I haven't been this excited for any new production in years, and was afraid it wouldn't live up to my high expectations, but from the beginning I felt similar, to when I was watching sci-fi movies as a child, be it Aliens or Ewoks. Add some Eric Serra music, and I'd have felt like during
The Fifth Element as a teenager.
I love that it takes the time to show pretty sights, like a character looking at the view at dusk, and lets us soak in its atmosphere. It nicely and precisely introduces its characters, just enough that you understand who they are and what they represent in a matter of minutes.
I like how a robot with AI is more humane, than some actual people.
In regards to some green screen scenes and CGI - I'm the first to point that as a detractor, but only in crappy movies *cough*Marvel*cough*, that rely only on 'spectacle', without even understanding that a good emotional build up and underlying story will make one love a scene even with bad graphics, and it will not matter without that story even if special effects are 'amazing'. It doesn't work like that in humans, we perceive things on multiple levels as a whole, and are impressed by subtle elements.
Plus I grew up on series like
Lexx and
Farscape, with PC game level graphics and puppets. But this looked great without any discounts.
It's like
Firefly assembling the eclectic team via
Sucker Punch dream battles/worlds, with Kora in place of
Killjoys' Yaleena against a fascist European rave junkie looking 'Vader' with a Negan bat-stick.
It's better than Lord of the Rings, if you agree that LotR would be best with spaceships, guns, and slo-mo!
And yes, it's like
Star Wars, even has a sequence at a pirate trade depot 'in the clouds', only it's way better than all the sequels, and even the prequels.
I've referenced the best sci-fi titles throughout, because yes, it's that good.
P.S. One small wish would be for more bloody killings, but I know that'll be fulfilled in an R-rated alternate cut.
P.P.S. I want a cool Kora poster to hang next to my Sever from Ballistic, and Violet from Ultraviolet.