I think in this case, they need it for the gimmick factor; I think a FF movie with real life actors would go from the uncanny valley right into the corny corner. Maybe the closest thing would be the anime-to-live-action adaptations of e.g. Attack on Titan.
I know that. But why not just use the actors? I know everybody is used to the uncanny valley now, but if the aim is to mimic reality, why not actually use reality?
I think in this case, they need it for the gimmick factor; I think a FF movie with real life actors would go from the uncanny valley right into the corny corner. Maybe the closest thing would be the anime-to-live-action adaptations of e.g. Attack on Titan.
I think this is a big reason why. If I saw real actors in an entirely CG environment, I'd be really thrown off. Not to mention most of the time CG stuff is in 'real life' movies, it usually totally looks CG and thus takes away the realism. I find it more realistic to see entirely CG movies than to see real actors and locations with CG monsters and whatnot running around.
Likewise, seeing real actors in a total CG environment would probably have some complications and just look a bit off.
Real life actors like to have dignity....sometimes. More than cgi people anyway
Plus, I guess it's harder to blend in a rl actor with a cg background, you have to get into greenscreen and whatnot, and even if you do a good job, 10+ years down the line you can start to see the joins.
Also I kind of like the car, even though it's an Audi. Does that mean we can look forward to lots of twatty driving and risky overtaking?
Not to mention a lot more expensive and complicated. Plus, who would you find anyone that looks like Noctis in real life? (*Sarcastically* Chris Hemsworth?)
Force and I saw it this morning. Well worth the trip into the city.
A few thoughts on the voices:
In my opinion, Lena Headey was not a smart choice for Luna. She is much older than Luna's character, and the voice just does not work for me. She would have been better suited for Crowe, although I still don't think that would have been a perfect fit, either.
Libertus's VA was so inconsistent. Sometimes he had an accent. sometimes he didn't. I don't know if the character was supposed to or not, but the VA is from England, so if he was supposed to, it would be really weird to lose it on and off throughout the game. Maybe he wasn't supposed to, but couldn't keep his own British accent at bay all the time. Either way, I was confused and kinda disappointed by that one. Seriously, sometimes he sounded British, and sometimes he sounded like Seth Rogen.
I thought Sean Bean was fine as Regis.
Aaron Paul as Nyx Ulric was really good, in my opinion. Believable, and I thought the voice suited the character.
Everyone else was either fine or just un-noteworthy.
Animation/Graphics
Ho. Lee. Shit. I can't believe how FANTASTIC this movie looked. I mean, I knew it would be good from the trailers, but seeing it on a theater screen was just mind-blowing. There were absolutely moments where I would have been hard pressed to tell you if the main characters were real or CG. Obviously you can tell a dip in quality among what are essentially NPCs, but hot damn. Nyx looked freaking amazing. All of the main characters did, really. Their hair and skin, just....wow. I told Force that I'll never be able to watch Advent Children with the same amount of appreciation I used to have for it again. I've been spoiled by the graphics in this movie forever. FOREVER. And aside from the characters, the effects were so, so good. There were a lot of what appeared to be lightning spells going off, and it looked really cool. And fire and whatnot. Ok it all just looked really good. Hnnnnngh. Also. I would totally do both Nyx and Crowe. All night. All day. Just constant sex.
This might be the grimmest FF story I've encountered. I mean, sure, we've seen deaths in FF games before, but this wasn't even the game and there are already two characters who've died in this story and we aren't even playing the game yet. Well, three maybe? If you count Luna's mom. I don't know. Also lots of soldiers/Kingsglaive members. Just so many.
I was really sad/surprised that Crowe died so early/at all. She seemed so cool, I wanted to see more of her abilities (seemed like she was teaming up in the beginning of the movie to make that fire tornado, and was there a magic shield as well? I don't remember, I might now be confusing that with FFXIV's opening video, lol), I wanted to see her specifically be badass. We got to see other members of the Kingsglaive zipping around and kicking ass (and also being bested, but whatever), and I wanted to see her do something on her own after she was sent on the "mission" to meet Luna. We didn't even get to see her death. Did she struggle at all? Was there a fight? Did she at least defend herself in cool ways before they shot her? Honestly, I'm upset that we didn't see her demise, but we saw Regis's. I think they should have cut away from Regis's death, maybe leaving us with a "is he alive? is he dead?" thing, although I guess they have the story written the way they want it, so...but still. I didn't know he was going to die at all. I might have preferred to find that out while playing the game, playing as Noctis and having that news delivered to me. Maybe it would have had more of an impact then or something. Not that it didn't have an impact on me during the movie, but whatever. Just my personal rambling opinions.
