It's training armor. You can see other Mariners around the base in in some of the classified files that hacker cadet was looking at briefly.
Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn - Part 4 [Available To Watch]
- Thread starter Gowans
- Start date
It's training armor. You can see other Mariners around the base in in some of the classified files that hacker cadet was looking at briefly.
BurnOutBrighter
Banned
Ah, Halo. Where the marketing is better than the game.
Don't expect anything mindblowing, this is still a shoestring budget for a feature length film. But the writing can carry the whole thing if it picks up.
Don't expect anything mindblowing, this is still a shoestring budget for a feature length film. But the writing can carry the whole thing if it picks up.
Demoncarnotaur
Member
^ Have you followed Halo 4 at all? Because the game looks incredible.
I really wish there was an HD download for this.. I wanna take some screen caps to get a better look at certain parts.
I really wish there was an HD download for this.. I wanna take some screen caps to get a better look at certain parts.
BurnOutBrighter
Banned
Even the Halo 4 dev diaries are slickly produced. I am looking forward to it but you gotta admit, they love getting carried away with stuff like this. For me, the "Believe" campaign had more emotional punch than the whole of Halo 3.
Can't you download the HD file off YouTube with KeepVid or something?
The cadet armor is kind of funny given the combat vest they're using is just a slightly modified one from today which looks weird given some of the other gear looks more futuristic.
The cadet saying, "Yes sir" to a woman officer over and over again was confusing me as well. I guess everyone is a sir in the future military!
The cadet saying, "Yes sir" to a woman officer over and over again was confusing me as well. I guess everyone is a sir in the future military!
pyrealnova
Member
That was cringe-inducing. The acting and editing screamed low budget, and the casting is so far off.
Darkmakaimura
Can You Imagine What SureAI Is Going To Do With Garfield?
So far, it was okay. The acting ranges from bad to a little less than average. Everything has that typical "dark" atmosphere that seems so prevalent in movies and television these days which in my opinion is off being the Halo games are quite colorful.
Still, not too bad for a made-for-tv type of production. This may be better than Red Faction: Origins, which while boring was actually not that horrible compared to most other video game movies.
Still, not too bad for a made-for-tv type of production. This may be better than Red Faction: Origins, which while boring was actually not that horrible compared to most other video game movies.
It was really nice, I'm a sucker for Halo live-action and this is delivering so far, looking forward to the next episodes.
It's a made-for-free-distribution-on-the-internet type of production.
NullPointer
Member
Absolutely. In my head I'm comparing this more to something like Battlestar Galactica's premiere - and then only the first 20 minutes. The amazing thing is that it compares well, even with younger actors.
The music also works, which was my biggest complaint from the reveal trailer.
I'm wondering if the bad acting is just the cadets being, in essence, out of water children. The acting from the actual officers didn't seem as bad. Still not a big fan of the human combat aesthetic from the series translated into live action. I know it's cadet armor, but it still looks so terrible. Hopefully the marine armor and the Spartans look better. But it has me interested.
Demoncarnotaur
Member
I'm impressed from what I have seen so far, but for everyone who said is saying this was made to be free do not forget that it will also see a Blu Ray release this year and allegedly will not stay up on the web for free forever.
Also, its amazing how good the CG is in this.. when you see how bad the CG is in things like Terra Nova which apparently cost a ton you are left scratching your head.
Also, its amazing how good the CG is in this.. when you see how bad the CG is in things like Terra Nova which apparently cost a ton you are left scratching your head.
The Youtube stuff is in 1080p. Sure it's compressed a bit, but just Prt Scr/paste/crop and you're good to go.
I'm not too up on Halo lore, or Halo 4's story- is this supposed to be happening between 3 and 4?
Was entertaining enough where I watched the whole thing, even if it's far from perfect. Will check out next week's to see if the slow start builds into any sort of worthwhile payoff.
Was entertaining enough where I watched the whole thing, even if it's far from perfect. Will check out next week's to see if the slow start builds into any sort of worthwhile payoff.
Thanks to AlienShogun in the Halo OT in community:
Through Knowledge, Victory
Through Unity, Peace
Honor, Valor, Allegiance.
Today Tomorrow, Forever,
Together We Rise.
Together We Prevail.
Forward Unto Dawn
From Earth, For Earth.
Honor, Valor, Allegiance, Excellence
Today. Tomorrow. Forever.
Together We Rise.
Together We Prevail.
Forward Unto Dawn.
Through Knowledge, Victory
Through Unity, Peace
Honor, Valor, Allegiance.
