The cadets make it to the training room, Lasky shuts the door, however, they can’t get to their weapons. Orenski says she doesn’t have access to the live rounds. IN the meantime Lasky is transmitting a distress call that Corbulo Academy has been attacked. This opening sequence to this scene is shown at a frenetic pace. This helps get we viewers into a frenzy as well over what’s going to happen.

Again this demonstrates Stewart Hendler’s professional ability to direct any given action. The editing is handled very well here by using quick cuts between the actors never staying on them for more than a second or two.

Vickers takes it upon himself to go all hulk on one of the locker doors holding their weapons. I really like the direction this character has taken. From the early episodes on we see that he is a leader. Even if his decisions might have brought peril to his cadets earlier, he never stops at trying to be a leader. Not because he has an ego, but rather because he realizes it’s his duty while training at the academy. A character I initially didn’t like, I came to realize that I didn’t like him because Iain Belcher’s portrayal of him is fantastic. He acts the part so well, that you forget you’re watching an actor and start to dislike the character. That’s great acting folks! As episodes continue we see the maturation of Vickers as he seems to comes to terms with Lasky and now in this episode he’s helping his fellow cadets.

BOOM!

The cadets startled out of there immediate concern for getting their weapons, they turn to face the fortified door to the room as they hear a loud boom coming from the other side. This happens just after Vickers tries to crash through the door to a locker, so the correlation is very apparent. Vickers is trying to crash through to salvation, while the Elite is trying to crash through to decimation.

The cadets scramble to hide with all but Vickers on one side of the room, while he hides on the other side.

Something wicked this way comes…

A very intentional shot of the door, this gives off the sense of impending doom for the cadets. Nowhere to run, no weapons to fight with, how will they escape?

With hardly a sound other than the hurried breaths of the cadets and the occasional crashing against the door, this scene is set up to strike fear into the viewer.

Next review of Episode 4: Part 6, Vickers strikes back!

The cadets line up and leave the barracks room, with Chen in the lead. As he rounds a corner he stops…

…only to be gutted by an energy sword as his fellow cadets look on with fear and terror.

Chen has given the ultimate sacrifice as he’s lifted off the ground by the cloaked Elite. By taking point he put himself in a position for something like this to happen, yet he faced it like a man. It buys the other cadets enough time to run away.

As with Lasky seeing Mehaffey’s death earlier in the episode, Chen’s death in front of the cadets helps to galvanize them as well.

Hendler gives great direction here and is not afraid to kill off characters. This helps to drive home to full effect of this new war. What’s next for the surviving cadets of Corbulo academy?

Next review of Episode 4: Part 5, The Doors

In this next sequence the cadets look for refuge.

The cadets find initial safety in a room in their barracks.

This however is unsettling to al of the cadets. The fear and concern of what is happening is readily apparent on each of their faces. This is a testament to the subtleties of acting with performers casting visual representation on each of their faces, yet by different expression.

Sully reacts to Dima’s death from last episode, when the space tether was blown away. Tom mentions Colonel Mehaffey. Both very poignant lines as each are realizing the loss this battle has brought upon them.

It’s not safe to stay here and Lasky knows it.

With good reason too as an Elite shanks another cadet violently…then turns INVISIBLE!

This portion of the scene is reminiscent of the best scenes from Predator, the movie franchise. Yet, I got a feeling of even more urgency here as these cadets are unarmed and trapped. Stewart Hendler did a fantastic job of direction during this portion of the episode. (not to say he didn’t in the rest…continue reading)

Orenski finally seems to snap out of it long enough to give orders to get to the training room to get weapons. Chen mans up and volunteers to take point.

This part of the episode reveals the weaknesses and eventual strength of the cadets, some in subtle ways, while others very direct.

Next review of Episode 4: Part 4, Sacrifice

In the next scene we seen a firefight already taking place.

An ODST in the midst of battle.

Squad leader, April Orenski, shouting out orders to her surviving cadets.

Chaos is ensuing, but the UNSC forces fight back none the less.

A marine is struck down. Ouch that look like it hurt!

Judging from the meaty bits flying from the soldiers back, I’d have to say it did in fact hurt, a LOT.

Lasky see the horror going on and notices someone else…

It’s Colonel Mehaffey and she’s been hit by needles and killed. I personally loved this character and am sad to see her die. However, it is completely understandable why she had to.

For one it helps to galvanize Lasky in action. She was like a mother figure to him. So, to see her die right in front of his face stirs him further to becoming the leader we’ll see in the future, in Halo 4.

This is one of the more powerful scenes in the series thusfar. It’s a HUGE loss for Lasky, likely on par with his brother’s death, especially given that this happens right in front of him.

Next review of Episode 4: Part 3, A predator hunts

Hello again readers. Welcome back to the furthering adventures of Tom Lasky and Forward Unto Dawn.

As with each previous episode, we start out watching a now familiar backdrop of the drifting Forward Unto Dawn. Cortana is thinking out loud about her rampancy. Next parts of the ship start to burst. Not from explosions though.

What’s great is that one of the clamp rings from a hose connected to a cryo bay is popped off. A close up of this ring makes it appear to be just like a Halo ring, especially when focused on the outer edge of it. This is a great use of imagery that connects us to the larger story outside of the series.

As Cortana continues to consider the situation, the broken ship starts to be scanned form an “unknown” source.

She recognizes that it’s not Covenant by design and exclaims, “We’re in danger.” A great way to transition to the past where indeed Lasky and his fellow cadets are in extreme danger.

In each of these opening sequences, Stewart Hendler, continues to one-up himself in direction. We viewers gain more and more knowledge of the struggles of rampancy for an AI seen through the eyes of Cortana, figuratively speaking.

Next review of Episode 4: Part 2, Battle and Loss

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ_xn889cSk&feature=plcp

Okay why are you even reading this. WATCH THE VIDEO!

Master Chief, ‘Nuff Said!!!

Look for my MANY part review of this episode later today. I took 343 screenshots (no joke, just a very cool coincidence) of this episode to use for reviews and the graphic novel later.

-Sal

With permission from @CruelLEGACEY

The suit looks fantastic. Daniel Cudmore as the man in the suit is a great choice. He’s 6’8″ if I’m not mistaken, so he’s very near the right height already (without those pesky enhancements the UNSC did to Chief…)

Anyway enjoy.

-Sal

Thanks to “April Orenski” herself, Enisha Brewster, for the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwXcRovhwaA

“Can you drive a Warthog?”

Oh, I think I can! LOL.

My gawd, Master Chief looks AWESOME!

-Sal

Friday I brought to you my 8-part review of the third episode of “Forward Unto Dawn.”

I’ve taken that a step further and made a 32-page graphic novel of the second episode. Using the screenshots I took as well as typing out some the dialog, I added Photoshop effects as well as laid out the project in InDesign.

Feel free to download this as it’s FREE. If you repost this anywhere, PLEASE give me credit as: Designed by Sal Salerno of HaloFanForLife.com
And please link back to my original post here.

Please let me know what you think of the graphic novel, as I’ll be doing one for each of the six episodes.

Without further ado:

This was a labor of love. I really enjoyed making this. Again, if you have any comments, please feel free to respond here, on Twitter, Facebook, or e-mail me at: sal@halofanforlife.com

-Sal (HFFL)