Full-length Zelda fan film one-ups Uwe Boll
by Christopher Grant 
{ Mar 28th 2006 at 2:45PM }
Watch The Legend of Zelda: Hero of Time and dazzle at the thrilling spectacle of "a boy from a mysterious forest" in "a legend as infinite as time." There's an evil threatening him and a princess summoning him, so there's only one thing to do: put the tights on, grab the Master Sword, and mess up some Moblins.
Alright, it's a fan film but I'd honestly pay more to see this than oh, I don't know... anything by Uwe Boll. They're saying that principal photography is in the can, with post-production work on animations and CGI left to complete. The Zelda fanboys in the house can read more about the production here.
[Via digg]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
DG @ Mar 28th 2006 3:00PM
I can't tell if this Link is too pretty, or not pretty enough.
He's definitely too old.
Dopple Boppler @ Mar 28th 2006 3:10PM
I thought the Megaman movie trailer was more entertaining than that.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=524497611879927024&q=Megaman
Ru @ Mar 28th 2006 3:17PM
Link is a spotty teen, with peroxide blond hair... oh dear.
Fuzz @ Mar 28th 2006 3:27PM
My question is, where did they actually find real females to act in this?
daed @ Mar 28th 2006 3:30PM
I keep expecting to see a car or freeway exit sign somewhere...
I am however seeing the same "sets" used again and again. Go go fan films!
Jibaro009 @ Mar 28th 2006 3:36PM
Now I'm also hyped with this movie.
Kye @ Mar 28th 2006 3:39PM
Love the Zelda trailer. This is the way all game/comic to movie ports should be made - by fans for fans. otherwise we end up with another Street Fighter
*sniff, tear*
The Megaman trailer was good, but used way too much CG and so looks too power ranger-esqe for my liking.
Ganon was spot on.
SID SPACE @ Mar 28th 2006 3:40PM
That wasn't as bad as I was afraid it was going to be.
Except for the Link actor. No dice on him.
Phil @ Mar 28th 2006 3:46PM
To go off on a tangent from this post:
I saw Uwe Boll's movie Alone in the Dark, based on a game which I played and enjoyed. My favorite Uwe Bollism, a complete lack of any regard for logic, is the scene when the trunk that was recently brought up from the bottom of the ocean is opened.
Well, the ship's crew locks the professor in a hold before opening the trunk because they want the treasure for themselves. Once the professor is locked up (from the outside), the crew opens the trunk. While the camera is on the professor in the hold, you hear the men scream once and suddenly something is trying to open the door of the hold.
Fade out and then fade back in to the professor who slowly approaches the door and opens it (suddenly no longer locked from the outside) to find all the crew killed in a bloody mess. The professor opens a secret compartment in the trunk, takes something out and then runs ashore.
Oh, okay. So the monster thingy in the trunk killed the entire crew in half a second, tried to get into the locked door, unlocked the door and decided not to go in, drove the ship back to its original docking location and then ran off. Makes a lot of sense. What a horrible director, does he think an audience is that stupid to realize the complete lack of logic there? Or is it simply that he is so stupid and such an awful director that these "little" things get overlooked?
Anyone else have an Uwe Boll story to share?
jay @ Mar 28th 2006 3:51PM
Bwhahahaha. I'm sorry. I was watching it. "oh, semi-high production values!". get to the kids in the forest. "hmmm." then a shot of people doing something on a bridge "oh dear". then it shows some stupid looking guy dressed as Link "STOP STOP!"
I'm sorry. Some games will be VERY hard to transition to film. Simpsons and Zelda as prime examples.
But yea. Link looks like Boris Johnson.
Jason @ Mar 28th 2006 3:56PM
I just hope they do the Zelda dance from the old commercial from Japan! Dedoo dedoo dedoo!
Grimace @ Mar 28th 2006 3:59PM
That guy's bleach hair killed the trailer, it looks really bad.
Pikachelsea @ Mar 28th 2006 4:01PM
lol... nice tights.
Since when does Link actually make out with girls in the games? All the girls fawn over him but he doesn't actually kiss them, or even pursue them (unless you're talking about those horrid CD-i games).
JodyAnthony @ Mar 28th 2006 4:03PM
Thanks a lot, Phil! how bout a spoiler warning next time?
but seriously, I would honestly pay full price to see this in theaters or on dvd, it looks so bad, but so good.
Graeme Hill @ Mar 28th 2006 4:04PM
Enough with the Requiem for a Dream soundtrack! That video sucked simply for its lack of the classic Zelda theme. It was far more Xena than Zelda. Sad to say, but Boll is better than that crap.
Frodo @ Mar 28th 2006 4:06PM
Oh god this looks hideous.
vidGuy @ Mar 28th 2006 4:07PM
The costume and art direction looks better than a studio would do. But, god, I hope the editing is tighter than this preview:(fade from black) 2 sec clip (fade to black) title (fade from black) 2 sec clip, close up (fade to black) (fade from black)... you get the idea.
