the mood. It’s pure Mando action fun. In fact, it’s quite an action-packed film while still having time to develop the bonds between the characters. In terms of fights, all throughout the film, there are thrilling action sequences. Favreau knows how to deliver. The opening is one of them, but so is the gladiator scene. It’s not just a ground fight; we get an exciting small-scale battle with the New Republic. Seeing X-Wings in action always makes me smile. Additionally, Y-Wings get their time to shine in this film as well! For this new chapter, Din Djarin and Grogu are now working for the New Republic, hunting down imperial remnants. And in their quest, they’re crossing paths with the Hutts, which means trouble, a lot of it.
THE HUTTS
The Hutts do play a major role in this film as the story ventures to their home world, Nal Hutta. Fans discovered Rotta, Jabba’s son, as a little baby in The Clone Wars film, and now we get to see him in a completely different setting. We have always seen Hutts as criminals and big, slow slugs, but Rotta is a fighter. He’s different. His story is a compelling and refreshing one for this species. He is a key character in the film and one that fans will appreciate. A jacked gladiator Hutt is such a cool concept. But he’s not just a fighter. He’s Jabba’s son, too, and that means something. Who he is is important to the story, but also plays a part in his state of mind. The father-son relationship is an important theme of this film, even though in Rotta’s case, his father is dead.
Obviously, we also see the Hutts as we know them as dangerous criminals. The Twins from The Book of Boba Fett make their return, and now we get to see the threat that they are. This is the first time we get to see so many Hutts on the big screen, which makes it all the more compelling. We have never seen that before. It turns out, there is a story to tell with them.
FATHER AND SON
This film is not just called The Mandalorian; it’s called The Mandalorian and Grogu for a reason. The story is about Din Djarin and his son Grogu. At its heart, it’s a father-son relationship, what’s more, a touching one. This bond is essential to the film. When we look at how it started in season 1 and where these two are in the film, they have come a long way. Din Djarin is a protective father, and Grogu is now a Mandalorian apprentice who also uses the Force. He’s on a path to be both a Mandalorian and some kind of Jedi; he is his own thing.
Grogu is the funniest he’s ever been in this film; he has a lot of cute moments, whether he’s on his own, with his father, or the Anzellans. But there’s also an emotional aspect to his story. He undergoes character development, learning to be on his own.
There is a quote said by Mando that perfectly sums up their bond in this film – “The old protect the young, and then the young protect the old.” The whole sequence where he is on his own is not only beautifully heartfelt because it shows how much he has grown, but it’s also a highlight of the film because it shows who he truly is as a character. It gives him time to shine on his own. That’s something I really loved seeing.
In fact, Grogu’s journey is far from being over. Even though it’s a self-contained story, the film leaves the door wide open for more stories.
CAST
The one and only Sigourney Weaver joins the Star Wars universe, and it’s an absolute joy to see her as Colonel Ward. She has a commanding presence and natural leadership. Plus, seeing her in an X-Wing pilot suit is simply awesome. She doesn’t have a lot of screentime, but when she’s there, you notice her. In fact, it’s a shame we don’t get to see her more, but there’s hope to see her again in future stories. Speaking of New Republic pilots, there are several cameos from the series that will make fans happy.
Jeremy Allen White as Rotta is definitely a good choice, and it’s always a pleasure to hear Steve Blum’s voice as Zeb. Since we are talking about voice work, let’s talk about Martin Scorsese. He has a small role, and visually, his character is clearly inspired by him. You can’t mistake him with these eyebrows. Scorsese in Star Wars is one of these surprising things you couldn’t have imagined, but that’s the thing with the Mando-verse, let’s not forget they had Werner Herzog in season 1 of The Mandalorian!
Finally, I have to talk about Pedro Pascal. HE IS THE MANDALORIAN, and it was about time we saw his face again. It’s for a short time, but it’s total satisfaction. One thing I need to mention is that Lateef Crowder and Brendan Wayne are credited third and fourth in the film credits, which is quite important to recognize their work. They’re also part of the character. It’s not just one person’s work.
