robototron's movie Reviews on Newgrounds

[Im Sorry -_-]

confession falls short

Your author's comments indicated this is a serious work, so I'll critique it as such.

Overall the most important thing in an apology is not saying you're sorry, but acknowledging what you've specifically done wrong and why you've hurt others. Following that, "I'm sorry" means so much more.

And I don't just say that as someone who has had to aplogize many times, or who has desired an apology many times...

As a viewer, I didn't get that from you. I got a lot of "I'm sorry," but I didn't truly understand why, and for what you are sorry about. As a result, your animation - which came off sincere and uncontrived (something few "serious" animations here on NG manage to do; so, bravo!) - fell short of poignancy.

Visually, the graphics and illustration were well rendered. But, I think the style you used to illustrate the person was both too slick (something we might see on some hip, modern ad or MTV clip), and it also did not provide you with the means to show us nuances in the face, which can portray emotion.

I think that this "genre" (if you can call it that) can be very effective. For reference, you may want to buy/download a song by Slint called "Good Morning, Captain." It's one of the most haunting, moving, cathartic songs ever - and it's almost entirely spoken/screamed word (very Slint).

The song closes with this:

I'm trying to find my way home.

I'm sorry...
...and I miss you.

I miss you.
I've grown taller now.
I want the police to be notified.
I'll make it up to you,
I swear, I'll make it up to you.

I miss you.

You must hear it. And then I think you might see the value of providing richer detail and the appropriate atmosphere. Hope this helps.

[-=The Wheel=-]

for what it IS (not what it could be)

First of all, I just want to say it's funny that you keep copying and pasting the same response to almost everyone - and I think there's good reason for you to be repeating yourself. I like what you're saying (judge it for what it, not what it could be).

So, for what it is...

The car is drawn well. The movie suffers from a serious perspective problem. You have a good concept. The concept is not capitalized on at all, and there really are no "trials and tribulations" - it's just a tire going over the various natural obstacles. Though the music makes sense contextually, it's quite annoying and distracting.

You must understand that it is difficult for us to watch something and not think about its potential, which (whether you like it or not) your idea DOES have (that's a good thing, by the way). But for what it is, it's pretty flawed.

Just a quick preemption to any response that accuses me (or other reviewers) of sounding like a crusty old man, or needing a life, etc.: The purpose of reviews are to highlight both the positive and negative. Some people here on NG review things just to say shitty things and insult, but there are others who are honestly critiquing your work - you put the time in to make it; we put the time in to watch, consider, and review.

JohnMcCaffrey responds:

Thanks for the long review. Yeah, I worked pretty hard on it, but I'm not much of a professional artist. I understand that it is not that good and would probably get better reviews if finished, but I just don't have enough time anymore. The "trials and tribulations" thing was refering to the symbolism of the obstacles as we (people) are the tire. I guess that's it. Thanks again.

[Eric'sDemented Project]

Good concept with a somewhat flawed execution

I have good things to say, so let me first get some of the criticisms out of the way:

1. A little bit on the long side for all its content.

2. Too much pointless violence (cutting some of it could help the problem above).

3. Seemed like you (or your friend) didn't quite know how to end it.

OK, on to the things that were good:

1. There were some very cool concepts.

2. The beginning seemed almost like an homage to "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."

3. The drawings were rough, but the animation was great, making it appear nice and stylized.

To you and your friend, I implore you to track down an animation (not Flash) by Richard Condie. Once every blue moon, it is aired on television, but I'm sure you can buy it from the National Film Board of Canada (it will probably come on a compilation with other short animations, which will also be amazing). It's called "L'apprenti" or "The Apprentice" and it was made in 1991 - and was even nominated for an Academy Award (it won a ton of other awards, too).

I refer you to this animation because I think one section of your animation (the guy who is "stuck" in the same place, though he has no idea of his surroundings) echoes "L'apprenti," which handles every moment, and the entire story PERFECTLY. Additionally, that animation has just the right mix of funny/pointless violence and general narrative (watch for the dragon/monster thing...which your animation also has). And lastly, "L'apprenti" is drawn almost laughably rough, but the animation, like yours, is spot-on.

Really, I know you're probably not motivated to spend the time and effort of getting it, but you will be so glad if you did. I've seen "L'Apprenti" and Condie's other (and, actually, better) "The Big Snit" probably about a hundred times each, and they never get old - only funnier.

AlterEgoZ777 responds:

ic...well i thoughty that was a good ending and yea i ggotta chwck that out thanx...

[the bad job]

Very good

Not only is it a good joke, but the author really has a great sense of timing and when to step back. The extended pause at the end only adds to the payoff, and the fact that the last line is "So, what's your job?" is the only way this could have ended successfully. Trying to cash in with a line after that must have been tempting, but it would have ruined the whole thing.

Also, the whole "they throw you out when you go bald" is a pretty good concept on its own. So, really, this didn't feel like I was just sitting through one big set up, waiting for a rimshot.

