Well here we are at the half way point of series 10. I have had no problems with any of the earlier series and have liked the direction Red Dwarf has taken through the years. But this Series has felt both fresh and familiar to me. They have found a great way to re-energize the show. The episode this week finds the crew travelling through time to the year 23 A.D.

The crew needs a battery to get back but they are quite a few years away from their creation. They end up traveling to India to acquire some lemons to produce a homemade battery. Of course, this being Red Dwarf, nothing is quite that easy. While in India buying lemons they come across Jesus Christ himself. In an attempt to save his life from a group of soldiers chasing him they end up bringing him back to the future aboard Red Dwarf.

There Jesus comes across a history book and learns about Christianity and how many wars have been started in his name. This disturbs him so much that he decides to travel back and soil his reputation so no one will follow him. The episode ends in traditional Dwarf fashion which I will not spoil for you. Go check it out here for free.

The 3rd installment of the web series, Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, hits today!

I really like this series so far, and this episode was great overall, but its the first to disappoint me. Its not necessarily this episodes fault though, but more the fact that the conflict doesn’t really build up or start until the end of this episode meaning we only have 2 episodes for what I would consider the real meat of this series. This bums me out. I’ll come back to that though.

Once again in this episode we see an awesome beginning with Cortana and the Chief in cryo. I think these beginnings scenes could be my favorite parts of each episode. They give me chills. They take place in the half of Forward Unto Dawn itself which was severed at the end of Halo 3 and is free floating in space and likely heading to the planet Requiem which Halo 4 takes place on. The CG used looks really great and looks just like some of the footage we’ve seen of the beginning scenes of Halo 4. Cortana gets a little…violent. We know she is dealing with her rampancy in Halo 4 and its likely a key plot point, but this shows its effects starting even before the events in the game, and its very interesting to say the least. I’m excited for what this means in the game, and I’m interested to see how the opening scenes differ from the intro scenes of each episode.

Further character development of Thomas Lasky takes place and things get kind of grim for him. His reactions to cryo come to a point and he is faced with a decision. He also seems to be struggling with the fate of his brother and family affairs. I am finding that I really like Lasky. He’s the noble character type that always sucks me in and I think Australian actor Tom Green plays the part well.

One of the cadets, Sully, decrypts and pieces together video shown in the first person from a battle. As the viewers, we know its likely from Master Chief’s point of view. It shows Spartans fighting alongside the Insurrectionists against an unknown threat.  Again, as the viewers we know its the Covenant and green plasma fire and the familiar sounds of plasma weapons are heard. The video pauses on an image (pictured below) of a Spartan with the numbers “104” on his shoulder. This is Fred, a Spartan that has a role in the events of several of the Halo books as well as one of the shorts on the Halo Legends film set. This is exciting for Halo fans and hopefully means we’ll see Chief fight alongside Spartans in the coming episodes. Seeing this video makes the cadets question who the real enemy is. Another bit worth mentioning is that the cadets don’t know what the Spartans are, nor the Covenant and adds emphasis to the timeline of the events of Forward Unto Dawn.

The first two episode features bits of action through training exercises and cafeteria brawl when Vickers insults Lasky who retaliates. This episode though, we see some real action. Things get hairy real fast and the Academy prepares for battle and evacuation. ODSTs drop in hot, Covenant ships show up in the night sky, and structures explode. The space tether gets knocked out presumably leaving the cadets stranded. It looks terrifying and they’ve done a great job showing how scary an attack like this might be. Things look bleak. We’ll have to find out what happens next week.