Overall, I thought the movie was pretty easy to follow. I mean, I had more of an understanding about what was going on watching this movie than I did the first time I saw Advent Children, and that was a movie sequel to a game I had already played...
There are a few timeline questions I have, especially in relation to Brotherhood/the game/just general ages and whatnot, but I might actually talk about that stuff in the regular FFXV thread since it's not just Kingsglaive related.
This was probably really disjointed and convoluted and almost certainly does not actually include all of my thoughts on the movie, but Micah and our friend Ralph have been making this write-up difficult with their distractions, lol, so I just need to end it for now. I look forward to reading Force's thoughts (even though we talked about it at length today already) and anyone else who was lucky enough to see it, because I WANT TO DISCUSS ALL THE THINGS.
I'd actually spoiled myself on the main beats of the plot weeks ago reading what I thought at the time was someone being full of it. I figured out in the past few days that what I read was legit, so -- already knowing who dies, how and why -- all I want to know is everything you can tell me about the kaiju battle.
I've seen and I loved it. However, as a standalone film, I can see why the critics are shitting on it. It would be too confusing for non FF fans IMO. Although I watched it with a friend new to FF and he loved it.
Anyway, I don't want to give away too much because one can't really discuss this movie without massive spoilers. I'll just wait for you guys to watch it and then we can overanalyze every single detail. lol
I enjoyed it, it was good. As Avec said, the graphics are really phenomenal. The uncanny valley moments were not very frequent. It mostly showed up if a character was talking flamboyantly like the Chancellor guy or if they were yelling. Because so much more of the face moves when they talk now - which is fantastic for normal speaking, it's noticeable when MORE of it doesn't move when they should be exerting more. I still didn't find it that distracting, just noticeable. I remember how impressive it was in Advent Children when Cloud's face kinda scrunched when he wakes up after passing out at the church, haha. And of course the particle effects and building destruction and everything, just incredible. And the hair. Holy crap the hair.
I said this to Avec, I think FFXIII could have benefited from something like this. A movie to show what life was like in Cocoon and what all those damn terms they spit at you in the game meant. If FFXV the game expounds on some of the things not fully explained in the movie, I think we could have a really cohesive world. They have to follow-through, of course.
Seeing some of the real world stuff was interesting, obviously the Audi, but also the UniQlo, and some other real stores. The one building had Bevelle on it, that's the most easter eggy thing I noticed on first watch (Apart from the obvious monster ones we know about.)
I thought the voice acting was fine, but I know I'm one of the more lenient ones about that around here. Avec's right that Libertus was a little inconsistent, but no one else ever distracted me. As I didn't follow this movie religiously before release, just from cinematics in the trailer, I had assumed Lena Headey was Crowe instead of Luna. I think their voices could have been switched, but I can understand why that wouldn't be the case given spoilery things.
On that note,
I agree that Crowe was a bit wasted. It obviously would have been a waste of Headey. She definitely seemed cool (and was pretty hot too), but she doesn't make it far into the movie for some reason. A bit of a Jihl Nabaat scenario, I think.
Most of the twists were pretty good. They allowed the ones that were unexpected (like the Captain) to linger while the ones that weren't very surprising (the betrayals within the Glaive) to be mentioned quietly in advance so it didn't feel like the movie was trying to go "GOTCHA?! ARE YOU SURPRISED?!" Still pretty impressive that Niflheim managed to turn half of the Glaive to their side without any of the others finding out, how did they add to the mutiny ranks?
I also really liked Regis' and Not-Ian Mckellan's super tense discussion at the treaty-signing about Luna before things go tits-up and every one is summoning swords and drawing guns.
