Hideo Kojima Shares Verdict on ‘Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu’

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Hideo Kojima, creator of the Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding series, has offered his verdict on Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu after experiencing it in IMAX. Kojima shared his typically detailed review on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. He noted that while he had only seen the opening of The Mandalorian in 2019 to examine virtual production technology, this time he was able to fully immerse himself in the film. Kojima described the movie as a comprehensive demonstration of diverse action, including car chases, close-quarters combat, sword fights, shootouts, lethal battles, and aerial combat, alongside elements like giant monsters and robots. He emphasized the film’s extensive use of various special effects techniques, such as CGI, puppets, special makeup, animatronics, and stop-motion, suggesting that even the behind-the-scenes work encompassed a wide range of methodologies. The film also brought together numerous iconic Star Wars elements, including X-wings, AT-ATs, ATRTs, speeders, stormtroopers, and droids, effectively incorporating almost every aspect of the saga’s history. Kojima lauded this as a masterfully crafted entertainment spectacle by Jon Favreau. For those familiar with Kojima’s style, his detailed positive review signals significant appreciation, as he typically offers minimal commentary on films that do not engage him.

This review arrives at a critical juncture for the film, which opened to $82 million in its three-day domestic launch. This figure represents the lowest opening for any Star Wars film since Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, falling even below the previous record low set by Solo in 2018. The Mandalorian and Grogu, a spinoff produced by Lucasfilm and streaming on Disney+, stars Pedro Pascal and Gina Carano. Directed by Peyton Reed and written by Jon Favreau, the series has achieved popularity primarily due to the beloved character of Grogu, also known as Baby Yoda.

Kojima took to social media to share his praise, calling The Mandalorian and Grogu an “awesome spectacle on IMAX.” He characterized it as a “full-on everything-against-everything” show due to its action and diverse settings, giving credit to director Jon Favreau for integrating numerous Star Wars franchise elements into a single, mind-blowing cinematic experience. Kojima was particularly impressed by Favreau’s fusion of practical and digital effects, specifically mentioning the intense car chases, swashbuckling sword fights, nail-biting gun battles, thrilling aerial combats, monstrous creatures, and colossal mechs. He also praised the meticulous attention to detail in every scene, believing the film successfully paid homage to the entire Star Wars legacy while injecting fresh excitement.

The Mandalorian and Grogu’s $165M Opening Scores High on Rotten Tomatoes Despite Generational Divide in Fan Reaction

Globally, The Mandalorian and Grogu reached approximately $165 million by the end of its opening weekend in the US. While these numbers contrast sharply with the franchise’s past successes, such as The Force Awakens’ $936 million domestic gross, a more nuanced perspective emerges. The film holds an 89% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the highest for any Disney-era Star Wars film and surpassing the prequel trilogy, and achieved an A CinemaScore. Professional critical reception stands at 62% fresh. Ultimately, a generational divide appears to exist among fans: those who grew up with the saga may perceive the film as derivative, while newcomers experiencing it for the first time on the big screen might find it magical. Separately, Hideo Kojima has also voiced his admiration for Guillermo del Toro’s work on the upcoming Silent Hill movie. Kojima tweeted that he was impressed with what he had seen of the adaptation, which del Toro is directing, and wished the film success. A release date for Silent Hill has not yet been announced.

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“Before we wrap up, let’s take a journey through the galaxy and beyond! Jonathan Dubinski has just unveiled the final trailer for ‘The Mandalorian & Grogu’ The Mandalorian & Grogu Receives Final Trailer on PlayersforLife, promising an epic cinematic adventure with Jon Favreau at the helm and new stars like Sigourney Weaver joining the fray. Meanwhile, if you’re craving some retro gaming action, Sophie Laurent’s latest post, ‘Pac-Man Joins Nintendo Switch Online Classics Catalog’ Pac-Man Joins Nintendo Switch Online Classics Catalog, highlights three new classic games added to the service, including Pac-Man itself! And speaking of iconic experiences, don’t miss Sophie’s insightful interview with Pedro Pascal himself, ‘A Private Chat with Pedro Pascal’ A Private Chat with Pedro Pascal: Discussing Star Wars, The Last of Us, and Avengers Doomsday. Published on May 19th, it offers an exclusive glimpse into the star’s thoughts on his multifaceted career and much more!”