...I kinda thought the angles and stuff were pretty cool. Maybe I just really like amateur or shaky-cam movies... reminded me of 28 Days/Evil Dead/Matrix

it was fun.

It was tea time.

The Open Letter To Neighborhoodies Series is the best ever.

I'm just saying he's not wrong. It's his opinion, let him have it.

We are "letting him have it" :p

Hahaha

*rimshot*

Keep thinking that.

I got accpeted into New York Film Acedemy last night! im so happy! (its not that off the topic)

I'd like to see how Bill reacts when his five year old son hands him a crayon drawing.

"WHAT IS THIS? A STICK FIGURE? PEOPLE AREN'T STICK FIGURES! COME ON! YOU'RE FIVE-FRICKIN'-YEARS OLD! LEARN TO DRAW, YOU TALENTLESS SNOT!"

I'd like to see how you react when you realize that you're a failure at everything because you do not aspire to be good.

In that case, Bill, please explain how Wolfy's Life of a Merchant II level happens to be the only Jedi Knight Single-Player level on Massassi, with a 10.

I rarely say this ...
BUT
*ahem*
pwnt!

Okay, you guys should all lay off Bill. You can't really get mad at him for criticizing their work. I'm a high school student, and if i submitted an absolutely crappy JO level, you would all dis it. But according to your logic, I'm just a kid doing something for fun, so there wouldn't be anything wrong with it.

True (I am sorry Bill, I'm not trying to get on your case), but the level of expertise that went into this film far exceeds even most "good" JO levels.

For example:
This movie involved about a dozen people (perhaps more), had actors, a cameraman, script, music, special effects, and choreographed scenes. It required co-operation, time, perhaps some money, and sufficient software/equipment.

A JO level would most likely be made by one person, been done entirely on a computer, no human time other than the creator was used (no wages), and would have at most a minimum of the other features the above movie had. Plus Cutscenes, or "movies" are often much harder to make than an open-ended game, because in a movie/cutscene, everything has to be planned out, and if you mess up, you have to start over from square one again. In a game, the player decides what happens.

Also taking into account this movie takes a lot more physical exertion and energy and probably a great deal of patience, I think the movie is very good for an amateur production. Besides, we don't know how long it took to make the movie.

Bah, you've got a point there...

There'd a difference between being critical of someones work, and downright dissing it.

Bill was being (unrealisticly) analytical of the work... but he was downright calling it crap. Not in a nice way, either.

In all pratical senses, he is "right." But these people were not trying to obtain the level of acheivment he is comparing it to, and they know they did not acheive that level. If they were bragging "OMG WE ARE THE AWSOME!" I'd take bills side. But they are just doing it for kicks, so ..

The beginning of that second movie, what movie did that song come from? It sounds so familar.....


Sounds like something Maddox would say...

It's actually the main theme from the Russian Ballet, "Peter and the Wolf." Ironically, I watched this the day after watching my sister perform in that exact sme ballet.

>.>
<.<

0.o

Cool. Which program?

I took the Dalton course a few years back... Its great. You pretty much learn from experience. Teachers help you with the technical aspect, but for the craft, it was mostly how to tell a story, not as much visual suggestions.

You should come out of the experience knowing a fair bit about film.



I think that Bill does take their age seriously. If he didn't take their age seriously, he wouldn't expect any more than what he recieved. I agree with Bill, I found this unejoyable because it lacked craft. I mean, in addition to the lack of craft, I just found it incredibly boring to see a bunch of people running around in a gym shooting at each other... it felt that people would 'take cover' behind absolutely nothing. To that extent, it was just totally boring to watch... I mean even 5th graders who play paintball have the common sense to not just stand in an open area and try and shoot people.. they try and stand behind things. To this extent, I think it was insanely boring to have this story take place in a gym. I mean I can't tell you how many times I've walked into a room into rooms and said "this would make an awesome location for a fight scene!" A fight scene like this in a library would have been AWESOME. That would have been so much cooler!

With the exception of how the fight starts (which is definately the best part of the movie) I really don't find anything redeeming about this film. The acting sucks, the shots are thoughtlessly done, it uses tons of cliches... I've seen people in MIDDLE SCHOOL who have created more interesting things than this, nevermind high school students, who have produced some AMAZING short films.

I don't think that everyone deserves to be commended on how hard they work if the final product is crap. I'm in a band, and if I preform and sing off key, why should you enjoy my work? Just because I'm a cute little 17 year old? Not at all. If you don't like my singing, tell me so I know it sucks. If your good at being a critic, then you will have helped me get better. I have become a better singer because I've been critique by people who were willing to outline points, just like Bill is doing now. He didn't simply say he disliked it. He said why.

You have no reason to hide criticism from people. Infact, if these people really cared about creating projects like this one, than they would LOVE to hear Bill's criticism, because that's the only way you get better. If they didn't want to hear it, they probably don't care. I doubt they think this is a flawless work of art. Take it from someone who has worked in a wage range of similar medias (film, music, etc.)

...Honestly... some of you people need to grow up.

Apparantly I'm not alone.

Not at all. I'm hear for ya, dude.

