The Mandalorian movie: Epic adventure or disappointment?

It’s finally here! After a long wait, we could (and in some places still can) finally head to the cinemas for a movie from the Star Wars universe. I don’t know about you, but I was looking forward to it. A lot.

My horror was all the greater when I returned from vacation and realized that a month after the premiere, I was out of luck. In my city (and we have more than one cinema here in Brno), there wasn't a single pop-culture venue still showing the film in English. I had no idea I was going to see a movie targeted (presumably) by distribution primarily at families with children… The original series didn't really strike me as a kids' show.

However, let this text be proof that I tackled the situation regardless, and after nearly twenty years, I went to the cinema to see a dubbed film. I was surprised myself that it didn't ruin the experience as I had feared – my worries didn't stem from a deep-seated hatred of dubbing, not at all – I believe our dubbing is high quality. But as an English speaker, I don't feel the need to have the original transformed into Czech. I watch movies in their original language as a rule – whatever the original language is, reading subtitles won't kill you – or at least I don't know of any evidence to the contrary.

So, if dubbing is keeping you from visiting the cinema, give it a chance – unfortunately, you miss out on Pedro Pascal's voice, which is a shame – you don't see much of the actor playing the lead role because of the costume, and you don't hear anything because of the dubbing, which is a pity, but nothing that can't be fixed later on Disney+.

My only complaint about the dubbing is the choice of the actor voicing Rotta the Hutt – I couldn't help it, but when I tried to close my eyes in the cinema while he was on screen, I saw a handsome young lad in front of me, and that just doesn't fit any Hutt. I looked up the original English voice actor later, and his voice seemed much deeper and more suitable for a Hutt – I guess I'm just nitpicking.

But moving from the soundtrack to the film itself, how was it? That is the question. Honestly, I enjoyed the film more than I expected. Expectations were high – the Mandalorian series is definitely among the better things Disney has been feeding us regarding Star Wars in recent years. Unfortunately, production of another season isn't confirmed, so I was hoping (and I don't think I was alone) for some epic finale that would either end Din Djarin and Grogu's escapades or create a new, great springboard for a potential next season (a backup plan always comes in handy, right?).

But surprise, surprise, no epic finale took place – which isn't a bad thing, at least in this case. Thinking about it in retrospect, it might not have even made sense. The Mandalorian series entertained us in a specific way – a civilian drama where it's (very simply put) about specific missions and the developing father-son relationship between the protagonists. What we got on the big screen was another adventure full of action, tension, and jokes, which some might see as a series episode stretched to feature film length. On the other hand, the result is entertaining, continues what we are used to from the series (like watching the relationship between Din Djarin and Grogu), and the time spent watching flew by without me checking my watch or praying for it to end.

And what is it actually about? After an initial, effective fight scene where he more or less completes a mission for the newly formed Republic (we are in the period after the fall of the Empire), Mando returns to base and gets another task – to find a mysterious Imperial official named Coine. Sigourney Weaver as the officer assigning this quest was a pleasant surprise, though unfortunately, we didn't learn more about her character, which hopefully Disney will fix in the future? We shall see.

Some clues to catching Coine should be provided to Mando by the twins – the Hutts who became successors to the leadership of their criminal organization after Jabba himself (who needs no introduction). But they won't give up information for free – they want him to rescue their nephew Rotta, who is on the moon of Shakari, in return. Din Djarin isn't thrilled, but he heads to the moon anyway, only to find out that Rotta is a famous and popular gladiator in the fighting arena of a crime boss known as Janu. Unfortunately for our brave hero, he doesn't want to be rescued at all.

The Mandalorian tries to track down the local underworld ruler Janu and offers to buy the gladiator's freedom. He doesn't meet with success, however; the gangster wants Rotta to pay off the debt he owes him until the bitter end – he faces one last fight, at the end of which there is no reward for him but the sweet kiss of death.

Well, it wouldn't be Mando if he didn't try to turn the situation around. Unfortunately, it gets out of hand, and he ends up in the arena with Rotta. And I won't spoil any more – hurry up to the cinema if it's still playing in your city and you want to know how it all ends.

What definitely pleased me on the screen was the appearance of Zeb Orrelios, whom fans of animated series surely remember from Star Wars: Rebels. However, just like with Sigourney Weaver's officer, we don't learn anything about him in the film. Only that he occasionally helps Mando as a pilot, and that is often priceless if someone saves your life at the last minute.

The overall impression of the film is therefore better than expected. Sure, it's not perfect and has its flaws, but I believe that a fan who comes to enjoy their roughly two hours of entertainment can't help but be pleased.

So, if the Force flows through your veins and you listed your religion as Jedi on the last census, you have no choice but to head to the cinema and form your own opinion, because… This is the way!