A sturdy prequel.

Losing all of the glee of its predecessor, the movie... offers nearly three hours of convoluted story lines, undercooked themes and a tangle of confused, glaringly state-approved political subtext.

It is this combination of maximalism, nationalism, fatalism, and two-dimensional characterization that makes this one of the most enjoyable current franchises.

The film’s dogmatic rejection of going bigger and shinier than its precursor in favor of character development and old-fashioned project management is a directorial decision that crucially meets its own ethical demands of putting humans first.