Now, to return to my first point and why I am disappointed. I’ve liked each episode as a whole, but with only 2 episodes left I feel the action and conflict are coming too late in the series, and Master Chief still hasn’t made his appearance! I don’t doubt that the final 2 episodes will prominently feature the Chief and loads of action, but at this point I can’t help but feel its coming a tad too late, especially since its just getting started in the final quarter of this episode. I worry that the action and Master Chief get cut short or don’t get the time and attention they deserve, but that remains to be seen. Perhaps Forward Unto Dawn will flow better as a single experience. I liked the events of each episode so I’m not sure I’d cut anything to speed it up. I have to remember that so much of the story is about the development of Lasky and we’ve seen a good amount of that. I could also be jumping the gun, but I’ll have to wait and see.

Overall I’m really pleased with this series so far and I’m really anticipating the fourth and  fifth episodes. What I assume will happen in the fourth episode with the Chief and some sort of rescue and battle, I had hoped would happen in this episode. My disappointment isn’t great, however, and I still highly recommend this episode and catching up if you haven’t seen them yet.

If you haven’t already, definitely check out our review of Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Episode 1, as well as Episode 2, along with our interviews with Master Chief himself, Daniel Cudmore and the Frank O’Connor of 343 Industries! A new live-action trailer, “Scanned”, also just dropped.

Directly from FX – this season welcomes viewers “to Briarcliff Manor, a notorious insane asylum home to the deranged serial killer Bloody Face. Lurking in the shadows of this ‘sanctuary of healing’ are terrifying evils that blur the boundaries between reality and insanity.” This is a recap, so be warned of all the giant spoilers ahead.

Well, the show certainly starts with a bang. We meet Leo and Teresa, deviant honeymooners taking a tour of the abandoned and desecrated asylum. Leo and Teresa are not presented as particularly likable – their banter is contrived and they totally seem like the couple you don’t want to go to the club with because you just know they’ll put something in your drink and try to talk you into doing something freaky, but they do provide a little exposition. Through them, we learn of notorious yet mysterious patient “Bloody Face,” a serial killer and Briarcliff’s most famous resident. Their daring acts of honeymoonery are interrupted, however, when Leo sticks his phone down and incinerator shaft and promptly gets his arm ripped off. Cue the opening credits.

We are sent back in time to 1964, to a gas station attended by mildly heroic Kit Walker. Kit is the kind of guy that knows when to stand up to bullies and is madly in love with his new wife, who happens to be African American. Kit and his wife, in a nice juxtaposition to the debauchery of the intro, share a tender moment followed by a sequence straight out of the Darren Aronofsky school of editing. We are treated to crewcut angles and rapid cuts and led to believe that Kit and his wife are being assaulted by aliens.

Cut to Lana Winters, reporter extraordinaire, who has arrived at Briarcliff and claims to be there to do a story on the facility’s bakery, which was developed by Sister Jude and is credited for bringing the asylum back to humane and idyllic standards. Oh and hey there’s a microcephalic young lady being led by Sister Mary Eunice, a possible ray of sunshine in this den of iniquity. The nun, not the microcephalic girl. She drowned a baby. Mary Eunice leads Lana to the office of HNiC (Head Nun in Charge) Sister Jude, who is caught in the act of shaving a nymphomaniac’s head. Shelley (played by Chloe Sevigny) was caught being naughty and as punishment receives a rad skater cut that I would have been totally jealous of when I was 13. Upon being “caught,” Sister Jude gives a great “I dare you to judge me, hippy” look and proceeds to inform Lana and viewers on her archaic views of mental illness. She believes that patients cannot be healed, only saved, and she is sword which God will wield to cleanse monsters from the Earth. The good sister is again interrupted by Mary Eunice, who whispers that the “bad man” has arrived. The viewer learns Lana’s true motivations, as she eagerly pleads for a chance to report on the arrival of the infamous Bloody Face. Ryan Murphy is either madly in love with or desperately loathes Evan Peters, because of course our moral compas, Kit Walker, is Bloody Face. Turns out the rest of the world doesn’t believe the alien invasion story and has accused him of murdering (via beheading) several women and wearing their skin as a mask. Ew. Bloody Face gets an orientation speech from Sister Jude in which it is made very clear what she thinks of him, and then is integrated with the rest of the patients. After meeting patient Grace, who also claims to be sane, Bloody Face is provoked into an altercation with Spivey and of course receives not only the blame, but also a trip to the hole. He receives another visit from Grace, and the viewer is led to believe that she is not only sane, but also compassionate.