Bill, just curious, what's your favorite movie?

Wow, some people are so cynical. I suggest both of you guys go watch Bambi, and take his mother's advice to heart, and I quote:
"If you don't have anything nice to say, shut the hell up you critical whiners" ~Bambi's Mom

I don't pick favorites. Because I think that no one movie can really be the best. And the real question is, what is my favorite... or what do I think is the BEST...

Favorite top 3:

Pulp Fiction, Fight Club, and High Fidelity

Best Ever:

Gladiator, Platoon, and High Fidelity

Reasons:

Pulp Fiction has those great long establishing shots that most movies would cut away from, but it holds them for an entire scene. I think that's quite cool. It's also got that wit and language that people actually use. It's not too clever to be realistic. I also thought it was really special that Tarantino decided to rearrange the story so that the most dramatic part actually happens at the end, and the movie flows better because of it.

Fight Club is on the favorites list simply because it's a very well shot movie, and I think the concept and storyline are amazing. Yes I have read the book. No I don't like it more. Fight Club has the ability to present some real questions, and throw a ton of dark humor and depression in, and still manage to be fun 95% of the time.

High Fidelity I think captures the male psyche better than any movie ever made. It simply shows what we are really thinking. Alot of girls that I know don't really like it, because they think Rob is a jerk and whatnot, but the truth is... it's the truth. Major props to Nick Hornby for writing the book. The movie stays pretty close to it. Probably my favorite movie of all time if I had to pick one.

Gladiator because... well come on. It's a Ridley Scott film. The man does not have the ability to make a bad movie. I quote him in saying "you have to know the rules before you can break the rules." In Gladiator he really doesn't follow any of the rules for how to shoot a movie, but it still comes through in flying colors. He puts the camera in relationships that should confuse us beyond belief when we watch this movie, but his characters are defined enough that it doesn't matter. We are wholely absorbed by this movie from start to end.

Platoon because I think it's the most down to earth war movie ever made. It doesn't go hollywood on us at any time. It stays nice and realistic the whole way through. I have never watched another war movie that manages to do this. Even SPR goes hollywood a half dozen times or so. This movie is about these men stuck out there in 'Nam fighting themselves and trying to make it through each night. What makes it even more special is that it is mostly based off of Oliver Stone's real world Vietnam experiences.



That list could probably be better, but that's what I got right now.

Darn it, of all the movies on that list, I've only seen Gladiator. I really like movies, I just don't have the time to see movies. I need to watch some more movies.

Hey, this video's better than I can do...
Cheesy, but still moderately entertaining.

Sniper = hahaha!

*bang*
...
*looks*
...
...
aghghghghg!!

Baskettumbleweedball anyone?

Wow. Maybe you just don't see that the the line between cynicism and criticism isn't even close to a fine line.

You blatently choose to ignore the fact that if you want to get anywhere in life creating 'art' in any of its forms, you need criticism.

Wow, apparently you haven't been to an art gallery lately.

There was a PLAIN RED CANVAS, just a sheet of canvas, painted a single shade of red, without any texture or design, painted just as you would paint a wall in your house. It sold for well over a million dollars. In other words: The art world is stupid, and this is just an entertaining video. Is it so hard to just enjoy something for what it's worth without criticizing it for what it's not?

Man you got the wrong idea. I'm criticizing it for what it is .

It IS a good amateur film
It IS NOT a good amateur film with <whatever you are complaining it needs> and withou <whatever you are complaining it shouldn't have>

Yarr.

Listen. I've said this once, and I'll say it again:

We don't know how the people who made this film feel. It could be that they don't care much about making films; they had a good idea, and decided to pursue it for the sake of it. In which case, they probably wouldn't care that we have critiqued it.

However, it could be that they are interested in making movies, and really want to pursue becoming experienced in the craft of making a short film. In this case, they would probably be excited to be given information which would help them to become better film makers.

What you utterly fail to see is this isn't a matter of putting something down. This isn't a matter of "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." If people only said nice things about any type of project like this (be it writing, music, movies, photography) then nothing would get done, and nobody would be good at everything. I'll tell you right now if I posted all of my songs on the massassi music forum and was greeted with nothing but "great job! keep it up!" then I would not have gotten better... I mean I have posted some songs of pretty bad quality. If I was told they were great, then I would have no idea what I could accomplish.

Nothing that Bill and I said was anything but constructive critisicm.

This thread is extremely sad, and I suggest all you flamers cut it out before the ops come and whack you with a ban-stick.

It was funny.

Well I sure hope they read this thread then to take advantage of all your constructive comments

If I'm banned for what I have said, then I don't want to be part of this community.

Alas I havn't said anything making me worthy of being banned.



You know what? You've been right all along. I'm sure when they see this thread they'll be glad that you defended them tooth and nail.

The point is, the world isn't a happy fun super fairy land where everything is okay and we can't judge. People have opinions. Your opinion is that it was awesome. My opinion was that it was great and also that it did not have very good cinematography. Bill's opinion was that it was not good. Welcome to the real world. Stop whining, everyone.

Finally...!

Thanks, I knew it sounded familar....