Ultramarines: A Warhammer 40,000 Movie, 2010.
Directed by Martyn Pick.
Featuring the voice talents of Terence Stamp, John Hurt, Sean Pertwee, Steven Waddington, Donald Sumpter and Johnny Harris.
SYNOPSIS:
A novice squad of battle-hungry ‘Ultramarine’ warriors investigate a mysterious disturbance on an alien world.
Based on a screenplay by Marvel and Games Workshop mainstay Dan Abnett and directed by Martyn Pick, Ultramarines takes place within the popular Warhammer 40,000 universe, a dystopian nightmare in which genetically enhanced warriors battle savage aliens for control of what remains of civilization. The titular Ultramarines are a chapter of ‘Space Marines’, super-humans engineered and prepared from birth to defend the last remnants of humanity at any cost.
From the opening scene onwards, it is clear that Ultramarines is a film primarily for existing fans of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, rather than an attempt to pull new audiences in to what enthusiasts call ‘The Hobby.’ Games Workshop has produced acres of back story over the course of decades to flesh out its flagship Warhammer 40,000 franchise and Ultramarines, to its cost, wastes no time initiating the unfamiliar in the neo-gothic, brutal ways of its protagonists. Ultramarines are raised as ruthless killers obsessed with honour and the glory of the battlefield and the members of the novice legion featured in Ultramarines are no different, eager to earn their initial spurs in battle by answering a distress call from a sacred ‘shrine planet’.
The vocal talent featured in the film is top notch and, led by Terence Stamp and John Hurt, offers a gravitas to the film that it lacks in other areas. The veterans do an excellent job of breathing life in to the characters and adding a macabre weight to the visuals. The CGI is noticeably uneven throughout the film, ranging from idiosyncratically beautiful at best to occasionally falling below the standards expected of modern cinema in its weaker moments. For the most part, the Ultramarines and the pitch-perfect gothic setting of the film are lovingly realised, with beautiful designs that will please die hard Warhammer 40,000 fans. There are, however, less well crafted shots and scenes that contrast badly with how good the film looks at its finest.
The story is unfortunately unworthy of the rich, creative and fast paced world of Warhammer 40,000 and it is difficult to see it satisfying either a keen fan or a relative layman. The franchise itself is bursting with ideas that inventively incorporate everything from ancient mythology to futuristic sci-fi concepts but Ultramarines itself feels lazily paced and predictable. Even the battle scenes, a key component of any adaption of a tabletop game essentially comprised of warriors brutalising each other in the most over the top fashion possible, seem unintentionally slow and distant and are pockmarked by some of the poorer visuals within the film.
Running only 76 minutes, the film has little time to develop its plot but does at least branch out in to covering some of the classic Warhammer 40,000 themes, although with less interesting results than might be expected from a screenplay by Dan Abnett, one of the more acclaimed Warhammer 40,000 authors. There is no time invested in character development and little reason to root for the protagonists, whose quasi-religious language and fanatical devotion may seem jarring to viewers unfamiliar with the immense back story of the universe, all of which is left uncovered in the film.
Ultimately, Ultramarines does not succeed as an entry to the Warhammer 40,000 universe for those with a passing interest or a satisfying indulgence for dyed in the wool fans of the franchise. There are moments where the film shows promise and some of the visuals are fantastically realised, which makes it all the more disappointing that the overall experience is so uneven. Considering the subject matter, this film should’ve been bursting with action, intensity and ideas but falls well short of its potential; ultimately, Ultramarines is a missed opportunity that leaves fans still awaiting the first great Warhammer 40,000 film.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★
Ryan O’Neill
Originally published June 17, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
