Visually, I have got to admit, this is amazing. Released on Youtube on the last day of 2009, it could just count for a BIM 2009 Award in best visual effects. And, I have not seen visual effects like this since 'Unrenewable' - which despite me yelling to anyone who listens that its overrated - DID have amazing visuals.
Story wise....meh. The concept of Picture-Portals is facinating and, amazingly, Original. But everything else.....okish.
But I have three Plot-Holes that must be adressed:
Spoiler (click to read)
1. I never got the motivation of the antagonist. Why did he think controlling the portals would create his own world? As far as we see, the Portals can only transport, and even if they could create their own worlds, why doesnt he like earth - and who doesnt he like on earth. And if the only person who can draw the portals was this man (what the hell is his name!?), then why didnt Smeagol kidnap him? Its pointless if you just let the man you want walk away. "Oh dont worry about him. We'll wait for the cops to corner us, and THEN we'll get him!"
2. Where the f**k is the president!? There is not a single mention of him after he got kidnapped. Smeagol is in a big black van, but there is no President. He never gets found, there is no mention of him afterwards....did they just leave him on a desert island? Did they kill him? WHERE IS HE!?
And why would you want to kidnap the President anyway? To get all the Portals? If the Portals really can create new worlds, why dont they just kidnap the guy who makes them, and force him to make them? If their going into that much effort to kidnap the President, why not just do that?
Why would you need the existing ones anyway? Surely they just lead to random places in the world. And if they knew how to make a Portal, then why did they need the man to make one for them, and surely they could create one straight away? But the only Portal I saw that went to a fictional place was the world of fire, so if the Portals can't go to fictional places, then this brings me back to the point as to why the guy thinks he can create a new world. And even if they could make new worlds, why doesnt everyone have their own little world? I dont get it both ways.
3. WHO CARRIES 1 MILLION DOLLARS IN THEIR BACK POCKET!?! And I dont mean physically carrying them - I undertsand that the one tiny 1 by 1 square must have been some kind of digital credit system. But where in the world does a simple Police Officer/Former Captain have a Million Dollars? Why would you even be working if you had that much money? I know what your saying: "1 Million Dollars isnt enough to retire on", well then why was he giving it away so willingly? If he gives it away without a second thought, then he must own way more than that. "But it could be money from the government" you say. WHAT GOVERNMENT GIVES THEIR OFFICERS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS?? Never in the world of fantasy or reality have I ever come across a government who does that!
3.5. And a Knife wound would kill you, and quite quickly. To be honest, there was no point in the painter guy surviving anyway.
My final and biggest critique was the voice actors. I mean nothing personal to any of them, but they were, in true Nick Durron Fashion, HORRIBLE! HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE!! At parts it made the movie either un-watchable or hilarious, both of which were un-intentional. Its so funny when the main guy (who sounds like Keanu Reeves on heilium) is trying to do something that is trying to resemble a 'dramatic' moment. Its unbearable when the bad guy is declaring his plans to 'take over the world' or whatever, and it makes me want to go off and watch 'The Inventor', which by far had better voice actors.
To quote Nathan Wells (who is off having a life): "The Voices made me want to jump off a cliff" (I would say pull out my testicles, but this works too....)
In short, the voice acting killed the movie. I think that with better voice actors, I may have overlooked some of the Plot-Holes, and would have felt more positive to the movie. I mean, its not bad, but its one of those movies that are like: "Ooooh! Pretty images! Oh, by the way a-man-can-create-some-portals-out-of-paintings, the-president-was-kidnapped-by-smeagol, and these-two-cops-with-stupid-voices-are-trying-to-stop-him-because-their-cops......oooh! Pretty images!"
A ground breaker in Brickfilming Visual effects - but I would have enjoyed it much more if the sound was off. I may be seeming too harsh, but the Voice acting really did destroy all enjoyment.
Oh and the music was awesome.
3/5. But be careful - pretty images and Joseph Frank wont save you next time.
-MRB
Last edited by Max Butcher (January 1, 2010 (03:01pm))