Six years in the making and standing as the first feature length film about the Zelda series, independent film company BMB Finishes developed “Hero of Time”. The movie stars David Blane as Link, Hannah Fierman as Princess Zelda, and Adam Boyer as the power obsessed Ganondorf.
“The Legend of Zelda” video games are fantasy action-adventure games released exclusively on Nintendo consoles and have sold over 57 million copies since the release of the first game in 1986.
“The Hero of Time” is a loose retelling of “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” (1998) for the Nintendo 64 game console. In both the game and film, the young hero Link learns more about his connections to the mysterious Triforce and his true role in the world. The Triforce is a divine gift bestowed by the Sages that help hold the world in balance. It is divided into three parts: the Triforce of Courage, the Triforce of Power, and the Triforce of Wisdom. Link was born with the mark of the Triforce of Courage, and has been hunted down by Ganondorf, who holds the Triforce of Power. Princess Zelda holds the Triforce of Wisdom and needs link to protect her, and prevent Ganondorf from controlling the world.
Gregory Jones, who attended the Los Angeles screening, commented that, “There was a lot of passion put into it.” When asked if it lives up to the Zelda name, he said, “Considering the production values, yes. It was fun.”
Mr. Triplett, a lifelong fan of the games, said that “Hero of Time” was for, “Someone coming to see a movie put together by fans, for the sake of what it is.”
The film’s re-creation of this story was in some parts very faithful to the source material, while in others it was downright silly and a bit violent, such as when Link chops off the head of one his attackers.
And while the film clearly was shot on a shoestring budget, the acting of certain players was amateurish at best, characterized by an uncertainty and nervousness in their delivery. In the games, Link is a silent protagonist who is humble and courageous, but in the movie he is clumsy and unsure of himself. There was also far too much telling and not enough showing, as the movie was interspersed with lengthy monologues about who each person was and what they planned to do.
Fortunately the special effects were accurate portrayals of Ocarina of Time. Certainly not comparable to Hollywood, but they do the job and faithfully recreate the fantasy setting of Hyrule. Large medieval castles and villages, a Temple of Time, the Lost Woods, a hedge maze and the Kokiri Forest were all present and helped bring the world to life.
On a high note, the music is excellent and ties the film together with a lavish orchestral score based on the original video games.
Moviegoers appeared to appreciate its independent nature because it stayed true to the source material. On the other hand, this movie shows the potential of what a dedicated feature with a Hollywood budget could accomplish.
Producer/Lead Actor David Blane said, “Support from the fans has been incredible. A whole community of people sprung up to support us.” He said he developed and starred in the film because of his love for the games, and he’s happy that people around world are able to enjoy the movie.
David also announced at the Los Angeles screening that the full version of Hero of Time will be exclusively available for download on DailyMotion.com in mid December, 2009.
More information on the film can be found at http://www.theherooftime.com
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