February 12, 2010

Game Chronicles was founded ten years ago with the primary purpose of providing video game reviews. It was only recently that we added a DVD section to the website, which may have seemed counterintuitive to our original agenda, so it’s always nice when movie and game unite and we can deliver a review that is pertinent to both our growing audiences.

Halo Legends can best be described as the ultimate form of fan fiction. Containing seven short films from five impressive studios, this is the kind of film that hardcore Halo fans will be waiting in line for while everyone else will shrug and move on. I fall somewhere in the middle. I’m not a huge Halo fan, even though I have played all three main games, the Halo Wars RTS, and even the recently released ODST, but I’m in it for the story. I have never got caught up in those countless hours of online gaming or the vast multiplayer community. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy Halo Legends, or at least parts of it.

The movie opens with a two-part introduction to the Halo universe, especially useful for those watching the movie without prior knowledge of the franchise, and quite informative even for me, a devote follower of the fiction. There is no dialogue or real-time events in either of these installments. It is merely a history lesson of the Forerunners, the Flood, the Covenant, and the humans as told by Cortana, the female computer AI that assists Master Chief. The events in these two episodes start long before the first Halo game and get you current with the history while making several relevant social commentaries on human nature, war, and our struggle to survive.

The third chapter is “The Duel”, my least favorite episode on the disc not only because it deals with the lizard-like Covenant and instills them with very Japanese beliefs and an honor system, but also because of the watercolor style of artwork. Admittedly, this is purely subjective and some of you may go nuts over what is essential paintings coming to life. I appreciated the effort and style but didn’t enjoy the final result.

“Homecoming” is a unique look at the Spartan project and how special children are literally snatched into service and replaced with clones so their families never know, then trained and conditioned to become an elite fighting force for the UNSC. “Odd One Out” takes the Halo franchise into a new direction, one that might appeal to fans of the Speed Racer or Dragon Ball Z style of animation. Here we meet an unlucky Spartan who falls out the back of his dropship and has all sorts of adventures with some caveman kids, a dinosaur, and a giant ape-like Brute super weapon. It’s certainly one of the more lighthearted episodes on the disc and perfectly placed in the middle of the lineup.

“Prototype” is a really cool episode both in style of animation and the concept of a super-mech suit that the Spartans can use to possibly turn the tide of the war. Sent on a mission to destroy the suit to keep it from enemy hands, one such warrior decides to wear the armor and use it against the attacking forces until he is forced to self-destruct. Those who love stealth and sniping in the games will love “The Babysitter”. A group of marines are assigned to escort a Spartan on an assassination mission and provide backup should she fall in battle.

The final chapter is easily my favorite, at least from a technical standpoint, this being on Blu-ray and all. While short in story and plot, “The Package” is a fast-paced action ride that will have Halo fans everywhere demanding some sort of space battle sequence in their next video game. The ultra-high-tech CG used to create these stunning characters, scenes, and situations put the in-game cutscenes to complete shame. This is the animation quality of feature films like Advent Children. Nothing can prepare you for the adrenaline rush of watching this episode, and it’s no wonder they saved the best for last. Had this been the first episode, the rest of the disc would pale in comparison.

Filmmaking: 8
It’s really hard to rate Halo Legends as a whole. Comprised of seven (six actually) very unique parts, you really have to analyze each component realizing that some parts are better than others. Each studio has brought something new to the table, both in storytelling and in animation style, but when it’s all combined on a single disc it really adds to the Halo universe and will delight fans of the franchise.

Visuals: 8
Again, I am forced to average the various styles or simply consider the technical prowess of Blu-ray to deliver all these unique art styles to your HD screen. The 1080p/VC-1 transfer is stunning with vibrant colors that burst from the screen and a solid contrast that offers the darkest of blacks. I was unable to detect a single visual oddity or glitch, although I did have my subjective preference for styles with “The Duel” being my least favorite and “The Package” being my favorite.

Sound: 8
Warner continues to avoid using any type of DTS or TrueHD lossless audio on their Blu-ray offerings still, Halo Legends delivers a solid Dolby Digital 5.1 track (640kbps) that is surprisingly consistent across all seven episodes. You have plenty of LFE used with great effect and the surround channels are expertly employed to immerse you in the events on screen. The dialogue is also perfectly balanced so you never miss a word, and the epic score ranges from totally dramatic to extremely energetic.

Value: 8
Halo Legends delivers a solid assortment of extras starting with valuable commentary for each and every episode. Directors, Frank O’Conner and Joseph Chou discuss everything from the story elements to the art style and the overall contribution each story makes to the franchise. “The Making of Halo Legends” is a 55-minute, 8-part documentary that introduces the film and goes into great lengths discussing every aspect of assembling and creating this saga. “Gaming Evolved” is a 22-minute feature targeted towards gamers who probably know all this stuff already but it’s still a fun feature. “The Story So Far” is a 24-minute feature designed to educate you on the history and origins of the Halo universe and its inhabitants. Things wrap up with trailers for “Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths” and the “Halo: Reach” videogame.

Overall: 8.6
Diehard Halo fans will certainly need no convincing to run out and purchase this Blu-ray the day it releases, whereas everyone else may want to evaluate their investment in the game or the franchise. Fan fiction is a great well to embellish upon existing canon but you really have to care about the material. Alone, or even together, these seven episodes won’t matter nor make sense if you haven’t played the games. But for those looking for a bit more background and some sideline Spartan adventures, Halo Legends is a fantastic ride and Blu-ray is the only way to experience it.