We meet Dr. Arden, who is eternally at odds with Sister Jude, but in no way at all does this make him the good guy. He experiments with gamma rays to create new species of flowers (HULK LILY!), and probably definitely experiments on patients as well. In the name of science, of course. We learn that four indigent patients have died at his hands, though he takes no blame in what he claims as diseases taking their course.

The viewer visits Lana at home, where she is a joint-before-dinner type of gal, who also happens to have a girlfriend instead of a husband – oooooh, the 1964 shame! Lana tells her girlfriend she plans on sneaking back to the asylum because of COURSE there’s a story there, and the viewers collectively shout what a bad idea that probably is.

Back at Briarcliff, Sister Jude is making dinner. In a bizarre set of flashbacks, we learn she wears a bright red nightie under her habit. As I am not Catholic, I don’t know if this is inappropriate. She is preparing dinner for Monsignor Howard, the patriarchal benefactor of the asylum. She tries to confront him by narcing on Dr. Arden, but he taunts her with promises of political heights, and she has a graphic fantasy when he tempts her with Mother Superior status. I am not a Catholic, and I know this is inappropriate.

While the monsignor is dining, Mary Eunice is feeding some off camera mystery beasts, at the direction of Dr. Arden. While out in the asylum’s forest, she runs into Lana and is pressured into smuggling her inside. Meanwhile, Dr. Arden has removed ol’ Bloody Face from the hole, and we are left with Kit ominously strapped to an operating table before a cut to commercial.

I’m still interested at this point. There are interesting characters with lots of mysterious potential, and there is an intriguing plot. We return from commercial to check on the armless Leo and the panicking Teresa. She realizes his phone is gone, and upon running to get her own discovers they are now locked in the asylum.

Return to 1964! Lana is trying to bargain a full tour of the asylum from Mary Eunice, while Arden implies a lobotomy is nigh, while Sister Jude performs night watch. The scenes are cut beautifully, with Jude behind (and seemingly unaware of) Lana and Mary Eunice at every turn. Meanwhile, Dr. Arden finds a cyborg spider chip in Bloody Face’s neck, and at this point I wonder if I will be able to watch an entire season to recap it. Lana catches a guard with Nympho Shelley and bargains her way to Bloody Face’s whereabouts but suffers a terrible fall on her way.

Cut to Jude, deriding and chastising Mary Eunice. She’s realized the reporter tried to infiltrate her fort, and though Mary Eunice begs for punishment Sister Jude declines and in a weird way, kinda stands up for Mary Eunice. But poor Lana is in traction, and while the viewer is treated to flashbacks of Jude’s confrontation with Wendy, Jude tells her the story of the blackmail the led poor Wendy into signing Lana’s life away. Sister Jude leaves Lana with Dr. Arden’s stolen lab keys, but discovers a foul stench and with it, Dr. Arden scrubbing a room that totally looks like it was occupied by someone or something that didn’t want to be in it. He denies, and states he only needs the room for storage. He also knows Jude has stolen his keys, and shows he will be a worthy adversary.

Cut to the young lovers. Leo is bleeding out, and Teresa is screaming through the empty hallways. She turns a corner and runs smack dab into . . . *sigh* . . . Bloody Face. Fin.

