Mythica: Stormbound

I watched this with no idea or knowledge of the Mythica series so my thoughts are very different as I obviously did not compare and I learned of the series from reading reviews.

I enjoyed the storyline, action scenes and the acting. I liked all the indoor scenes. They were very cosy. I think all the negative comments are comparing but if you view with fresh eyes it's a great fantasy film. I found it interesting and if I wasn't paying attention I put it back to see properly so it wasn't a background tryp of movie. I guess I'll need to get into the previous series but for a stand alone viewing and not comparing, it's fab.

Plot

Years after Szorlok's devastation and the Red Thorns' victory, a new evil will threaten the world and new heroes will rise to fight it.

Cast

New unknown faces and little more than cameos from a trio of Mythica veterans.

Verdict

Dagen from previous Mythica movies steps behind the camera to direct his very first movie and had a lot of expectations on him from the fans. Were they met? Absolutely not, but to be fair he didn't stand much of a chance.

Doing a Mythica movie this many years later was an immediate disadvantage. Are the fans still interested? Is the magic still present? Only being able to get a few original cast members and having them on screen for a couple of minutes a time, foolish! And the apparent lack of budget! The film looks great until some form of special effects are required and then they look horrendous, truly appalling CGI.

Furthermore because such little happens it feels very oddly structured, like 90% of the film could have made up the first 15 minutes yet is drawn out and when the credits hit you feel slighted.

I'm a Mythica fan and it breaks my heart to say it, but I think they should have left it alone after the last film as this contributes nothing to the lore and is a mess of a film that tarnishes the legacy of what came before it.

Rants

If this is it, if we don't get another movie and everything is left here then what an embarrassment that is. Characters we love and have followed across all the previous movies have now been dragged into perilous unfinished plots? This should never have been made, and if they are to continue, if I'm wrong and several more films get made and everything is to be wrapped up. Please, please, put some more money into it as those special effects really ruined several scenes.

The Good

Well made in most places A couple of decent new cast members

The Bad

Awfully structured Original cast are wasted Terrible CGI Feels like a huge downgrade.

Got the special Kickstarter Blueray Edition signed by six actors/others with my name in the kickstarter credits on 2/15/2024 and have now watched it on 2/17/2024. So much has changed with the style and surroundings that it will take 2 watches to get used to it...as it is more personal story, driven with everyone having a past as they relate things they know sometimes at swords point. They gather on a dark and stormy night at dwarf Gib's Road Inn at Desolation's End. One of the best quotes "Witches don't ride horses.....they ride the wind"....many locals have not survived the last few days so it's a bit like Clue the game...some in the Inn will be carried out.....There is quite a bit about slave rules during the current time period and some of it is light hearted. Some slaves are like family...but life is rough all around as dark magic reasserts itself.

I am a fanboy of fantasy movies, worship Lord of the Rings. I also really enjoyed the first 5 movies. I was willing to go easy on this movie and forgive a lot. But. The first five had what this movie is missing.

I would say this is more of a play than a movie. Something very talented high schoolers would produce. And if you have not seen the first five, forget this one. Will make no sense.

Has to be said that every actor gave it his all. It was a passion project, and it shows. The character named Stranger gave me Aragorn vibes for the first half of the flick. But that was not enough to make up for the shortcomings.

The majority of the movie takes place inside the inn, in one room. A la 12 angry men style. I am pretty sure the low kickstarter budget of $200,000 had a lot to do with that. After a while the repeated placement shot of the outside of the inn followed by more time in the inn started getting stale. I had forgotten the previous movies were kickstarters and kept wondering why the set never changed. This gave the movie a "play" feel. I never had that feeling in the first five movies.

The magical special effects were also pretty poor. And there was a lot less of them than in previous movies. They did little to sell the story or movie.

But the unforgivable sin is the story. It is derivative and forgettable. There is very little character development. The villain at the end is so underdeveloped me and the wife did not care if he lived or died. We were indifferent. The previous movies were much better written and were properly paced with rich story telling. We cared about the characters. We were invested. This movie would barely make it as a tv episode. The movie ended and we were shocked at the underwhelming ending and poor general script.

Maybe they had a lot less money for this one? I don't know. They setup a part 7. Story continues. But if they cannot recapture the magic of the first 5, it won't be worth making.

