Search - Ark on DVD

A decent venture, lots of potential but falls flat

C. Beaver | 02/24/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Warning -- Small spoilers

Pretty good stuff, but it's a film of paradoxes and you can always tell which parts the creators were most interested it. Lemme break it down:

Story: Lots'a cool ideas, some work, some seem to fizzle out. The assassination of the empress, for example -- Didn't matter. Nothing in the story really changed when it happened. The assistant-guy's unrequited love for the lead scientist, Prel's and Jallak's relationship, the slave unrest, how and when that bird-thing passed from the old man to Amarinth... It's all stuff that could add up to a great story, but somehow it all becomes scenery, touched on but never explored. The main plotline is solid, but nothing special because of this -- The magic in a story comes from the little details.

Character Design: Some great designs here, some less than great. Baramanda's one freaky-lookin' guy; a pretty subtle design; his face looks like he's an old man in a young man's skin, and whether that was intentional or not it makes it all the better when it's revealed what he's become. His two henchmen are pretty imposing too. But the heroine, Amarinth? Average porcelain anime girl in an average blue-and-red spandex outfit. The hero? Average anime guy.

Modeling: Some of the models, the weapons especially, were pretty generic and simplistic. Others, the two city-mechs namely, are freakin' gold. Like with the concept artists it's pretty clear what the modelers had fun with, and what they made just because they had to.

Rigging: No complaints. I did see the textures swimming on the ammo belts a bit, but that's all.

Animation: Same as the rest; great in places, less than stellar in others. For example in the scene where Baramanda's torturing the prisoners with the bugs his lip-synching is perfect, but in other places the mouths move, but there's no real rhyme or reason to why. Poses don't get enough exaggeration, actions are mistimed, walk cycles and movements seem weightless... But it's still fairly decent stuff, though it's not often anything special. It's only really amazing when the animators are really interested in the shot, and you can always tell when that happens.

In a nutshell, I'd say it's a movie worth renting at least. It does have an interesting story, and so many elements with great potential even if it's underused a little too often. It's not the best CG film I've seen, but it's a step above most independent 3d films and definitely an intriguing one that I won't be trading in at Gamestop anytime soon.

Plus big freaking robots. BIG freaking robots.

Story: 7/10

Visuals: 7/10 ~ 9/10"

Pretty decent

Joshua Jones | 07/30/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"With animation just below that of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, this movie looks simply beautiful. The story is decent with some flaws, but nothing major or anything detracts from the experience. The creators of the movie have been in the business for over 20 years, making over 200 a year with many for Warner Brothers and Disney. I look forward to owning this on DVD."

COMPLEX, INTRICATE AND WELL-DONE . . .

Roy Clark | Edge of Toiyabe Nat'l Forest, NV | 06/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
Perhaps a bit too complex/intricate for younger viewers, but still fascinating images, ideas and actions. More than typical anime, the characters and dialogue prevail over action and effects. Good family
viewing if the idea to trigger discussions. Execution/design 'way above average."

Ark

Alison Y. Reid | Mass | 05/14/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Very good, saw it on tv and wanted to see the full movie. I Love anime."