Review of 2 Epic

Introduction

Ian Paterson`s 2Epic is an independent video production. Distributed exclusively through "Superteam Productions" (the filmmakers` website), there is little background information on these apparent guerilla filmmakers. One thing is certain, however, the level of technical expertise displayed makes me doubtful that they are "amateur" moviemakers. Although there are some rough edges, the production values are outstanding for a low budget production. Well shot in available light (just one or two instances where a fill light or a reflector is noticeable by its absence) and immaculately edited (Rik Booth should watch this a couple of hundred times to learn editing skills), the real eye-opener is the outstanding effects work. Although there are some rather ropey CGI spacecraft and creature effects, far more impressive are the doppelganger shots where star Peter Ward appears in two-shot with himself. The latter part of the movie takes place on an alien world (depicted by false colour).

This is a surprisingly impressive science fantasy potboiler of the Man Who Haunted Himself variety. There, a genre that fits it. I claim my prize. A bespectacled everyman (Peter Ward) is thoroughly disconcerted when a stranger who looks exactly like him turns up on the doorstep. He is thrown into a series of adventures as a result that would frankly give some top budget television programmes a run for their money, and are certainly a lot more entertaining.

Peter Ward leads the cast, playing both the impassive doppleganger and the everyman hero out of his depth. He is the only player identified on the box, as otherwise the end credits only list the actors, not the roles they play.

Video

The video is presented in 4:3, and appears to have been shot on DV.

Audio

LPCM Stereo

Features

There is a behind the scenes, which unfortunately consists of the actors arsing around embarrassingly. There are some outtakes and deleted scenes, but nothing you haven`t seen a million times on a million other discs.

Conclusion

I`m always at a disadvantage when I have little background information on a movie and 2 Epic suffers from having no background information. All I have had to go on was the movie itself, the box illustration and the Superteam Productions website, none of which give any information you might be able to use in forming a judgement about the movie.

I think it`s an amateur independent movie - made by a group of enthusiast actors and technicians. If that`s the case, then it`s the most impressive production of that type I`ve ever seen. If they`re professionals, it`s still impressive. Their website states the movie was submitted to Cannes 2006. If it didn`t win anything, then there`s no justice.