EnergyBlue @ Mar 28th 2006 4:08PM
i cant see the triler =( , the link dosent work for my =( , any other source to downlaod?
Martin @ Mar 28th 2006 4:17PM
This looks so bad! The graphics are terrible! It looks so cartoony! Why couldn't they do a realistic Legend of Zelda, Why don't we just call it Cellda!
Freezair @ Mar 28th 2006 4:17PM
Extremely cheesy, but in a good way. In the "You could really enjoy it if you didn't try and take it too seriously" kind of way. But I have to admit, that Ganondorf costume is really, really awesome. Link looks... goofy... but I suppose that's tolerable, considering it's a fanduction.
5: You know, there ARE plenty of Zelda fangirls out there, myself included. I'd love a chance to act in a Zelda flick! Not that I'd ever get a part, considering that I'm too pudgy to play Zelda, too young to be Impa, and too screaming-fangirl-with-a-threatening-compound-hunting-bow to get delegated to an NPC. ;)
jaemz @ Mar 28th 2006 4:30PM
All they are missing is a theme song, and I think I remember one that fits it to a 'z'.
http://www.retrojunk.com/details_commercial/4/
aparrish @ Mar 28th 2006 4:34PM
Hey, I'm gonna go buy some crackers. Looks like these guys already brought the cheese.
KB @ Mar 28th 2006 4:35PM
You think someone this obviously obsessed with Zelda would remember Link is left-handed...I guess its not too late to mirror all the frames :-P
DCSimian @ Mar 28th 2006 4:39PM
Oh man, I about choked when I saw the dude playing Link...for shame! There was no intensity! No intensity! No Suntori...oh...wait...
Anyway...it's better than Uwe's crap.
hadoken54 @ Mar 28th 2006 4:54PM
I'm still on the fence about this. Parts of the trailer made me laugh out loud (for all the wrong reasons) parts of it I thought were actually pretty cool. So for now, my official stance:
"Please don't suck, please don't suck..."
Jau_Peacecraft @ Mar 28th 2006 5:09PM
I hereby vote dcsimian's post as best inside joke ever.
also, the megaman trailer was pretty good, if the trialer itself was in better quality and the sound was a little bit better, id be all over it.
hmm link... he sorta looks like it, sorta dosen't... they should've gone dusty blonde (off *natrual* blond with brown) and younger and it wouldve been perfect.
[hint: lost]
mike @ Mar 28th 2006 5:14PM
Surprisingly well done. Especially the mimicing of the way Link moves in the games, like his sideways creep walk.
Cowlix @ Mar 28th 2006 5:18PM
Holy Crap...Was that guy with the huge beard supposed to be Darunia?? And what happened to Saria's green hair? It's friggin RED now!! The Zelda fanboys and girls are going to give this thing hell for not fully sticking to the game, and I'm one of them.
Knox @ Mar 28th 2006 5:28PM
Can anyone tell me what the song is that starts to play near the end, when Ganon laughs. They use it a lot in real movie trailers, and while it is even overused, I enjoy it.
Pal @ Mar 28th 2006 5:38PM
It's too serious for me. Zelda's always been a fun game for me, this to me feels like the typical Oscar-aiming movie - serious, not funny and dramatic.
Link, to me, seems a little too old or buff.
Not a bad video, however. I go to an art school with a film department and I've definitely seen worse. This is effort materialized!
The Shamrock @ Mar 28th 2006 5:40PM
So THAT'S what those kids were doing running around in my back yard.
Props to anyone who goes out and attempts such a huge endeavour, out of nothing more than a love of video games.
Anyone heard of those kids who "re-made" Raiders of the Lost Ark in the 80's? They now have picture deals at major Hollywood studios.
Anything can happen when you put your passion to work.
fattieslim @ Mar 28th 2006 6:13PM
Looks like some crappy porno trying to have a storyline.
bluebren @ Mar 28th 2006 6:15PM
Blargh on the Link. Where was the person with the good sense to let Sarias's hair be a natural color while this decision was being made? Oh, and the wreath-faced guy I can only assume was the Great Deku Tree. Whuh? (I gotta say, though, Ganondorf looked alright. Maybe a little small, but man, when a guy with a huge jewel on his forehead manages to not look stupid, respect is owed.)
Oh, and I didn't see any Navi! I think I'll check this out. :D Mostly I was surprised to hear the music they had in the 2nd quarter or so. (http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/en/Music/Soundtracks/ka.htm , track 11) Always nice to run into another fan! :D
Matt @ Mar 28th 2006 6:23PM
I'm astounded no one has compared this project to The Light of Courage, the most originalest and bestest Zelda project ever. http://www.dancingtriforce.com/ Joe_Cracker for ever!