I don’t know, little robots. The season is starting on nothing but stylistic gimmick – I like the idea of starting a brand new story per season, but the recycling of actors, no matter how grand their talent, is pure pretense. Some of the newer additions, mainly Lily Rabe and Clea DuVall, gave brilliant performances in this episode, and Cromwell was so devious I might start referring to it as the “Cromwell Lange Hour.” The characters have great potential for backstories (was Jude a hooker? I bet she was!) but that really isn’t the point of the show. The aspects of sex in all its forms (lust, love, instinct) and the associated “punishments” that come with it are an undergrad’s dream but I don’t think the show really wants itself to be all that. So I’ll stick around to giggle inappropriately and marvel at the set design and performances and just have a good time. Plus, Zachary Quinto is coming next week.

Dishonored follows the story of one character: Corvo Attano, and how his actions influence the city surrounding him. It is a stealth-action game that begins when Corvo, the Royal Protector, is framed for the murder of his empress. He is locked in prison for 6 months and interrogated endlessly by the men who set him up – the newly crowned Lord Regent and his lackeys. Just as Corvo’s execution approaches, a mysterious letter is delivered to his cell containing the key needed for his escape.

The key is provided by the Loyalists, a group of people who believe Corvo is innocent and that only he can end Lord Regent’s reign and return the Empress’ daughter to the throne. The Loyalists serve as Corvo’s commanders – they assign each mission Corvo goes on and detail who his targets are and why they must be assassinated. The Loyalists serve a simple purpose for the story – they create each mission for Corvo to go on.

Arriving at the Golden Cat

The game lasted approximately 20 hours for completion of a stealthy playthrough (including most of the side missions), yet another play through felt necessary. Collectibles and different styles of play add to a high replay value. A map guide may be helpful, especially if searching for every collectible, but is not necessary. The hud displays a radar that is easy to understand and leads to all runes and bone charms on each level. Other collectibles, such as coins and paintings, are not visible on the radar and must be sought out.

There are multiple endings that can be attained, each dependent upon how you play through the game. The chaos level is decided upon by the player as the player chooses the outcome of each target which affects the city of Dunwall as a whole. Violent playthroughs seek the upgrades of the pistol and crossbow, the summoning of rats to devour nearby bodies, possessing people only to draw them towards their death and using shadow kill to eliminate all those who have been assassinated. Violent gameplay leads to high chaos throughout Dunwall and will lead to a high chaos ending.

Stealthy playthroughs involve sneaking in the shadows past guards, using the blink ability (teleport) to slip past obstacles, possessing a rat or fish in order to find normally unreachable areas, slowing time in order to make it past guards or using dark vision to make sure no enemies see where Corvo is headed. When Corvo is spotted, a familiar sound plays, increasing the tension. The crescendo increases if the guards become more alerted and will eventually lead to an all-out brawl if Corvo is discovered. The use of several save states allow for players to attain devious perfection. A stealthy gameplay will lead to a low chaos ending.

Both styles of play encourange you to seek out the collectibles including runes, Outsider shrines, bone charms, coins and rare paintings. Runes allow for the upgrade of supernatural abilities (blink, possession, shadow kill, dark vision, bend time and devouring swarm). Bone charms allow for passive bonuses, such as greater vitality or a faster reload for weapons. Collecting coins will allow Corvo to buy upgrades or ammo for weapons he carries. Paintings have no bonus that has been discovered yet, other than earning an achievement if all have been discovered.

Gameplay is in first person perspective and is reminiscent of the Bioshock series. Both of Corvo’s hands are almost always visible, with a weapon of choice or supernatural ability in the left hand and Corvo’s reliable dagger in the right.

The graphics throughout each level are not superb but they do not detract from the captivation the game creates. Dishonored is an immersive stealth-action game and it creates a setting that quickly draws players in through a new and appealing world.

“Gameplay is Reminiscent of the Bioshock series”

There is no multiplayer component but this game is definitely worth a purchase over a rental as the single-player campaign is thrilling and intense. The last-gen graphics, limited dialogue choices and surprisingly short campaign are a disappointment to such an enthralling game, but are easily outshone by the gameplay, replayability, supernatural abilities, upgrades and optional side missions throughout the game. — Ryan Littlefield

As a reminder you probably shouldn’t read this until after watching the new episode as it will be filled with spoilers.