Today Tomorrow, Forever,
Together We Rise.
Together We Prevail.
Forward Unto Dawn
From Earth, For Earth.
Honor, Valor, Allegiance, Excellence
Today. Tomorrow. Forever.
Together We Rise.
Together We Prevail.
Forward Unto Dawn.
The opening scene with the distress beacon and old Lasky is between 3 and 4, but the rest of it with young Lasky is before all the games, before the Human-Covenant War even started (which is why they're training to go up against Insurrectionists - human colonies rebelling against Earth's control through terrorism). The Covenant could show up as early as next week.
Demoncarnotaur
Member
I really cannot wait to see Legacy effects take on the Covenant.. I remember Frankie said they would be a mix of live action props and CG, so it should be pretty cool to see how they are handled. I wonder if there will be any Covy vehicles.. it would be awesome to see an actual practical Ghost or Banshee.
Necroscope
Member
Once again, my university, SFU, is the sci-fi universe choice of spy agency head quarter or space marine academy!
Oh cool, glad I asked. I would have just assumed this was some war that broke out in between 3 and 4, and I totally missed that the guy at the start was an older Lasky. Thanks.
Warm Machine
Member
It is shot reasonably well but whoever the cinematographer is needs to be directed better. The monocrome colour correction is too even. Good directors let the single colour light spill in and naturally tint everything else as well as giving it a push.
Some of the inserts are great, but the master shots are really lifeless.
I can also tell that it was shot on overcast days at Simon Fraser University here in Vancouver. They really needed to get some atmosphere going.
Some of the inserts are great, but the master shots are really lifeless.
I can also tell that it was shot on overcast days at Simon Fraser University here in Vancouver. They really needed to get some atmosphere going.
Lasky plays a huge role on the Infinity in 4. He actually shows up in some of the cutscenes 343i has shown off with him greeting Chief.
4 more episodes left with lots left to happen. It should get really interesting real fast.
Demoncarnotaur
Member
I agree with this completely, and thus far it is my biggest complaint. Some better shots really could have helped spice things up, and the color correction isn't the best- but still leagues ahead of the awful looking trailer from a few months ago. Its too bad, because I big budget really isn't required for things like this, and they can really help make the film feel more professional. None the less I walked away from this impressed, especially since I hated the trailer.
i think it has nothing to do with budget, i think they are short on time. this whole thing was made in only a few months (i think?) and they have to get it out before the game hits.
Something Wicked
Member
Yeah, the choice of basing the story around "academy cadets" ensures these episodes will be bad. The whole Dawson's Creek high school melodrama stuff doesn't exactly appeal to me. I would have preferred a series with older, grittier USNC marines doing shit like singing, farting, and making quick, sarcastic jokes about each other around a camp fire... ...you know... highbrow military sci-fi...
That's similar to my train of thought as well. Unless the episodes were written for an older demographic, I'd rather have had the money spent on hiring a few more people to help make a few more multi-player maps or perhaps gone towards the upcoming main Halo 4 commercial for it to have become even more ambitious and epic.
Ein Soph Aur
Member
Not a bad first episode, I really liked the intro.
I look forward to the other episodes.
I look forward to the other episodes.
higherARC05
Banned
This gun be good. 
HoodWinked
Member
this looks like a freddie wong production and not in a good way 
Darkmakaimura
Can You Imagine What SureAI Is Going To Do With Garfield?
Yeah, I was under the impression it wasn't going to be for free (Xbox Live Gold or subscription to Machinima Prime) so I was pretty stoked to find out I could watch this for free.... like network television!
It was decent and slightly above the average SyFy movie. Right now my main complaints would be the fact it doesn't feel as much like Halo as I'd like it to be as I explained in my previous post, but I also understand the trend to make movies appear "darker" nowadays.
Guerrillas in the Mist
Member
Interesting that the whole thing serves as a flashback to a point prior to the Human-Covenant war.
Also, did the actor that plays the present day Lasky have a role in Battlestar Galactica? He reminds me of the Flight Deck Officer (name escapes me).
Also, did the actor that plays the present day Lasky have a role in Battlestar Galactica? He reminds me of the Flight Deck Officer (name escapes me).
Darkmakaimura
Can You Imagine What SureAI Is Going To Do With Garfield?
Yes. According to IMDb she also played Sgt. Hadrian in BSG.
Demoncarnotaur
Member
I'm just really pleased at the improvements from the trailer, the color correction was awful in it:
Before:
Its still a bit much, but man it helps it a ton. Also, finished effects made a world of difference from the trailer with some of the awkward looking shots.
