AloneInTheDark's movie Reviews on Newgrounds

[Blockhead: Episode 6]

I think I am missing something

I dont know why everyone is so enthousiastic about this series. Its not really well visualised and i really dont think its funny at all. Just some smilie with a body doing dorky stuff.
Well at least the humor isnt built around some popular video game or whatever so i give you kudos for that. In fact i like the concept of the guy having another person in his head interacting with blockhead. Its just poorly executed in my opinion.
The dialogue isnt really clever or anything and neither is the entire presentation of the thing. I am not saying you should draw extremely impressive backgrounds and make great animation, but just add some cool details to it or something. I even got annoyed by the voice acting of blockhead, even though the voice acting of his mind is done pretty well.
But like i said, the concept is original and i really see you put alot of effort in these, so keep it up!

AITD

The-Swain responds:

That's alright, it's not for everyone. I've said before that I never expected the cartoon to appeal to so many people, but I'm just glad that it has. To date, no one has created "art" that every person without exception can enjoy. I guess the game is that you work hard ant then take what you can get, huh?

(Shhh, and don't tell anyone, but I think that all these other voters are crrrrazy! KJHSGLKJSH!!!111)

[Only Superhuman]

Hey!

Ouch, i must have really hit a sensitive spot with my last review eh. Though I admit I was thorougly entertained by your response..

Anyway, I wont make this review a bashing but ill keep it honest. What i want to say about our previous disagreement is that you really should learn to take some crit or you'll never get far. Like i said, your response was funny, but it didnt deepen out one single point I mentioned (unoriginality by literally animating song, making the animation unimportant), to convince me otherwise. I dont know wether this was the case because there simply wasnt a well thought out response to them or if you were cooking in anger.
You are right at one thing though. My first flash movie Short Skirt Long Jacket is indeed a poorly constructed flash.
I made the same mistake by just making drawings to what i heard from the music, in the pace of the rythm of the song. Kinda like you still do with 3 years of experience under your belt.

So I went to check your profile to search for a movie i might enjoy (had to search long) but then i remember this one. The reason this is better than most of your other stuff is because you came up with your own concept for this. The music doesnt dictate the piece, but is only on the background to support the animation. The idea behind the animation was even clever at points and the humor subtle. Even though the drawings and color palette are still subpar, they did fit the atmosphere.

But hey this is written by a person who doesnt fall for the most simple and obvious funnyness imaginable in a flash movie. When something is funny it doesnt make it a good movie per instant. Just as the case is with drama or action. There has to be some sort of cleverness and originality in it in order for it to become good. Qualities that this particular toon has but which i cant find in the rest of your work.

AITD

TmsT responds:

Yep, I was making fun of your review to entertain the people who brought it to my attention. But you've still missed that fact that the overall story arc of behind the animation Geeks In Love (you, know the green guys, cupid, the assimilation, etc.) was not in the lyrics. I don't see the point in animating simply word-for-word without adding something extra, like a story or uniting visual theme. Anybody could do that. It looks to me like you're trying hard not to see the originality because I used so many references to other people's things. I'd like you to watch it a few more times, since I did add those other things for people who just aren't content to sit and watch an animation that stops and wonders where it is every time the singer stops providing the animator with words. ;)

[The Holy Sabbath]

Truly hilarious..

Funniest flash iv seen on NG yet. And iv been coming here for a couple of years now. Brilliant voice acting, script, characters & clever humor.

They should show this in church as a bible study.

AITD

[Avalanches]

I liked it

As a collection by your hand this is quite interesting. It gives a good insight in the way you experiment with style/concept and the themes you are interested in. However the individual shorts lacked direction and execution. They often had a nice idea behind them but they were too short and undetailed in order to be really convincing on their own. I know the entire idea of a collection like this is not the individual strength, but it still shouldnt be used as an excuse in my eyes.

But like i said before, as an entirety it gives a good idea who you are and what your vision is. I like that.... Alot

AITD

Foxcato responds:

Thanks alot for this review of yours:D
It's true that some of the movies are very short... but it's because some of them has something to do with eachother... like Small Snowflake and Blizzards. They both have the same theme of snow. From your last sentence I see (in your case anyway) that my goal has been achieved and that makes me happy.
PS. I hope to see some new stuff from you soon. I really enjoyed Renaissance.

[Bankomat]

kol belov

I love how you developped your own unique style over the years.
I love how you sweep away all the people who think a good animation has to have alot of frame by frame and special effects from the table.
I love how your characters are integrated with the backgrounds.
I love how they arent overly designed like most western animators do and how the environment, camera effects, characters and subtle effects are one coherent thing.
I love the original music you chose for your work.
I love the way you think out the color palette to fit the atmosphere of each individual animation.
I love the non commercial/non american feel your work has.
I love the dark themes you explore and the symbolism you use to portray them.
I love your work.

AITD

[moral sense]

Marvellous

Its not often you find animators with such an interesting unique vision on animating. I like the simple and unpretentious approach you have in your work. Both in concept and execution. Meh, not so motivated lately to write good reviews. Just take my word for it when i say you rock. The 10 is not only for this particular flash, but based on your entire work as a whole.

AITD

[-MASS-]

Original

That was a bizarre flash. Nice idea to make a movie for the ignored artist.

A strange psychedelic color palette combined with a melange of pixel and vector. Certainly an unusual combination that only worked because of the awesome soundtrack and frustrated message. I really felt the anger you tried to convey by watching this.

Not that i particularly agree with the message though, since i dont give a rats ass about who deserves their e-fame and who doesnt, but if that is what catches your attention and the foundation for your flash then i can only applaud that. Maybe this will sound weird but im glad you arent a star in proportions/realism and animating. The weird characters and simple environments gave it a unique artsy style.

Although a tad bit incoherent at some points where there was a too large shift between styles and technique it wasnt really as annoying as in most other movies. Maybe this is what you intended. All i can say is that it was an overall good original flash that will give some of us material to think about.

AITD

ZekeySpaceyLizard responds:

w00t

[Black Knights Episode 3]

Terribly amazing

That was so bloody awesome... From the moment it started all the way until the end.

I never really took my time to watch your other work, even though i saw it on the frontpage.. and i regret that now. It takes ambition and motivation to take make flash with big stories like this, but you seem to handle it very well.

The thing thats always hard to do right in this type of flash is to create a believable atmosphere. Unnatural drawings, crappy sound effects or bad pace usually ruin it for the viewer to really enjoy. However, all of these elements were approached with great care and never became at a single point annoying. Your drawing style reminds me of the one of granfaloon, only more realistic. Im not saying thats a better thing, its just different and gives it the right personal touch.

The camera work was very well done and only at a few scenes it was a bit over the top. For example, when the blonde guy was slaughtering, the action sequences were mixed with shots that focused on the grass and environment only. Its a good thing to contrast battle and environment, but if you do so, you have to make the environment more interesting to watch. Draw like a forrest on the background, and some more objects and things (e.g: flying birds, a castle.. anything). This way, these shots will not come across as a lazy way of skipping battle, but as a very interesting addition that adds depth to the story.

Another thing you might want to work a bit more on are the hands of the characters. I know how much of a pain they can be, but since you proportioned and detailed the characters so well, you should do the same with the hands.

I would be stupid though to give you a bad or average grade just because of these small minors, but they do prevent me from giving you the full 10. Next thing on my agenda is to watch all your other flash movies and for the long term ill be looking out for the rest of your work!

AITD