Fans of bleakness and zombie death are glad to have The Walking Dead back. There were two especially exciting parts about the season finale last year. The badass woman with the sword and zombie-pets, and the reveal of the prison. Those two things were featured very prominently in this episode.

The cold open was one of the best parts of the episode, the utter bleakness that went on as every character showed total unity and badass-itude. No one spoke, they just moved as a unit, Carl especially looked great, having no fear as he shot a zombie. But then all they could find was dog food and all that did was piss of Rick before they had to move on.

This episode really showed Rick unraveling, we were off for about six months or so, they’ve all survived the winter probably moving from house to house and never really getting anywhere. He hasn’t been able to lead them to a safe haven and it must be tearing his brain apart.

The gang made their way to the prison and then we had what was probably the bloodiest episode of this show we’ve ever had. They must have killed 50-60 zombies in total and that includes the elusive riot gear zombie as well as the one of a kind oxygen tank zombie. Did anyone notice that one? He was in like radioactive gear or something? That may be a little tidbit into what is going to happen this season.

We had only a small portion of the crazy sword lady who’s name was revealed in the credits and online and such as Michonne. She just went to get medicine for Andrea who isn’t doing too well but from what we could gather of their small conversation apparently she did save Michonne’s life a couple times during the winter.

The entire jail sequence felt a lot like a video game, if I were playing that game I think I would have absolutely loved it. There were also a couple of good really small interactions that showed some of the love going on. Carl and the girl having a slight flirtation, Carol and Daryl having a little sexual relationship, Glenn and his lady being nice and together. But probably the best bit of dialogue was the little pregnancy what if my baby is a zombie bit.

But really what sealed the deal was the last five minutes. I really dislike when they veer from normal zombies and decide to have a sleeping zombie but they needed to have something unexpected happen and poor Hershel gets bit in the foot, which leads to the most brutal scene of Rick cutting off Hershel’s leg. Unlike zombie flesh which is easy to break, getting through that bone took a couple of whacks and then just when we think we’ve got some more zombies, we’ve got actual inmates in the asylum! Yay for new blood! I’m excited to see how these maybe criminals end up interacting with the gang.

What did you think of tonight’s episode? It’s sounding like a lot of people really enjoyed this one.

I wonder if the Separatists expected to be greeted as liberators on Onderon. If so, a robust insurgency probably wasn’t in their plan.

The second installment of the Onderon arc throws us into the middle of an armed rebellion on the planet Onderon with the Separatists and local authorities trying to find ways to repel them and crush their political ideology. Though I felt this episode was incredibly straight-forward with the action, I think it raises a lot of moral gray areas, and that’s where it does the best.

I expect a lot of people will dismiss this episode and not give it a second thought. Onderon is a planet we’ve barely heard of, the fate of its people doesn’t matter a whole lot in the grandest of schemes, and, in this episode, we’re left watching Ahsoka oversee the rebellion. But this is an episode that’s going to be working on the brains of many who follow the news and many who are interested in talking about these political quandaries with their children.

I know Filoni and crew told us we wouldn’t be seeing more politics episodes, at least not in the senate, but I would argue that this is the most political arc we’ve seen. Perhaps not in the politics of Star Wars, but real world politics.

The point of any military action against a people is to demonize the enemy in the eyes of the folks back at home. But no one sees themselves as the bad guy, and we only know enough about any given conflict to settle into an “us vs. them” ideology. In conflicts around the world today and over the last ten years, we in America have been conditioned to see “insurgencies” and “rebels” as the bad guys. They’re shooting at our men and they must be dealt with. But drilling down into the motives of those doing the harm you see a group of patriots working to liberate their country from an occupying force. We’re being given a taste of something on a much smaller scale with these episodes, and I think it’s important to develop that empathy for “freedom fighters” and try to understand where our “enemies” are coming from. By wrapping these episodes up in the language we’d been given for those fighting for freedom in the Middle East, we’re forced to draw those parallels with the real world.

