Comments on: The Monad http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/04/01/the-monad/ Thoughts on Machinima and Life, and whether the two can peacefully co-exist Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:13:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: kradproductions http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/04/01/the-monad/#comment-5868 kradproductions Thu, 03 Apr 2008 02:53:06 +0000 http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/04/01/the-monad/#comment-5868 That was truly magnificent. What really did it for me was the film’s aesthetic and overall grittiness. The world just looked dark and dank and in need of reform. The look he chose and the way it was juxtaposed with the theme really made the visuals speak as much as the characters. Excellent cinematography too – there are just too many great shots to mention. The one from about 11:28-11:33 was my favorite. It was beautiful. Dark and grimy and then through the door and it’s suddenly bright – an epiphany and another example where the visuals are a metaphor to the plot. It would have required a lot of equipment, time, and forethought to duplicate with an actual camera in real life and it’s interesting to see it featured in a movie with this kind of theme. Kind of a bitter sweet sort of thing; the condemnation of society’s obsession with the virtual but a shot that embraced what the virtual can accomplish that “RL” can’t in a way that is comparably effortless. I don’t know where I’m going with this… I just thought it was an awesome shot. :-P Shame about the audio and the noise with the voiceovers, but I thought the acting was terrific. The lip syncing was right on too, and that’s why it was a shame to see that brief amount of clipping at about 4:27. In any other movie I likely wouldn’t have noticed it, but this movie was so damn perfect all the way around that that little bit seemed to stand out. The music was great as well. Damn. This is one I need to watch a few more times to take in all of it! That was truly magnificent. What really did it for me was the film’s aesthetic and overall grittiness. The world just looked dark and dank and in need of reform. The look he chose and the way it was juxtaposed with the theme really made the visuals speak as much as the characters. Excellent cinematography too – there are just too many great shots to mention. The one from about 11:28-11:33 was my favorite. It was beautiful. Dark and grimy and then through the door and it’s suddenly bright – an epiphany and another example where the visuals are a metaphor to the plot. It would have required a lot of equipment, time, and forethought to duplicate with an actual camera in real life and it’s interesting to see it featured in a movie with this kind of theme. Kind of a bitter sweet sort of thing; the condemnation of society’s obsession with the virtual but a shot that embraced what the virtual can accomplish that “RL” can’t in a way that is comparably effortless. I don’t know where I’m going with this… I just thought it was an awesome shot. :-P

Shame about the audio and the noise with the voiceovers, but I thought the acting was terrific. The lip syncing was right on too, and that’s why it was a shame to see that brief amount of clipping at about 4:27. In any other movie I likely wouldn’t have noticed it, but this movie was so damn perfect all the way around that that little bit seemed to stand out. The music was great as well. Damn. This is one I need to watch a few more times to take in all of it!

]]> By: Overman http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/04/01/the-monad/#comment-5746 Overman Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:25:45 +0000 http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/04/01/the-monad/#comment-5746 @Tom: "Thank you Phil, very pleasant surprise." You're welcome, my friend. I hope this helps make up for our rough April 1 last year. :) @Tom: “Thank you Phil, very pleasant surprise.”

You’re welcome, my friend. I hope this helps make up for our rough April 1 last year. :)

]]> By: Nefarious Guy http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/04/01/the-monad/#comment-5745 Nefarious Guy Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:04:58 +0000 http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/04/01/the-monad/#comment-5745 Wow! That was very impressive. The cinematography and virtual performances were some of the best I've ever seen in a machinima. Truly shows the power of FacePoser. The voice acting was also very good. Wow! That was very impressive. The cinematography and virtual performances were some of the best I’ve ever seen in a machinima. Truly shows the power of FacePoser. The voice acting was also very good.

]]> By: Ricky Grove http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/04/01/the-monad/#comment-5743 Ricky Grove Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:53:13 +0000 http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/04/01/the-monad/#comment-5743 Yes, the character animations and facial expressions are truly wonderful. Remarkable, in fact. I'm also partial to the voice performers as well. Some really great work there. Sam, the director, did a superb job of creating a unique style to fit the story. The shot where the the camera pans off into the sky and it becomes a video game is beautiful. Reminded me of a Wong Kar Wai film. When you see work this good, it is an inspiration. Yes, the character animations and facial expressions are truly wonderful. Remarkable, in fact. I’m also partial to the voice performers as well. Some really great work there. Sam, the director, did a superb job of creating a unique style to fit the story. The shot where the the camera pans off into the sky and it becomes a video game is beautiful. Reminded me of a Wong Kar Wai film. When you see work this good, it is an inspiration.

]]> By: Tom http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/04/01/the-monad/#comment-5720 Tom Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:24:27 +0000 http://z-studios.com/blog/2008/04/01/the-monad/#comment-5720 This is, without any doubt in my mind, best HL2 movie I ever saw, and one of the best Machinima's there is. Quite next to my favourite of all times "The Day After". This guy knows a lot; how to work with actors, how to move camera, how to plan sequence, where to cut and why. I am seriously impressed and thanks god that from time to time somebodies movie quest isn't to mimic "real" movie, but to make something with awareness of media and form he use. Thank you Phil, very pleasant surprise. This is, without any doubt in my mind, best HL2 movie I ever saw, and one of the best Machinima’s there is. Quite next to my favourite of all times “The Day After”.
This guy knows a lot; how to work with actors, how to move camera, how to plan sequence, where to cut and why.
I am seriously impressed and thanks god that from time to time somebodies movie quest isn’t to mimic “real” movie, but to make something with awareness of media and form he use.
Thank you Phil, very pleasant surprise.

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