I Watched The First 18 Minutes Of The Mandalorian & Grogu: Here’s What Star Wars Gets Right

The opening 18 minutes of the first Star Wars film in over six years, The Mandalorian and Grogu, was shown to attendees at last week’s CinemaCon event in Las Vegas, Nevada. Co-writer and director Jon Favreau introduced the footage, sharing that he was excited to see how audiences would respond to the opening of the film.

Excitement may also be understandably joined by some nerves when it comes to the release of the new film. Star Wars has primarily focused on Disney+ for the last half a decade or so, and the franchise’s return to the big screen has been a long time coming. This then adds to the pressure on The Mandalorian and Grogu, which has the weight of expectation and excitement at the same time.

The footage shown of the opening of the film highlights Din Djarin and Grogu on the planet Hoth as they take down an Imperial warlord. There’s a lot of action and some Star Wars firsts as well, making this a successful opening that bodes well for the rest of the film overall. After Hoth, Din and Grogu are seen traveling back to the New Republic base, meeting with Sigourney Weaver’s character, and getting their next assignment.

There’s a lot that Favreau and co. get right in the first 18 minutes. There’s a lot of heart, and the footage is hyper entertaining, feeling almost like an Indiana Jones film at times. The action plays a big part in this and is arguably the best part of the opening of the film. It feels like it was meant to be seen on the big screen, and stands out from other similar sequences in the Disney+ series The Mandalorian, which should give fans a lot of hope that The Mandalorian and Grogu will go above and beyond its TV predecessor.

The Atmosphere Is Perfect

The atmosphere is one of the best aspects of the first 18 minutes of The Mandalorian and Grogu. It has the same vibe as the show, with a faceless bounty hunter hunting Imperials and joined by his adopted son. However, the atmosphere also feels grander and more cinematic than the show, which makes it stand out as well. Adding to the atmosphere is the presence of the Empire as well, which makes the stakes feel higher.

As stated, Din Djarin and Grogu are on Hoth, a popular fan theory that has recently been confirmed, to take down an Imperial warlord who is taking from locals and demanding tribute in exchange for protection. He talks about how the galaxy will rue the day that the Empire fell and talks as if their return is only a matter of time. When one local protests, he shoots them with a blaster, adding to the brutality of the Empire and showing the evil on display. This then contributes to the atmosphere, which feels cold (both figuratively and literally, since Hoth is a snow planet).

Djarin and Grogu then provide the contrast, representing warmth as they come in to save the day. It feels exactly like what a Star Wars movie should, as does the film when they return to the New Republic base, which, again, bodes very well for the rest of the movie. It's fun, adventurous, and incredibly immersive, three things that should be a priority for every project set in a galaxy far, far away.

The Film’s Opening Looks Like A Star Wars Film

Another huge positive of the opening 18 minutes are the visuals. Much has been made of the appearance of Star Wars Disney+ shows, with series like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka, and The Book of Boba Fett all receiving heavy criticism for the way they looked. This added to the pressure on The Mandalorian and Grogu, which is not only expected to feel like a Star Wars movie atmospherically, but is expected to look like a Star Wars movie as well.

Choosing a known planet like Hoth to start the movie almost increases the pressure in some way, as audiences have something to compare the new film to. However, Hoth is shot extremely well, with the cinematography showing the grandness of the snow and ice planet. Additionally, the lighting helps greatly in this regard, with the Imperial warlord’s office again representing the cold and emotionless side of the Empire.

The New Republic base is also shot incredibly well. Djarin, Grogu, and Zeb land at what appears to be sunset on the planet, with the sun creating an orange glow that permeates across the base. It's a small detail, but the cinematography in this moment is clearly an upgrade on the Disney+ series, which, again, bodes well for the new movie.

The Action Is Worthy Of The Big Screen

Finally, the action also truly stands out in the opening shown at CinemaCon. The sequence on Hoth is essentially one long action scene interpersed with some talking scenes with the Imperial warlord character, and the action is some of the most memorable in the Star Wars franchise. For example, before we even get a real look at Din Djarin, he's seen in the shadows taking down Imperial troopers in a hallway type sequence that mirrors Batman fighting goons in the dark.

Another memorable part of the action is the one-take sequence that features a franchise first. Before this movie, the inside of an AT-AT had never been shown in live action, and not only does The Mandalorian and Grogu break this trend by building a lifesize version, it also features an extended sequence in which Djarin faces off against a small army of Imperials. He takes them down with his blaster, fists, and improvises with other weapons in the environment to defeat them.

There's also a scene in which Djarin and Grogu hop on an AT-ST and head down a hill, being met with blaster fire from the nearby AT-ATs as they look to quickly dodge out of the way. They then plant a bomb and one of the AT-AT's is destroyed, subsequently falling down a cliff and causing an explosion. It's a moment that's been shown in the promotional material for The Mandalorian and Grogu, but is even better with context here.