Ultramarines: a Warhammer 40,000 movie

In a weeks time the first feature length movie set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, Ultramarines has been 'filmed' using CGI animation entirely. As the name suggests the plot revolves around the 'most courageous and the most unswervingly-loyal' Space Marine Chapter.

The script was written by Black Library author Dan Abnett, who also wrote the graphic novel that comes with the special edition of the movie, which may be pre-ordered here.

Apart from the movie DVD, the special edition contents include an embossed steel case, extra DVD of features including the making of the movie and a hard back graphic novel.

To further whet your appetite here is the synopsis of the story published on the Games Workshop website a while back:

"Captain Severus, a revered veteran warrior with a considerable reputation, has received an urgent request for assistance from the remote backwater planet Mithron. Mithron has only one site of strategic importance, a shrine defended for countless generations by a full company of Space Marines from the Imperial Fists Chapter. What dreadful fate could have overcome them that they ask for help?

Leaving the bulk of his company on Algol to prosecute the war against the nightmarish Tyranids, Severus sets off for Mithron with only a ten-man squad for support. Ultima Squad is a raw, untrained band of Battle-Brothers, all recently promoted from the ranks of Space Marine Scouts and thirsting for glory. Mithron will be their first taste of action as fully fledged Ultramarines. Severus, with his Sergeant Crastor and his apothecary Pythol, knows they'll need to keep a careful watch on the recruits.

On the tough and unforgiving surface of Mithron, Ultima Squad discovers that a terrible battle has taken place. The shrine has been attacked, and some great evil has been unleashed. As unseen dangers close in around them, the recruits have to mount a tense and deadly insertion to find any surviving Imperial Fists, and the reason behind the distress beacon.

For ambitious new recruits Proteus and Verenor, competitors for their captain's approval, the reality of the task ahead becomes clear. They want a glorious first taste of combat as fully fledged Space Marines to prove they are worthy of selection. But this mission is a savage fight for survival and, if the Ultramarines fail, events on Mithron will threaten the fate of millions of densely populated Imperial worlds starting with their fortress home of Macragge..."

From the teaser and trailers it looks like a worthwhile first venture into the movie franchise, despite some likening the animation to be no better than that of the Dawn of War series. While the animation may not have cost millions, like other feature length films, from what I've seen it'll get the story across just as well as well.

If I pre-order Ultramarines, it wont necessarily be for the state of the art animation, but rather to simply hear the story that is being told and to support the project so that they may be encouraged to create a second instalment.

Recon. Report #1

This morning I decided to be impulsive and stopped by my local Games Workshop supplier with the intention of buying a Space Marine bike. I had decided that instead of waiting till I've saved enough for the Assault on Black Reach (AoBR) box set, or I was on holiday and could get the paper marine going again, that I would buy a Space Marine bike as my first model as they are relatively inexpensive.

Space Marine bike with twin-linked bolters

The stockist however had other ideas, as they had neither the Space Marine bike, nor the Space Marine Scout bike, which I had considered as a back-up purchase. They did have the Chaplain on a bike set though, but I didn't buy it. I plan to rather use a model of Cassius as my Chaplain, which they didn't have either. Taking the limited product range as a sign, I will save my money till the next time I take a wander past the store. They did say that a new shipment is coming in soon, so maybe I'll be able to officially start my army then.

Last two eBooks & bonus audio book

I skipped posting about last weeks free eBook from Black Library because I had too many other things demanding my attention. But the penultimate free eBook, released on 25 October, was Trollslayer by William King.

Unlike the previous two novels released, this one is set in the Warhammer 'Fantasy' realm and is the first part of the Gortrek and Felix storyline. I have never actively read a fantasy book since having left secondary school. Now, having Trollslayer I had planned to change this. Well at least that's what I thought...

This Friday The Black Library released Honour of the Grave by Robin D. Laws as their free eBook. This novel is also part of the 'Fantasy' realm and while I like most trolls as much as the next person. I like dead things more. A lot more. In fact I even made skeleton costume for Halloween this year (which was the first time I actually dressed up for the event). Halloween was never celebrated here in South Africa while I was growing up, with the exception of the odd late night horror film on T.V. This year however, shopping centres seemed to have gone mad with Halloween decorations. I'm convinced there were more vampire, witch, pumpkin etc. decorations around now than there were rabbit and egg decorations around Easter time.

But enough on that. For me the title Honour of the Grave evokes more interest than simply Trollslayer. Honour of the Grave is open to more interpretation and having not even read the blurb about the book I want to read it. Trollslayer simply says to me, "there are trolls in this book, they will be slain." While I'm sure this is not the entire plot of the book and that it is a fine piece of literary work, I'll be reading the one with the catchy title first. This doesn't mean that I don't intend to read Trollslayer, it just means that I don't intend to read it immediately.

Prior to releasing these two eBooks, The Black Library also made the first CD of the audio book, Horus Rising available. The book was penned by Dan Abnett and this version is read by Martyn Ellis. I've tried listening to it while in bed, but as I've been getting to bed past midnight every night for the last few weeks, I haven't actually absorbed any of the story yet. I'll make a more committed attempt to get through at least the first chapter in an evening once I've had a few good nights sleep.