Serefina @ Mar 28th 2006 6:31PM
I Love the idea of a fan-made Zelda movie since there's no chance of a real one. Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing this. So what if Saria's hair isn't green or Link's hair is a little too off? So what? I'm a rabid Zelda fan ((And a GIRL *GASP*)) and I personally, can't wait to see this movie. Some people who really love this series is making a frickin' movie for other fans and themselves to enjoy. It's like fanfiction, but come to life, and I'm not that big on fanfiction myself. Ganon looks awesome in what they showed. But anyway, I hope we can get this on DVD or download it or something when it's finished...Good luck, guys!
Brendon @ Mar 28th 2006 7:13PM
Well...it looks better than a Uwe Boll film, but that's not exactly high praise. The guy playing Link just doesn't look the part, and the sword fighting looked pretty bland. One rule I have for any indy film maker: if you don't have anyone who knows how to fight (or use a weapon), don't make a movie where it's a central ingredient.
The only really good thing I saw in that trailer was Ganon; whomever played him just looked right.
TripleFX @ Mar 28th 2006 7:49PM
@Graeme:
Unfortunately, Kronos Quartet gave the string suspence from the requiem for a dream soundtrack to Howard Shore, who hacked it into the f'n Return of the King soundtrack, so there's no escaping it now..
Man that pissed me off when I saw the trailers for the first time..
Gunblade @ Mar 28th 2006 8:29PM
Sweet Jesus...this will be a comedy right?
When I saw those guards in their fake chain mail..and..ugh.
It's looks horrid. I would rather go watch that star wars fan film!
rainking187 @ Mar 28th 2006 10:29PM
Not bad. You can say what you want about his hair, but it still looks like the best video game movie to date, at least until Silent Hill comes out. But...who were all those guys dressed in black? What enemy were they supposed to represent?
Momus @ Mar 28th 2006 10:32PM
Why does Link have a shag? Answer me!
Dylan @ Mar 28th 2006 11:10PM
"And The Trogdor comes...... in the night...."
"Not tonight! ...he doesn't! ...come... in the night! ...Trogdor!!"
Pikachelsea @ Mar 28th 2006 11:33PM
#30: It's called "Zoo York", by Paul Oakenfold. And yes, it is horribly overused, and we're all tired of it. Find something else for a dramatic score, guys...
Jonathan Neil @ Mar 29th 2006 12:46AM
#40 (Pikachelsea): actually oakenfold ripped it off from Clint Mansell, who originally scored that for the movie "Requiem for a Dream" back in 2000.
Paul Gale @ Mar 29th 2006 2:05AM
I have to give credit where credit is due, and this Legend of Zelda: The Hero of Time fan movie was pretty nice. I do hope that one day Nintendo makes a Zelda movie; I have faith that if they were behind it alongside a good Hollywood director, then the movie would turn out great.
Paul Gale
1up.com
Josh Mirman @ Mar 29th 2006 3:18AM
Trust the fungus.
DCSimian @ Mar 29th 2006 8:34AM
"Trust the fungus"
That...needs to be made into a mario themed shirt if it hasn't been already! LOL! That's awesome! That man deserves a star!
JS @ Mar 29th 2006 10:35AM
Here here to the fungus!
This is pretty impressive for a bucnh of fan boys. I mean I saw that FF (forget which #) fanboy video and I was expecting that but am truly impressed they got all those people together....although snooping around neo-gothic building isnt that convincing. Other than that the characters looks pretty decent and not alot of CGI like that mega-man one which is a plus. Im just trying to figure out how the creators got all those people together?!?! I mean fanboys dont really have alot of cash sitting around to pay people to act in a Zelda movie but maybe its more popular that any of us realize?
duerra @ Mar 29th 2006 10:39AM
Knox,
It's "Lux Aeterna", and yeah, it's used a *lot*, by a lot of composers, groups, etc. I especially like the use in "Requiem for a Dream" (awesomely artistic movie).
As for this, I'm very impressed with their costume designs. It's clear that they put a lot of work into this, but they're not doing this professionally, so anybody that takes it too seriously (say, bashes "Link" for not looking like the "real Link") needs to just hush up and accept it as a fan-made trailer that is honestly quite impressive for what a person must assume is a very limited budget and doing it with their own free time.
Truf @ Mar 29th 2006 10:47AM
I wonder if link talks in the film
wonderflex @ Mar 29th 2006 11:54AM
20. "This looks so bad! The graphics are terrible! It looks so cartoony! Why couldn't they do a realistic Legend of Zelda, Why don't we just call it Cellda!"
Martin - this isn't a serious comment is it? It's almost like you are some mysterious person who just see's the word Zelda and is payed to post comments refering to it's most unliked quality. This isn't Windwaker, or DS, this is the movie...or did you not actually watch it? Aye paidbot?