Before:
There are still a fair share of bland shots, but they really don't stick out like a sore thumb as they did in the trailer, same with the color correction. Im really happy about this and I really, really cannot wait to see more.
I agree that the props/costumes in his short were absolutely fantastic and believable, and that is one thing very much lacking here. That said, Landfall felt more like a proof of concept piece rather than an actual short, so this wins due to its actual story that is filled with in depth elements from the universe.
Its mostly all taking place 20 years or so before the events of Halo...however, the Covenant will not be absent from this series.. I expect em to turn up by the end of the next episode.
Before:
After:
Its still a bit much, but man it helps it a ton. Also, finished effects made a world of difference from the trailer with some of the awkward looking shots.
Before:
After:
There are still a fair share of bland shots, but they really don't stick out like a sore thumb as they did in the trailer, same with the color correction. Im really happy about this and I really, really cannot wait to see more.
I agree that the props/costumes in his short were absolutely fantastic and believable, and that is one thing very much lacking here. That said, Landfall felt more like a proof of concept piece rather than an actual short, so this wins due to its actual story that is filled with in depth elements from the universe.
Its mostly all taking place 20 years or so before the events of Halo...however, the Covenant will not be absent from this series.. I expect em to turn up by the end of the next episode.
soulassssns
Banned
The games are ALWAYS awesome.
soulassssns
Banned
I disagree
K
kittens
Unconfirmed Member
His action scenes was great though, if that spilled over to this series I would not mind it at all.This made me laugh hard. At you. For your foolish statement.
I hate Blompkamp's style.
This made me laugh hard. At you. For your foolish statement.
I hate Blompkamp's style.
This made me laugh hard. At how wrong you are.
Demoncarnotaur
Member
u crazyThis made me laugh hard. At you. For your foolish statement.
I hate Blompkamp's style.
but seriously, this looks a lot better:
So good. I really liked the usage of nice bright yet gritty colors as well. Sometimes his mockumentary style was a little off, but District 9 really showed he could do an awesome movie.
Warm Machine
Member
I can see the director at the end of shooting wondering why it doesn't look better than it does. It must be incredibly frusterating watching the dailies and seeing the production value not be there.
Really, why do the same shots we have seen in a dozen war movies of training or cadets not look good here? It really is the same content as Starship Troopers or Full Metal Jacket. I can tell that there are lots of places where the camera should never have been and vice versa. Thing is, Starship Troopers isn't that well lit of a film either. In fact, nothing Verhoven has ever done has had beautiful lighting but the production value is always there because every shot has a purpose.
There are moments in here that should have been paid off better too. At 6:09 when the Warthog drives in it is handled so very lazy. I assume the director just never understood that for many of us, it is the first time we have ever seen a real working Warthog. CAPITALIZE on that. That thing should be driving around the corner obscured by a warping heat haze through a telephoto lens. We should identify with it based on sound and silhouette.
When it comes to a stop in front of the cadets get low to the tires and have it kick up smoke and dust. Have the dust essentially be the thing that visually shames the cadets.
Then have the commander get out of it, boots on the ground first then pan up. Have him grimace at the cadets, step out of the way revealing a pissed off gunner manning that 50 cal with attitude. Make the moment bad ass! Right now it is just taken for granted. Do we get any sense that the Warthog is special, powerful, or iconic?
As is, the scene is basically saying, yeah yeah, here is a Warthog and here is a commander ho hum. Here comes a speech.
Really, the commander/sergeant guy whatever is doing a fantastic bit of performance too. Just it isn't being captured in a way that pays it off. Where is the wide shot establishing the man's authority? The commander should be nose to nose with Laksy in here focusing blame when he says "...all of us dead..." and then casting a wider net of blame with the remaining dialouge. I don't get a single frame of the guilt from any one of the cadets for their actions which is key to this scene. Without the guilt hammered home there is no scene.
Man, get the camera on the other side of the Warthog and shoot through the windscreen or seats or something to give some foreground here and there. Get low to the back tires and use it to balance a wider angle.
Every shot in anything needs motivation. The best commercial directors know this because they have 15-30 seconds and need to make sure every single image in their "story" is hammering home the point.
My problem with it is that all the pieces are here. The actors are FINE. They are just being let down by the production. The costumes, weapons, and everything are good, maybe they need a bit of wear but otherwise they work. Some of the shots are great, but as a whole it comes off like lower end TV and there is no excuse because the actors, cameras, sets, and support crew were all there on the day. It simply needed to be handled with more creativity in its direction and photography.
Can't stop watching.