Author: I think there might be one small goof, but it actually made it funnier. When you were talking about the consequences of not using tissue, I think you said "...running down into your nose" when you might have meant "....running down into your mouth." Either way, like I said, that actually made it better - as if someone is getting so heated up that their brain is working faster than their mouth can handle the words.

Nice.

baskotoiea responds:

thank you for your thoughtfull coment, and you are right, in fact, we were really working hard to get a good rant in there with many times being cut off by a phone rign and such, and do we were pretty worked up about it, which did give it a good affect, thank you and we will make more.

[Oddgods-0]

!!!!!!

Somehow, the person in the last review called the animation in this movie "sub par." I'm baffled. This is perhaps one of the most beautifully and uniquely visual things I have seen on NG. As I said in another "Oddgods" review, I hope the NFB picks you up someday, author.

[Oddgods-2]

unique and very good

Really wonderful work. The author has impeccable references. The only issue I take with this movie is the cut-out art at the end (I'll leave it vague to prevent giving anything away). Not because it wasn't effective, but I would have preferred the animation to remain pure because it was so gorgeous.

I hope someday to see your work released by the NFB, it's that good.

[Street Life with Tyrone]

strong effort, decent movie

this movie had some really funny moments, and the author has a great sense for dry humor (school supply store = liquor store;the apartment complex is called "Shitty Apartments," etc.). But the movie suffered from a few flaws, that I think the author can avoid next time around. Here are some things that I found that held this back from being an all great movie:

1. the pacing was a bit slow. the "jordans" bit could have been great (and, sadly true as i learned once in high school), but it all happened a bit slowly.

2. stronger narrative. i understand this was the first "tyrone" movie, so it serves as a sort of introduction, but i found that the movie was a bit too aimless. by the time it's the end, i felt like you had a great character, some decent jokes, flash skills, but didn't want to spend anymore time in pre-production with figuring out a good story. trust me, it pays off when the viewer has something to hold on to.

3. music choice: except for the intro music, i generally found the music way out of place. i was surprised to hear so much rock-based music, when this movie was SCREAMING for some west coast gangsta-gangsta shit (NWA, old Cube, etc). i was flat out baffled to hear ska at the opening of the liquor store scene.

nit-picky stuff:

1. 40's don't cost 24 bucks. If the guy had about 8 of them, then maybe it would 24 bucks, but the one or two (it was hard to tell) wouldn't have come close. BUT, the "I can't break a fifty! get the fuck out my store!" was hilarious.

2. Backgrounds: I liked your backgrounds - kind of sketchy and lopsided and random. But, such a location-specific movie like this probably could have funnier backgrounds.

OK, that's it. I wrote so much because I enjoyed it, not because I'm trying to criticize. Over all, good work!

FunkMobileX responds:

- I thought the music choice was good, but whatever.
- I know it wouldn't cost 24 bucks, it was supposed to be a joke about it costs so damn much. No one would pay for something thats $4 with a fifty.
-Yeah the backrounds were like the things i worked the least on heh

thanks for the long review.

[Fast Food Grunge Junkies]

grunge/fast food superheroes

suggestions for storyline:

They find out that Sub Pop - the former headquarters of grunge justice - has been infiltrated by affected hipsters (postal service, for instance). they beat the piss out of all the villians who are now on Sub Pop, rescuing it and grunge music. Grunge music makes a resurgence, and the heroes celebrate with fast food - jack in the box, of course.

[Crashed]

contrived

My head hurts from the baseball bat that is this movie pounding my skull with its contrived messages.

Teen angst, pain, loneliness, death, the writing life. All to the soundtrack of Blink 182. Oh my.

Overdramatic. Cliche. Those are two other words that just came to mind from this movie.

halfwired responds:

well, we can never please everybody. though thanx for the time reviewing it. nothing against the cliched sort of thing, just got a different msg from a stupid song.

[Water on the Knee]

uh

this was so bad it circles back around to good, goes past good and becomes bad all over again only to circle past bad, bypass good, and land somewhere near kitschy, trashy, basement, horrible funny-terrible.

oh my god, man!

Let's critique the song...
Flow: Bottom of the barrel bad. Embarrassingly bad. Thus, funny.
Beat: Endless and boring to the point of funny.
Lyrics: So bad it must have been a hell of an effort to come up with lyrics so bad. Thus, funny.

Now the visuals:
Quality: More pixelated than a Fisher-Price PXL 2000. Thus, funny (to me, at least).
Wardrobe: Many ridiculous outfits, where you don't know if the MC what's-his-name is trying to be funny or cool. You decide he's going for both, and failing at both. Thus, funny.

And I have to mention the friends in the background, who like a mix between discoteque-goers and secret service agents. I don't know why, but their presence is utterly out of place. Thus, funny.

That had to be the worst...WORST song I have ever heard. That had to be one of the worst - WORST - movies I have ever seen.

But I love having record setting experiences, so i am grateful for this.