To be Reviewed: The Lord Inquisitor

[Falchion]

Yes, yes, I know everyone's still pissed because of my fuck-up in the Final Metamorphosis thread, but this one I intend to review no matter the cost or consequences. But don't worry, I'll be sure to put on some solid critic this time along with the content instead of vague, void saying.

In explanation to the fuck-up: I thought, when I posted the video and the critics about the shoddy animation and voice-acting, that everyone could figure out for themselves what I was talking about, that you could see the defects I saw. I was wrong. That and on another thing.

I was so seeing too much high-quality work, industry and fan-made, that I was actually paying attention to the concrete work alone instead of intention too. Hits like Azureus Rising blinded me to the fact fan-made works, as higher quality as they can get, aren't the same as industry ones. Not everyone can do animations like Guerilla, Crytek, Epic or Blizzard can. Not everyone can model in ZBrush, bake normal maps, texture with VRay or rig models for animation. I myself can't texture the way SgtHK does. I was so focused on demanding high quality I couldn't see the term fan-made wasn't simply an excuse for deliberate train-wrecking.

But perhaps, in all this shit I threw in the fan, I can see some redemption in this fan work trailer ahead 11/11: The Lord Inquisitor, a Warhammer 40.000 fan-made movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XVPdFGzNXI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7u8_r07-3s

I've been accompanying the main designer of this project, Erasmus Brosdau (Answering as Destrega), since he worked on the first model, supposed to be a model showcase for Torquemada Coteaz, a known character in Abnett's lore. I was pumped on how the advanced greatly on the project, both on graphic quality, lightning and animation I was one of many to be caught on his work.

The Lord Inquisitor runs on VRay engine and, as far as I've seen, runs beautifully. I could only wish it was an official Games Workshop project, but unfortunately isn't, but it's a great advancement from the train-wreck, sorry excuse for a official movie Ultramarines was (If you see this and the clips from TLI, you'll know what I'm talking about). But I swear I'll forever curse GW if they ever move against this project in favour of that lardball!

Too bad 11/11, even being a few days away, will take so long...

[Alevice]

Dont be so dramtic bro, you will be fine as long as you are not just annoying people.

You are entitled to your opinion and it is respectable if you didnt enjoy shit and considered its quality not that great. Just avoid comparisons where pears and apples are involved, and tone down ass kissing and you will be fine.

That said, those two videos are fucking epic. However, I am not surprised the videos are that short. The reason that fan made projects cant usually hold to the quality of high budget studios is time and money. Such videos can take fucking months/years to do full time, something fan made stuff cant afford. People with that skill might as well gte a few bucks on that. That is not to say lower quality shit is great, but you can acknowldge where effeort and passion was.

[Falchion]

THE LORD INQUISITOR - ANALYZING A TRAILER.
(No A-jokes please...)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7glPda2Lcc

Most of my life, I was only excited three times because of 3d work. The first time was with playing the Oddworld saga, which's cinematics were superior to Blizzard's at the time (Circa Pre-2000) and were the highest at the console port design industry. That and the in-game design, which I still praise as of today. The second was when playing Warcraft III and seeing it's cinematics, going astonished to how Blizzard advanced greatly in an area which it's most modern was Brood War's cinematics. The last came with the launch of Azureus Rising, in which it flowed beautifully and totally deserved to be a full-fledged hero movie. I wished I could say how amazing this trailer was, for The Lord Inquisitor, the first unofficial Warhammer 40.000 animation. Unfortunately I can't.

Many things, including sticking with movie critics, modders, and even here at Campaign Creations distanced me from my emotional side, the fan side. That's an order for myself, a vital ingredient to not let it influence my opinions which MUST be unbiased, something I didn't when Final Metamorphosis was launched. Never again. But this time, on the day The Lord Inquisitor's trailer is launched and I've seen it first hand, I remembered my fan side for the gothic universe. Because of the many screw-ups Games Workshop did with it's franchise, from concerning fan-works, like cancelling the german Damnatus, to shoddy jobs such as Ultramarines, for the first time a fickle of hope was witheld with TLI (Or Lordi, as it was called previously). Still, because of it's flaws, it sounds like a vain hope for WH40K to truly shine at movie industry. Yet... one tangible.