This episode reinforced that broader point.

The other thing we were given is a lot of Star Wars dialogue references that brought a smile to my face. “No. No problem, why?” “Let’s blow this thing!” “He’s my brother…” and a few others that I didn’t catch quickly enough to write down. Talking to Filoni over the years, he’s said that the show will be getting back to Star Wars basics and these bits of dialogue are really that showing on the surface. This entire episode permeates that idea, that we’d be seeing beleaguered rebels, outmatched and outgunned, fighting the good fight against forces of evil.

The other moment I found very telling is the subtle jealousy issues we keep seeing Ahsoka forced to deal with. Lux Bonteri, Steela, and Saw are very much a Han/Luke/Leia love triangle turned on its ear a bit, with Ahsoka looking in from the outside. We see Anakin pick up on this immediately and open up to her about it, even in full view of Obi-wan… It’s a step in their relationship that I think could very easily lead to Anakin opening up to Ahsoka completely. Wouldn’t it be tragic if Anakin finally lets Ahsoka in on the secret, and it’s Ahsoka somehow saving Padme because of that knowledge that causes her death? It would enhance and reinforce Anakin’s actions concerning his relationship in Revenge of the Sith and make his turn that much more heartbreaking.

This was a solid episode and I enjoyed it much more than the last, though I could do with more drama and less action. The action means more when the story has built up the stakes and I think Onderon could use a lot more building up in the grand scheme of things.

If this is just a taste of the broader conflict, I can’t wait for the main course.

The latest episode of Red Dwarf begins on father’s day where Lister is trying to be a better father to his son. A wonderful premise that many shows have tackled before, but this is Red Dwarf!

What makes this so different is the fact that Lister is his own father. It’s sounds convoluted and rather than go into a lengthy explanation here I would recommend that you just watch season 7 episode 3. In the latest episode, Lister explains to Rimmer that every father’s day he writes himself a card. That card will be delivered to him next father’s day by Kryten and then the cycle starts again. The catch is that he gets rip roaring drunk before writing the letter so he has no recollection of what he wrote. This makes it always a nice surprise for him.

One of the highlights of this episode is where Lister has a conversation with his father/himself via videotaped message. This felt like such classic Dwarf I had to watch it a couple of times. This episode also brings up the question about what happened to the ships computer, Holly. No specific answer is given, but this episode gives us a hilarious scene where Rimmer and Kryten create Pree, the new computer for the ship. This being Red Dwarf, all does not go well.

If you are a fan of brilliantly written sci-fi with a comedy twist, do yourself a favor and check the series out on Netflix. You can also watch this week’s episode here.

Argo tells a dramatized version of a true story from the Iran hostage crisis from 1979-1980. After granting the Shah asylum, the Iranians stormed the American embassy and took all of the diplomats working there hostage… …save six who ducked out a back entrance and found themselves living in hiding at the Canadian embassy. The CIA is tasked with sneaking these diplomats out and the best plan they can come up with involves a science fiction film.

Directed (and starring) Ben Affleck might be one of the most effective thrillers I’ve seen in a movie theatre in a long time. His sense of pacing defies the logic of time, as this film clocks in at over two hours but never feels long at all. The character acting in this film is across the board phenomenal, but the standouts (other than Affleck) are clearly Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, and Alan Alda.

The period setting sets the tone and the atmosphere at brings us into a world that shouldn’t seem as far away as it is. The sets and looks of the characters were pitch perfect, and the way it was utilized in the filmmaking reminded me of Steven Spielberg in Munich and the way the story was assembled reminded me of a Spielberg take on Alfred Hitchcock.

There are not enough good things I can say about this film.

