ReWatch Halo: The Fall of Reach

• Directed by Ian Kirby
• October 27, 2015
• Based on the 2010 Marvel Comics miniseries Halo: Fall of Reach and the Halo game series

Voice Cast

• Dr. Catherine Elizabeth Halsey-Jen Taylor
• Master Chief-Steve Downes
• Child John-Cole Jensen
• Teen John-Damien C. Haas
• Deja-Michelle Lukes
• Adult Linda-Britt Baron
• Child Linda-Ashlen Bullock
• Teen Linda-Izabela Vidovic
• Admiral Ysionris Jeromi-Travis Willingham
• Lt. Ops Station-John Eric Bentley
• Teen Fred-Todd Haberkorn
• Child Kelly-Hynden Walch
• Teen Kelly-Francesca Manzi
• Mendez-Richard Cansino
• Jorge-Dane Jameson
• Captain Wallaci-Matthew Waterson
• Colonel Watts-Ethan Sawyer
• Samuel-034-Antony Del Rio
• Child Fred-Collin Dean

The story of the shaping and creation of the legendary Master Chief.

Halo: The Fall of Reach is not only an in-depth look at the formation of Spartan-117 but at the trials involved in the Spartan program which gave birth to him. Yet despite being based on an action game it manages to avoid action being the sole focus of the movie. It’s a coming out of age story using a very messed up military program to tell that story. Not amazing but much better than it has any right to be since it is ultimately a marketing tool for anything Halo related.

At the center of this story is John-117 and Dr. Halsey-as they should be. And both are given a level of sophistication and depth that makes the narrative all the more engaging. The people behind this tried to make characters rather than get by on possible familiarity. And despite action not being the focus this is peppered with enough action that holds your attention, but not that it becomes action focused. Action is just icing on the cake. Despite being an animated film, it is a serious presentation. If anything it plays as a quality pilot episode for television series.

I particularly liked the portrayal of Dr. Halsey. She comes off as single-minded but not necessarily evil. Not a good person but as I said not necessarily evil. She’s more concerned with doing it and accomplishing a goal and what it takes to accomplish that goal than who it affects. At least mostly but not entirely. Her initial contact with John-117 has given her a bit of appreciation for the consequences of her actions. 

After what they showed her of John before the program I was left thinking John would’ve been a jerk at best and a violent bully if it hadn’t been for the program. Maybe even that getting kidnapped was the best thing for him. He certainly had qualities to be a good soldier and a good leader, but it looks unlikely he would have actually embraced them without being forced. After all he beat people up while playing king of the mountain when we first see him.

The people took this seriously. This is to market Halo, but they didn’t have half heart the presentation. There are moments of humor in the story. Not jokes that undermine anything but expand upon a moment or character as well as relieve some tension. These are no self-aware or self-referential moments as is very common today and their growing use I find very annoying.

The story is told from a few perspectives such as Dr. Halsey as well as a handful of the Spartans but never from that of Master Chief. He is a central character, but he never gets to tell the story in his own words. A smart move since it maintains the mystery around the character. That is a key dynamic of the character’s presentation and appeal that has been forgotten by those behind Halo: The Series.

When I first saw Halo: The Fall of Reach I remember feeling the animation was good. Maybe not great but good. This is not anything hand-drawn but rather CGI and as such it’s aged a little rough. It’s not unwatchably bad or of exceedingly poor quality compared to current efforts, but it is showing its age. Perhaps not as poorly as some other direct to video CGI presentations.

Aside from the aspect of growing up and leaving childhood behind, there is also a heavy theme of loss. The loss of individuals in your circle as life goes on as well as the loss of someone close to you. How do you handle it? Do you let it bring you down or do you make it mean something? That’s what we must all decide on at some point in our lives.

Mature and serious ideas handled seriously. But not inappropriately. The story doesn’t talk down to the audience. It presents what it presents with the feeling the viewer can handle it and adequately digest what’s going on.

I think this will appeal to fans of the Halo games as well as those into more serious animation even if they have no idea what goes on in Halo. Things get explained well enough that you understand the universe this is all functioning in. It’s very accessible to the uninitiated which is important.

Halo: The Fall of Reach is a good story and a good introduction to the Halo universe. It’s enjoyable to multiple audiences and it’s something I recommend if you’re looking for a good bit of animation.