Way before a 20-minute movie was thought out, when it was all about one model, Torquemada Coteaz, I've been accompanying Erasmus Brosdau's work, witnessing gigantic hopes for an incredible hit. Gigantic hopes that, little by little, have been vanishing because of the major disappointments gaming industry delivered.

Generally, this trailer marks the beginning of something different. Be it because of it's high quality work, it's refined dedication and it's devotion to give the Warhammer universe a proper homage. An homage which fell at risk because of GW itself, willing to suck on the universe's rotting corpse for the profit's sake, to the point of wanting money from fan-made projects just so they were allowed.

Still, once this barrier was overcame, it was relatively easy to prepare to shine. And shine, albeit vaguely, it did with this trailer, with the highest of points and the most complicating flaws.

Points and flaws I state now.


Graphics:

As far as I'm concerned, Lordi runs on VRay and it's graphic artist is amongst the highest of all. The highest outside movie and gaming industry. From Torquemada's armor, to his ship, a Bloodletter to a mere skull on the ground, you can taste the matter. You could grip it if you could touch it. Most of it was made in ZBrush, MudBox and other modelling programs considerably advanced than 3ds Max. The state of lightning and normal mapping is indeed something to be counted on, as actual effort was put on it. Even the secondary characters and NPCs are fine, despite the Grey Knight could use a more metal/silvery painting and additional wearing signs/rusting.

One thing that truly surprised me, though, were the character's eyes format. For the first time, they were done right. Not glossy wet ones from Blizzard or absurdly large or small ones. They were the right size, not to cover the whole globe and avoid the white, still present enough for you to notice them. Kudos for that.

Camera working is decent at best, not wanting to abuse action Bruckheimer-style. Jerry might think it adds coolness to scenes, as his disciple Michael Bay as well. It doesn't. It gives you nausea and you must deeply pay attention to read it. Glad Lordi didn't do this... Yet...

Also, it's quite the first time I see the most well made decor and architecture since Assassin's Creed or any other game, combining just with the universe and the movie. Second kudo.


Animation:

What Lordi stumbles, unfortunately, is the shoddy animation, in not only one point. In several, including the Grey Knights battle and shooting scenes. One in particular, the heavy bolter, reminded me of old animation movies pre-dating 2000. Others, like Torquemada's clunky walking are present, as well as the slaying of a Bloodletter without additional effects or organic guts, which hugely jars a memorable experience for an animation. Other than that, the other scenes which I dare call exceptions, such as the Baneblade tanks moving are fine and more than well developed for it's state.

It simply seemed Brosdau was tightened by schedule, setting it thinking he could manage it but couldn't. Sad, but ultimately crude truth.


Audio:

There's technically little audio to speak of, simply some background music, weapons sounds, rain and voice acting. The good news is several are decent. The bad is the last of the list. Voice acting falters in several lines but one or two, especially concerning the protagonist, Torquemada. Not only is an americanized voice, but also lacks diction and emotion. It simply seemed the voice actor just wanted to get it over with. Sorry to say, but, if Brosdau wants this to become a success, he'll need to demand his VAs to considerably improve.


Writing:

I must say, not only in his defense, but as a fact, that this story was never Brosdau's fault. It simply fit with the WH40K universe, which never had strong writing, neither any other. It was a thing or another that made it, but overall, Warhammer stuff is simplistic and predictable, either using an artifact, evil plot of doom, treason, invasions or all together. But I'd be surprised if Lordi started making something complex, honestly. Still, not his fault, but of GW, Abnett and it's simplistic view of Good x Bad scenarios.


Conclusion:

I stated it before, and I dare to say it again: Lordi wasn't meant to be an incredible work. It isn't an official project. But, again, it's a great advancement from the train-wreck, sorry excuse for a official movie Ultramarines was. I wished, honestly, it could be rated higher, because of it's dedication and quality. Still, the animations and voice acting prevent me from doing it. It's not criticism on the previous level of Final Metamorphosis. It's a praise and a warning: Voice acting and animations MUST improve. Other than that, the rest is of my liking.

Finalizing, away from my critic side: Great job, Destrega, and good luck for 2013!