I had fairly low expectations for this, and I wasn't really disappointed. Based on a highly complex game structure, the characterisations seem to be drawn from a Tolkien meets Arthurian world in which magicians, guardians, orcs, humans and Glenn Close are all vying for power. What ensues now is a pretty straightforward tale of betrayal and manipulation with a bit of romance and plenty of visual effects that must have caused no end of boredom for an almost comedic Travis Fimmel, Ben Foster, Dominic Cooper and many others who must have been dangled, stood, sat or made to pretend-fight in front of a green screen for most of the production process. The fight scenes are relentless, colourful and creative, but they all go on for far too long with each ugly great beastie trying to wrestle another to the ground in the face of some terrible green glowing eyes that are trying to impose the "fel" magic on the kingdom. It is not a terrible film, though it is too long, it's just all about the technology and very little about a coherent piece of entertaining cinema that could have delivered much more had the screenplay worked harder with the undoubtedly promising opportunity for fantasy storytelling.
