Drew Tavares

Halo is a video game franchise that holds near and dear to my heart. When I first saw the announcement of a live-action series during E3 2013, my excitement levels reached to the stars. Legendary filmmaker, Steven Spielberg, was originally set to be the showrunner. With his longtime experience in the sci-fi and action genres, there was nothing more a Halo fan could ask for. Knowing that one of the greatest filmmakers was helming a live-action adaptation of a beloved gaming franchise was reassuring. Unfortunately, those plans did not last long, as the show went through many years of development hell. It seemed like the show was dead in the water, until Showtime and Paramount partnered to produce it. Nearly nine years later the “global hit” show released its first season, but at what cost? Was it worth finishing this fight?

Focal Point Reviews turn the spotlight onto various films, to show the reader the foundational aspects of the motion picture, and how those various building blocks form its identity. Logline An aging Chinese immigrant is swept...