CLASSIC STAR WARS FILMMAKING
Jon Favreau loves cinema, and it shows. He uses everything that’s available to him – classic filmmaking techniques and digital techniques. There’s the right balance between all of this, which is why this film truly looks stunning visually. Undoubtedly, The Mandalorian and Grogu is meant to be seen on the big screen. Using practical effects always makes a difference. The puppetry work is absolutely incredible. Grogu was always great in The Mandalorian, but with the film, they’re pushing the boundaries of what he can do, taking things further. He truly looks like he’s real because he is. The Anzellans puppets are also an astonishing work, as is their ship, which was fully built. The Razor Crest is a miniature, and they used the famous Dykstraflex created for A New Hope to film it.
Another standout moment of practical effects is the stop-motion giant droid scene on Nal Hutta. Star Wars legend Phil Tippett and his team came on board and did their magic. It’s a scene that feels like classic Star Wars filmmaking.
SETS AND PRACTICAL EFFECTS
On top of that, there are a lot of fully built sets, some of which are enhanced with the Volume. Favreau knows which techniques to use to get the best results. With Star Wars, there’s a long tradition of using practical effects, and The Mandalorian and Grogu honor that. Obviously, not everything can be practical; there are elements that need to be CGI, there’s a limit to what both can do, so they complement each other. There’s the right balance between practical and CGI. All the CGI creatures like the Hutt, Embo, the Amani, and the dragonsnake, they really look stunning and work seamlessly in the practical environments.
A gladiator jacked Hutt is definitely not something easy to pull off, but the team at ILM did pull it off. Seeing this in live-action is incredibly cool. It’s Star Wars, and the CGI work at ILM has always been top-tier in the industry.
PRODUCTION DESIGN
The film takes the audience to new and returning locations. We get a better look at the Adelphi base than in the series; we really see how the base functions and what life is like there. Fans of The Clone Wars are rewarded with this film as they have been with the Mando-verse since the beginning. There are several elements from the beloved animated series in this film; keep your eyes open. This marks the debut in live-action of the Hutts’ planet – Nal Hutta. And it’s delightful to see. Visually, it’s such a rich planet. Shakari is among the new locations. It’s based on prohibition-era Chicago but with a Star Wars vibe. It’s always a pleasure to see big city planets in Star Wars; that’s one of the many things I love about the Prequels.
Furthermore, several costumes are reused from previous stories, like the New Republic outfits or stormtroopers, which is normal, and there are new designs as well. The droid gothra is the coolest battle droids have ever looked. A super battle droid with a cape, a commando droid with fur … I love to see it! Zeb has a look with a leather jacket, and jackets are always a win in Star Wars. From planet designs to costumes and ships, everything is beautiful.
SOUNDTRACK
Ludwig Göransson returns to Star Wars with a glorious score. This man never misses. The Mandalorian‘s theme is a classic; every time you hear it, you know exactly who it is. Hearing this theme in the cinema is a feeling I won’t forget. At the same time, he uses the themes he created for the series while incorporating new work. He expands on Grogu’s theme; it’s truly magical. The Shakari theme is one of the new highlights; there’s an energetic electro vibe to it that totally matches the planet. Rotta’s theme is a powerful one, too; it matches his vibe.
VERDICT
The Mandalorian and Grogu brings back Star Wars to the big screen in the most satisfying way. This action-packed and compelling film tells a self-contained story with a strong focus on its characters. It is a classic Star Wars adventure that captures the spirit of A New Hope and Solo: A Star Wars Story. It’s also a visually stunning film that masterfully balances practical effects with CGI, and it’s meant to be seen on a big screen. This film serves as a perfect entry point to the saga for a new generation of fans while also rewarding longtime fans, resulting in a sensational ride.
Despite being underused, Sigourney Weaver owns every scene she is in and hopefully will return for more. Rotta the Hutt’s debut in live-action is a success; he’s a highlight of the film, and Zeb is a scene stealer. At its heart, The Mandalorian and Grogu is a touching and compelling father-son story. Grogu is at his best in this film, with plenty of funny and adorable moments alongside a heartfelt character arc.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian And Grogu is released in cinemas this Friday.
Collectables and Anime Editor for Future Of The Force.
Star Wars expert and Japan connoisseur.