I was a big fan of the initial saga of 'Mythica' films, from 'A quest for heroes' through 'The Godslayer.' They showed their limitations in some special effects, but all involved gave earnest effort to make the best quintet of fantasy adventure that they could - to fine success, in my book - with some smart, obvious influence from tabletop role-playing games on top. What might it mean for the series to make a return after eight years with a new film: some returning stars making an appearance, a returning writer, and previous star Jake Stormeon now directing? I think it speaks well to screenwriter Justin Partridge, and Stormeon, that they have shrewdly elected a comparatively small reentry into the world of the movies. They have taken clear inspiration from works of other genres, usually mystery, crime drama, or thriller, in which trouble brews and blood spills amidst a disparate group sequestered in a single location. In this manner is 'Stormbound' able to tell a new story with a minimal number of characters, with minimal cost in terms of sets, filming locations, and props, and above all with as little use of stunts and effects as can be done while still ably asserting its fantastical nature. In this manner is Partridge able to tell an original story, of a familiar tenor, that weaves in narrative elements to tie it to the larger tale that happened several years before in-universe. Truthfully, I'm very pleased with how good this is, and I think it's a fine credit to everyone who helped bring it to fruition.

This new feature, financed in part through crowd-funding just like its predecessors, bears the same mark of its origins as the special effects are probably the least sure-footed facet. The computer-generated imagery isn't bad - rest assured there is much worse out there - but less than perfectly seamless as it's layered atop the filmed footage. Anyone who is a stickler for such digital wizardry may be put out. Yet this is the least of what the 2024 sequel has to offer, and in all other ways I'm very happy with the skill, intelligence, and care that went into it. The less flashy CGI looks terrific, and meanwhile any practical effects, stunts, and special makeup are as excellent as we would assume (proving once again that tangible creations will always be superior to post-production visuals). The filming locations are lovely, and I greatly appreciate the amount of detail that went into the sets, costume design, hair, makeup, and definitely also the props and weapons to make them all very much feel a part of this rich if dangerous world, something we wish we could explore down to every last inch. Everyone behind the scenes turned commendable work, for that matter; aspects like the lighting, cinematography, editing, and sound may not be outwardly remarkable, but they are solid. Similarly, this is only Stormeon's second time in the director's chair, and his first for a full-length picture, but especially with the other experience he has gained in the industry heretofore, I believe he illustrates firm capability and I hope he continues on this track.

I like how composer James Schafer draws from the recognizable themes of the previous saga for his music in this title, and his work is splendid complement. Kudos to the cast, moreover: while there is certainly some chewing of scenery as we frankly anticipate of like-minded material - how are you going show the exertion of using magic unless you're straining and grimacing harder than anyone has ever strained or grimaced? - far more than not the acting is pretty terrific in my book. It's not that anyone is wholly revelatory, but all show deft range and nuance befitting a narrative that shifts from quiet, ruminative discussion to flashes of violence. Not to discount anyone else's contributions, but Will Kemp and Ryann Bailey surely stand out most, and I look forward to seeing their careers progress. Above all, though, I can only salute scribe Partridge, for I think his screenplay is a key strength in this sixth installment. As the plot develops the dialogue, characters, and scene writing, including flashbacks, seem sturdy and fairly fleshed out to me while serving multiple purposes, whether in turn or all at once. There are threads that distinctly lead back to the lore built through the first five 'Mythica' flicks, and other tidbits that inform of that indicated inspiration from other genres, especially as each character has their own secrets to tell. 'Stormbound' could also have easily been a self-enclosed tale in miniature, with just enough world-building on the edges to suggest a living past, but as it is the script also handily functions as a coda to the existing story, an afterword that shows us the state of this realm nineteen years on.

And even for all that, Partridge also opens the door such that, were all parties interested, a new 'Mythica' saga could begin from this connective point. A path is laid out for additional potential entries to explore, and I trust that just as 'A quest for heroes' started small and became something much more, we could hypothetically see that pattern once again. For my part, I hope that is indeed the future we see. This film is not specifically striking, but it stands steadily on its own legs while having a place in an existing saga; while sequels as a concept in storytelling and film-making can be dubious - not every movie needs a follow-up - for those who are receptive to the material, the possibility of still more is genuinely enticing. For whatever flaws we might see in these 100-odd minutes, I believe it's more true that everyone who participated did a fabulous job, and I congratulate them all. Most anyone who enjoys fantasy, and pictures outside the major studios, will surely find something to like here, and as far as I'm concerned the result is a minor joy, and I sincerely wish for more. Those who are already invested in 'Mythica' will obviously have the most reason to check this out, yet it remains worthwhile entirely on its own merits, and can be appreciated as such. Unless you're already a fan you don't need to go out of your way for it, but I find myself entertained and satisfied, and I'm glad to give 'Stormbound' my warm recommendation.