The second set of episodes have just been released for The Legend of Vox Machina; I would like to take this time to revise my initial review. I was correct in assuming that it was too early to tell whether or not this show was any good, but I was right in saying that it was heading in the right direction. With this new set of episodes, the writers show important moments of character growth, and I for one am here for it!
This show is casual fantasy. It has enough fantasy elements to satisfy any hardcore fantasy enthusiast, but it doesn’t isolate those who just want something else to watch. As of now, you do not need to know and follow different tribes or houses. You do not need to keep track of different races or their languages. You do need to know who the main characters are and track the subtle nuances of their character development: their backstory, goals, and how they change over the adventure. This show does a great job at creating these moments of character growth without making members of Vox Machina overpowered and boring.
The strongest aspect of this show is its main cast. Vox Machina is crude, imperfect, and they struggle a lot. This struggle is important this early because it is in their failures and what they learn from them that the story happens. Despite Vox Machina’s poor reputation, the show does a great job establishing that they are still above average. There are moments in the show where an enemy easily overpowers guards or heroes, yet somehow Vox Machina holds its own. This helps establish Vox Machina as heroes without making them overpowered. They still struggle to win against these enemies, but just barely. They still have much to learn, which is perfect because it means more story for us!
I still believe that some knowledge of the Critical Role and D&D would help with the experience, although it isn’t necessary. There are a few inside jokes only accessible to fans of the show, and I as a fan enjoyed them thoroughly.
Lastly, this show also does a great job at translating tabletop to animated series. I like the way they handle skill checks and magic., but I can see it going over people’s heads. It helps to understand why a spell doesn’t go off or why a scene ends the way it does.
The first three episodes of The Legend of Vox Machina were just released on Amazon Prime Video. The show is based on the first campaign of “Critical Role”; a Dungeons and Dragons live play podcast and twitch stream. So far three episodes have been released; it is difficult to judge whether or not the show is good, but it seems to be heading in the right direction.
I am a fan of the animation, the voice acting is great as was expected, and the music score is amazing. The fight scene music, for example, elevates the combat to epic levels. I love the violent and adult tone this show takes on. Lots of people die and the show does not hide adult themes. There is nudity, sex, and lots of drinking. I would argue that it would be impossible to tell this story without addressing any of these themes.
My only complaint with this show is the fan service. It isn’t bad. This show only exists because there was enough interest from the fans. It is only natural for a show like this to have fan service because it is a sign of gratitude. My problem is that I worry the fan service might be alienating for those who aren’t familiar with “Critical Role.” There are jokes, characters, and scenes that won’t make sense without some knowledge of the source material. There is a random character in this show who mumbles and shows up a few times that looks like Matt Mercer. His presence isn’t problematic, but people who don’t know who he is will gloss over his presence as a random character who just exists.
The show also requires some knowledge of 5th edition Dungeons and Dragons.” Understanding the rules help understand how magic works or explains why some scenes play out the way they do. Having an understanding of both the show and the rules of the game help provide a more meaningful experience, although it isn’t necessarily required. I feel that there are enough of these references to issue a warning. Keep in mind that this show is written for a specific type of fan.
This show is character-focused. The plot and its development rely heavily on character action and growth. The story is based on a game where the players drive the narrative so it makes sense that the focus is on the characters. These characters are not perfect. They are rude, selfish, and famously unpopular. I love that they fail consistently; it allows them to grow and develop as heroes. The characters start the show flawed and that is okay because they grow. They are not the same characters by the end of the third episode, although there is a lot of room for improvement.
So far, this is a pretty cool animated series. It is adult and gory; be warned if that doesn’t appeal to you. I fear that the fan service might prove a bit alienating to the uninitiated, but the story is solid enough to be watchable. You will need to do a bit of research to understand certain moments in the show, but you will be fine without it. It is a pretty solid show if you like Dungeons and Dragons. As a fan of the first campaign, I’m enjoying it so far.
I really want to like this movie. There are a lot of elements in this film that resonate with me. I love the cheesy over the top acting. I love some of the running gags. Some of the writing is clever and concise. I adore how creative they get with their sets and style choices. On paper, this is the perfect film for me, but I can’t recommend this to a mainstream audience.
The biggest issue I have with this movie is with its pacing. I lost interest about halfway through. It would be better as a shorter film. Some of the gags are not funny and go on for too long. At points, it gets too meta for its own good. I am not a fan of meta jokes.
Average moviegoers won’t like this film. If you are a fan of monster films, it might be salvageable but, the cheesy tone it takes is not for everyone. I feel like there are a lot of references and jokes that I missed because I haven’t seen many monster movies. That said, I do appreciate this movie for what it does. There are some creative stylistic choices in this movie that should not be overlooked. It also has some of my favorite jokes from any parody. But it is not a movie I can recommend.
If you are interested, you can check it out on Amazon if you have an active ConTV subscription.
As I mentioned in previous posts, I will be releasing shorter reviews along with my usual more in depth reviews. These will serve more as quick recommendations of movies that I believe are worth your time. To know the difference, they will be titled “Watch Next: Movie Title (year)”.
Are you looking for another movie to watch while you are stuck at home? Are you a fan of the mystery genre? Do you need a fun movie to watch for your next date night? Well then Knives Out (2019) should be on your radar. Even if you aren’t a fan of the genre, you will find something in this movie to like. Whether it is the sight gags, the incredible performances by an amazing cast, or the fun quirky way this story is told, there is something for everyone here.
The movie starts after the murder of a renowned mystery novelist. While it seems like it was a suicide, the mysterious circumstances that lead up to this event suggest otherwise. Now it is up to Benoit Blanc, “the last of the gentleman sleuths” to get to the bottom of it.
Now I would classify this movie more of a parody of the genre, but one that doesn’t go over the top with ridiculous antics. Instead, it is grounded in some realism and will poke fun of itself when it does step out of line. Even if you are able to solve the mystery in the first five seconds, the ride this film will take you on is well worth it. This isn’t your typical mystery movie, don’t come into it expecting to solve a intricate mystery. You are here for a story and to be entertained by a cast of incredible characters. I do love everything about this movie. Although certainly not without its flaws, it is one that you should watch if you have an Amazon Prime membership.
Let me know what you thought of the movie, or if you would like a more in-depth review of the movie.