The warping was cool and made for some cool fight choreography which I could usually follow, but other times it was a bit too much. You could tell Nozue (co-director of Advent Children) was on this, as the final fight between Nyx and the General guy was VERY Cloud and Sephiroth. Lots of leaping around and fighting on collapsing buildings/materials/monsters. I'm not sure I'm clear on where the General guy was getting his power from. Was his suit just magitek? It couldn't have been a perversion of the magic he was getting from Regis, because it still worked after he killed him. Brutal death, by the way.)
The kaiju stuff was good, if a bit hard to follow sometimes. You probably saw the intro already, but Diamond Weapon was super cool in that opening. Obscured by dust the whole time? And Diamond Flash with the shoulders opening and everything looked so bitchin'.
The fight with Ultros was definitely hard to follow. I wasn't entirely sure why he was on an airship in the first place. But he kills pretty much all the Glaive that hadn't betrayed them. But the airships are falling, Nyx does something that makes Ultros thrash and freak out some which I couldn't quit figure out, then they move onto another airship and fight some before impaling Ultros on a building spire. Which was a sweet conclusion, but I'm gonna have to see that fight another few times to figure out what the hell is happening.
Then they kept referring to "the Old Wall," that Regis' ring could summon. Avec quickly guessed Alexander, which I was on board with. I assumed at that point Luna was going to put the ring on and it was gonna be a Garnet/Eiko thing. It was not. Nyx ended up using it and basically using Knights of the Round. Giant stone statues around the city came to life to fight the multiple Diamond Weapons Niflheim was flying in. You could see why they're a last resort, because while their attacks focused on the imperial stuff and the Weapons, they clearly didn't give a crap about collateral damage. I liked that they all could use the weapon-warp thing as well. And there were some cool designs. Some definitely looking like Knights of the Round, but a couple unique ones, like a girl with a glaive. They did lots of the damage, but they did kinda get their asses kicked too. I guess we're supposed to assume at the end that both sides pretty much decimated the other. One Diamond Weapon and one Knight were being loosely controlled by Nyx and the General while they fought on top of them, which is pretty metal
Again, it could be tough to follow when a Knight would chuck their weapon at an airship, warp up and start climbing around, tearing it apart, and then having limbs blown off and such. But I think I was able to get the gist of what they were conveying in each scene.
One thing I definitely came away with - I can't freaking wait to see the FF7 Remake. Seeing a significantly bigger Diamond Weapon take on Midgar, or Sapphire Weapon at Junon is going to be mind-blowing. Also, the city Insomnia looks so, SO good. With lower-set slums as well. And it makes me super excited to see Midgar. If the episodic thing does mean we spend more time in Midgar, I could be 100% on board if it's like Insomnia.
My questions, as Avec alluded to, are definitely timeline stuff. Especially taken in conjunction with Brotherhood.
The movie kinda makes it sound like Noctis and Luna marrying is Niflheim's idea? But Noctis is already on the road, so wasn't that already the plan? Or does Regis look shocked simply because Niflheim KNOWS they're getting married? And how does their marriage help anyone again? Luna has been Niflheim's prisoner, but it's not like the marrying-the-kids-of-enemies-to-legitimize-the-surrender thing.
And especially with the Brotherhood stuff...when did the flashback with Noctis in the wheelchair take place? He goes to Tenebrae, I think, to receive healing for some injury. They get attacked which is when he and Luna get separated, and he says in the after-credits sequence that he was 8 years old there, and it was 12 years ago. So how does that fit in with him being in school with fat!Prompto, or in high school with thin!Prompto. And training in the palace with Gladiolus? He looks pretty young there (and Gladiolus looks significantly older, but they're saying he's only 3 years older? okay....). When did he get hurt?
Obviously the game could clear all this up, but it's not like Square hasn't struggled with timelines in the past. You know they'd have more time for all this backstory if they just made the characters a little older, dammit!
My questions, as Avec alluded to, are definitely timeline stuff. Especially taken in conjunction with Brotherhood.
The movie kinda makes it sound like Noctis and Luna marrying is Niflheim's idea? But Noctis is already on the road, so wasn't that already the plan? Or does Regis look shocked simply because Niflheim KNOWS they're getting married? And how does their marriage help anyone again? Luna has been Niflheim's prisoner, but it's not like the marrying-the-kids-of-enemies-to-legitimize-the-surrender thing.