Geeks will absolutely adore it. Not just because it’s a great film, but because it drops well placed geek references constantly in a way that’s natural to the story and the time period and doesn’t ever once make you roll your eyes. Each of them makes you smile. From Jack Kirby’s cameo to the Spielberg-like use of Star Wars action figures, it’s all a pleasure. From Planet of the Apes and Battlestar Galactica to Star Wars and the Muppets, we’re dangled into a world that gives us a snapshot of what popular geek culture was like at the time and I’m not sure anyone but a geek like Ben Affleck could have given it to us.

And that Hollywood sci-fi culture he shows us is such a stark contrast to the revolution going on in Iran and the things people live through there. This film is political thriller at its finest, offering us a commentary and a window into why Iran hasn’t been a friend to us in a long, long time.

Affleck is a fantastic filmmaker and every bit as good as an actor. He throws us right into the deep end of this pool and we’re rewarded for learning to swim.

I know he’s had a bad rap over the years, but it’s time to forget about all that.

His filmmaking career has proved that all is forgiven. And go see Argo. Now. It had me leaning forward, struggling to breath for the last hour… And I knew how it ended. It’s that well put-together.

Lord Odion has got the ultimate weapon, and every one in the sector, Kerra Holt and Sith Lord alike, wants to stop him, before he destroys everyone in the final chapter of Knight Errant: Escape. (more…)

The live-action webseries, Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, continues this week with episode 2!

Last week’s first episode wasn’t exactly eventful, but it was by no means bad – in fact, it was quite good. I really appreciate that the Helbing brother are actually doing some character development before jumping into the action, because as we all know, if we care about these characters before the mayhem begins, it will hold more of an impact.

Episode 2 continues to follow young cadet, Thomas Lasky, as he goes through his training at the academy. Again, not a whole lot of action over the course of this episode, but a lot of great character development. We find out that Lasky has some emotional angst due to the death of his brother and the expectations set forth upon him from his commanding officers because of his mother’s legacy. One small comment about his family in the Mess Hall sets Lasky off, attacking another cadet. Lasky isn’t left alone to deal with his issues though as another cadet, Chyler Silva, offers him companionship and support. To add to Lasky’s obstacles, he seems to be having a poor physical reaction to the cryo-sleep process, causing visible marks on his body along with some weakness. Episode 2 leaves us with a bit of a cliff hanger during a game of capture the flag in which Lasky has volunteered to lead his squad, which we will have to wait a week to find out more on.

I couldn’t be more pleased with the production value I’ve witnesses over the first two episodes of Forward Unto Dawn. Director Stewart Hendler has a solid grasp on how a Halo live-action film should look and feel, the actors are extremely talented young men and women, and the sound, lighting and all other ambient aspects are exactly what I’d expect from a live-action entry into this franchise. I may be hung for this comment, but so far this series reminds me a lot of one of my other favorite sci-fi series, Battlestar Galactica, which I intend as a very high complement. There is a lot of dramatic elements impacting our characters right now and the brooding sense that all hell is about to break loose is palpable. I am absolutely hooked.

As the good Senador noted in his review of the first episode, and I mentioned here, action-wise there isn’t a lot going on but there is a great story being set up, so don’t be deterred. I can’t express how much I am looking forward to these young cadets being thrown into some action, and knowing that Master Chief is going to enter the fray at some point has got me salivating for the next episode already. I know a lot of us Halo fans have been hoping for a live-action movie for years now, but honestly, this web series is filling that void, and then some thus far.

If you haven’t jumped in to Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, I highly recommend you do so. If you are a fan of the Halo series – or hell, just a fan of good sci-fi – I highly recommend getting on board now, because I think we are being set up for a great ride over the coming weeks.

You can check out Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Episode 2 over at “>Machinima’s YouTube channel!

Be sure to check out our review of Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Episode 1, along with our interviews with Master Chief himself, Daniel Cudmore and the Frank O’Connor of 343 Industries!