Mass Effect: Paragon Lost Review: Pointless Pretty CGI

The “Mass Effect” series is a huge phenomenon in video game culture. It has spawned countless spin off products so of course a big budget animated movie was inevitable. “Mass Effect: Paragon Lost” is that movie and it’s more interested in money than anything else.

The movie takes place between “Mass Effect 2” and “Mass Effect 3” where James Vega and a team of marines are stationed to protect a colony called Fehl Prime. The colony is attacked by an alien race of bugs and the colonists are all taken hostage. Now Vega and crew must rescue the colonists.

The story has little substance; not much happens and it’s obvious that this movie was made to cash in on the “Mass Effect” brand. The film starts off with a pointless battle scene that only serves to make this movie 110 minutes. It all dragged on way too long. It’s more of a video game than a movie.

As for the cast, this movie has managed to make Vega into a likable character. Something “Mass Effect 3” has failed to do considering how many fans have not even given him the time of day. This is exemplified by the excellent talent of Freddie Prinze Jr. doing his voice. He has taken this character and made him his own. The other noteworthy character is the Asari Treeya voiced by Monica Rial. She and Prince were the glimmers of hope this movie had even though Treeya was reduced to nothing more than love interest.

The rest of the cast is forgettable. In fact, they’re just nothing more than background, serve no purpose to the story, can be easily categorized and they do not change at all. There’s The Chick, The Techie, The Annoying dude who always hits on The Chick. Then there’s The Sniper, The Token Black Guy and the Commanding Officer. It’s obvious these characters were put in just so there can be more characters and to be killed off. When they do the audience feels nothing for them because they are so poorly developed that the audience doesn’t even notice them. Not to mention the voice acting for these characters range from grating to barely passable.

The animation by Production IG is quite possibly the only other thing this movie has going for it. Since this is the same company that made “Ghost in the Shell,” everything from the character designs to the backgrounds are simply awe inspiring. There are details in practically everything, the colony looks just brilliant and the battle scenes are some of the best animated scenes in years. This is probably one of few movies that would look better in 3D.

“Mass Effect: Paragon Lost” may look gorgeous but the total lack of decent storyline and well written characters is what brings down it down to the surface.