Halo the Complete Video Collection
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 15
Running Time: 125 Mins
Audio: English 2.0 stereo 5.1 dolby
Release Date: 23/10/2017
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes
Halo the Complete Video Collection is a collection of short animations on the Halo universe interpreted by several different directors familiar with the hit gaming franchise. There are several animations to this collection; Halo Legends, Halo: Forward Until Dawn, Halo: Nightfall and Halo: Fall of Reach, but I want to concentrate on Halo: Legends.
In Origins 1 and 2 we see what happened before the timeline we came to see in the Halo games. Destruction and evolution occur time and again until the present time where the humans fight the enemy known as the Covenant.
In Origins 1 the ships computer has learned all it can on human civilisation and become sentient as a result to the point where it thinks it has a purpose and acts as the narrator of this episode and Origins 2. The world we know was an amazing civilisation that thrived for a while only to be destroyed by an alien race called the Flood who devoured everything in its wake including humans, taking their intelligence to become more advanced beings. Only one race, the Forerunners could destroy them but in doing so they destroyed their own but not before they had made samples of human DNA to repopulate the universe at a better future time.
To give us an idea of evolution the animation in Origins 1 and earlier in Origins 2 looks primitive even if it is detailed. While later on in Origins 2 the high resolution animation we are used to seeing is resumed. When I watched these I could not help but be reminded of the earlier Heavy Metal DVD as they concentrated on what the future would look like from different perspectives.
The first two Origins stories tell of how humans once left their civilisation, having to adapt and re-evolve with the Halo weapon. The third story, Duel took on a Japanese flavour concerning the Covenant race and how they live with the pressures of state and hierarchy their people are based on. The basic premise of the story is that two men are destined to fight in a duel to the death. There are many duels a man has to fight, some foe honour and others for love. Love plays a large part in this story with its painterly animation style and Japanese look. I thought the story took an interesting turn even though they are enemies of the humans, I saw the characters in a different light as people caught up in the cruelty of their own class system . The animation looking like it was painted in watercolour I think symbolised the emotions of the characters more than anything else. Odd One Out is different again with Spartan 1337 (leet) on a distant planet with odd inhabitants. Humour is one way to deal with the previous episode which was so strong and had such depth of feeling and this one handles Halo the way Pixar would; cute kids, funny situations and a baddie that is huge but still comical enough.
The rest of the collection is more for the fans of the games such as:
Halo:Forward Until Dawn: Thomas Lasky and his cadets must fight for their very existence when a UNSC academy is attacked.
Halo: Nightfall: An ancient artefact is uncovered after Randal Aiken and his men suffer a biological assault. Working with ONI men could give them the biggest advantage of all.
Halo: The Fall of Reach: As is covered in Halo Legends, we find out what happened during the SPARTAN program and the origins of the legend that is Master Chief.
I liked the animation styles for each one not being able to find one I didn't like. Animation has come a long way in ten years with many movies showing how it is done. Halo Legends takes races from the Halo game and elaborates them to see how an audience will receive them. To be honest these stories are all made for Halo fans but if you enjoy sci-fi, there is no reason why you shouldn't give it a go.
Bonus Material: None.
Summary: Of all the collection, I preferred Halo Legends as it had a bit of everything to show how far animation has come over the years.
In Origins 1 and 2 we see what happened before the timeline we came to see in the Halo games. Destruction and evolution occur time and again until the present time where the humans fight the enemy known as the Covenant.
In Origins 1 the ships computer has learned all it can on human civilisation and become sentient as a result to the point where it thinks it has a purpose and acts as the narrator of this episode and Origins 2. The world we know was an amazing civilisation that thrived for a while only to be destroyed by an alien race called the Flood who devoured everything in its wake including humans, taking their intelligence to become more advanced beings. Only one race, the Forerunners could destroy them but in doing so they destroyed their own but not before they had made samples of human DNA to repopulate the universe at a better future time.
To give us an idea of evolution the animation in Origins 1 and earlier in Origins 2 looks primitive even if it is detailed. While later on in Origins 2 the high resolution animation we are used to seeing is resumed. When I watched these I could not help but be reminded of the earlier Heavy Metal DVD as they concentrated on what the future would look like from different perspectives.
The first two Origins stories tell of how humans once left their civilisation, having to adapt and re-evolve with the Halo weapon. The third story, Duel took on a Japanese flavour concerning the Covenant race and how they live with the pressures of state and hierarchy their people are based on. The basic premise of the story is that two men are destined to fight in a duel to the death. There are many duels a man has to fight, some foe honour and others for love. Love plays a large part in this story with its painterly animation style and Japanese look. I thought the story took an interesting turn even though they are enemies of the humans, I saw the characters in a different light as people caught up in the cruelty of their own class system . The animation looking like it was painted in watercolour I think symbolised the emotions of the characters more than anything else. Odd One Out is different again with Spartan 1337 (leet) on a distant planet with odd inhabitants. Humour is one way to deal with the previous episode which was so strong and had such depth of feeling and this one handles Halo the way Pixar would; cute kids, funny situations and a baddie that is huge but still comical enough.
The rest of the collection is more for the fans of the games such as:
Halo:Forward Until Dawn: Thomas Lasky and his cadets must fight for their very existence when a UNSC academy is attacked.
Halo: Nightfall: An ancient artefact is uncovered after Randal Aiken and his men suffer a biological assault. Working with ONI men could give them the biggest advantage of all.
Halo: The Fall of Reach: As is covered in Halo Legends, we find out what happened during the SPARTAN program and the origins of the legend that is Master Chief.
I liked the animation styles for each one not being able to find one I didn't like. Animation has come a long way in ten years with many movies showing how it is done. Halo Legends takes races from the Halo game and elaborates them to see how an audience will receive them. To be honest these stories are all made for Halo fans but if you enjoy sci-fi, there is no reason why you shouldn't give it a go.
Bonus Material: None.
Summary: Of all the collection, I preferred Halo Legends as it had a bit of everything to show how far animation has come over the years.