And especially with the Brotherhood stuff...when did the flashback with Noctis in the wheelchair take place? He goes to Tenebrae, I think, to receive healing for some injury. They get attacked which is when he and Luna get separated, and he says in the after-credits sequence that he was 8 years old there, and it was 12 years ago. So how does that fit in with him being in school with fat!Prompto, or in high school with thin!Prompto. And training in the palace with Gladiolus? He looks pretty young there (and Gladiolus looks significantly older, but they're saying he's only 3 years older? okay....). When did he get hurt?
Obviously the game could clear all this up, but it's not like Square hasn't struggled with timelines in the past. You know they'd have more time for all this backstory if they just made the characters a little older, dammit!
I assumed when Ardyn proposed the marriage to Regis, Noctis was still Insomnia. There was a scene later on where Drautos picked up Nyx using Noctis' Audi and he said something like he brought the prince out of the city to meet Luna away from Insomnia.
I guess by marrying the two it sort of solidifies Niflheim's hold on Lucis?
My question is, are they still to marry in the game? I mean the treaty is in shambles right now
I assumed when Ardyn proposed the marriage to Regis, Noctis was still Insomnia. There was a scene later on where Drautos picked up Nyx using Noctis' Audi and he said something like he brought the prince out of the city to meet Luna away from Insomnia.
I guess by marrying the two it sort of solidifies Niflheim's hold on Lucis?
My question is, are they still to marry in the game? I mean the treaty is in shambles right now
I see, I remembered him saying it was Noctis' car, but not that he had just used it to take him out of the city. But why have them marry away from the city? Why have them marry at all if you don't want the empire to see it?
And I would get the solidify their hold thing more if Luna was a Niflheim princess. Instead of just being...someone from a former Lucis territory?
Unless it's just supposed to be a Seymour/Yuna thing to distract the people.
I see, I remembered him saying it was Noctis' car, but not that he had just used it to take him out of the city. But why have them marry away from the city? Why have them marry at all if you don't want the empire to see it?
And I would get the solidify their hold thing more if Luna was a Niflheim princess. Instead of just being...someone from a former Lucis territory?
Unless it's just supposed to be a Seymour/Yuna thing to distract the people.
Hmm now that you've mentioned it. Maybe Regis knew the marriage was just a ruse to infiltrate Lucis and Insomnia and he kind of played along with it? By having them marry far away that would at least guarantee their safety should the Empire invade Insomnia, which they did.
Tenebrae is under Niflheim now so I guess that kind of holds in some way?
This movie is riddled with plot holes lol
One thing's that's been bugging me though is why did Nyx have to pay with his "life" when it was Regis who vouched for him that he was worthy of the ring?
I assume because Regis was "the new guy" and outnumbered. They were just gonna kill him outright, so I guess Regis' intercession allowed for him to get what he did.
One thing's that's been bugging me though is why did Nyx have to pay with his "life" when it was Regis who vouched for him that he was worthy of the ring?
Idk, I'm left wondering this myself. Perhaps Kingsglaive is just one of the many tragic moments in the overall story of XV, so we get sense of loss before the story even starts (in the game that is).
One thing's that's been bugging me though is why did Nyx have to pay with his "life" when it was Regis who vouched for him that he was worthy of the ring?
Idk, I'm left wondering this myself. Perhaps Kingsglaive is just one of the many tragic moments in the overall story of XV, so we get sense of loss before the story even starts (in the game that is).
Spoiler smoiler!! The last 7 posts are spoilers lol! Here is a non-spoiler post.
I am super pumped as F to be able to go to the cinema tomorrow night with my wife and some friends to see this on the big screen!
I didn't watch the 1st 12 mins or what ever that was released recently, I didn't want to ruin it for myself.
My wife, bless her, is not into Final Fantasy, but she kind of is due to me talking about it farrrr too much (lol) but she has watched FFVIIAC with me a few times.... and then had to give me cuddles due to me balling my eyes out... EVERY TIME!!!!! LOL!!
SOOO PUMPED FOR TOMORROW!!! Yet I'm so tired from an insane week of work around 55 hours :S !!