FourSwordsKing's movie Reviews on Newgrounds

['inhaler']

Oh, dear God...

I'm kind of afraid to review this, all by my lonesome. But I'll try nonetheless.

So, to start it all off: I don't know what animation programs you were using and what type of process you used, whether it was just the regular, more to terms today type of animation where you just drawing it frame by frame on your computer or if it was the more authentic version of scrap paper and shipping it over to some Asian country to where the animation is actually done (but in this case, I guess you guys are the Asians). I know the whole point of the movie was to animate something in less than a day, but in 4 hours: a 25 second or less film that didn't even slightly raise my spirits? That's just relentless.

Once the man had sniffed the coffee cup up to his nose, I was expecting some type of punchline from the guy who was staring; watching this guy with a dead-eye look---eyes that could break your soul easy. So I watched for 3 seconds....4....5....okay, so it's at 6, bu- what the fuck just happened? That's it!? I just had as little emotion left in me as the two characters in this short.

Now, although the characters seemed to fail to emote something to me, they were kind of well drawn in this case. I don't know if the whole...what, wrinkled paper? look was what you were going for, but it seemed to add to the bland effect of the short.

Overall, I just wanted more. Now that I read your author's comments COMPLETELY, embarassingly enough, I see that you say this is only part of the animation. I'm not sure if that means there is more or whether you were just lying in general. Some may think my review is a little brutal considering that you're probably using (I'm hoping) a little more advanced things than just regular ol' Flash CSwhatever the hell they're at now. If your goal is to complete one in less than a day, then shouldn't you give yourself a little bit more time to clean it up a bit? You have another 20 hours to go...why not do a little bit of maid service?

Ham-head responds:

Thanks for the review. I'm sorry that you didn't like it. I made it by myself. It is a stand alone thing, my friends animated their own individual shorts. I'm sorry that you didn't understand the humour or stylistic choices. It was meant to be rushed because it was simply just a quick animation exercise we wanted to try, I wasn't looking for beautiful animation here. By the way, from your review it seems as though you have very little understanding of the use of animation for anything other than cheap jokes and internet humour. Sorry.

[the Internet Pals]

Can't say much at all.

...other than this is completely relevant to the revolving world going 'round and 'round. Myspace: forcefully dying. Facebook: making changes to be a well secured social media site. Google: trying to remake and become friends with Facebook without taking it's name (of course, if Google really wanted to be friends with Facebook without resorting to G+, they could always friend them on Facebook). Twitter and Youtube were both mentioned, but Twitter it's more to-the-point type of social media and Youtube is out there with just....media.

That's the thing though, you try to keep things relevant within your comedic animations and, in my eyes, that just ruins the fun of it. Yes, I got a few cackles out of the penis jokes (then again, who on newgrounds wouldn't), but other than that, it's just the same politically forward type of comedy over and over again whenever a thing that actually has to do with the world is discussed. See, it's kind of like the President of the U.S. right now, Obama. People bang down on him with all these useless political features that he's been trying to add to make America "a more suitable environment to live in," but most people actually see around all that and make a few black guy jokes here and there (sorry if I offend anybody, just putting a point across).

So yeah, to sum it all up: this little short, although grounded to reality if you're looking for something like that, comes up standing at my stomach of expectations, and all it's making that stomach do it churn, making it long for a few irrelevant knocks on the door of that sweet, sweet non-political media humor that, most people nowadays not only long for, but strive for; trying to recreate the humor in their own image. Where has that gone to?

[Cheromanchequois]

Very good.

I have to say, overall, it was a very entertaining film. I wouldn't really say it's the humor that got to me, as much as it was the great artwork that caught my eye. I mean, most of the days now, I see various "famous" animators on this site just giving us the same old thing: a bunch of xeroxed talking heads and no action. I'm glad that this type of art isn't really dead.

Now, you might be wondering (and very much emphasis on might) "Why would you give me a 7/10 then?" To me, I have to also rank a movie's score by it's proper genre. I know that you're trying hard, but you're trying too hard to make it funny. Yeah, I chuckled when he mentioned that her father drives a Prius and then I saw one in the water at the end of the movie, but other than that, I think it was just a bunch of craziness that may've worked with such comical groups like Monty Python back in the 70s and 80s, but I don't think putting that type of comedic style in a cartoon pulls out the true potential of a wacky, no-plot type of comedy.

May I consider to you getting a writer? You've gotten all the right pieces (your programs for helping build up the animation, the great voice actors, etc), but you need to find someone that can really pull something out and bring everything down to one final punchline if you intend to stick to comedy most of the time. Cheers to your future efforts though. I think that your movies will be very enjoyable.

[The Northern Incident]

Perhaps rated too highly of?

I'm just seeing this based on the fact of that it seems you are trying to push yourself out of your comfort zone, but also, at the same time, trying to keep it in as a key part of your animating style. I'm as much as a fan of a suspense--I'm taking it--film as the next guy, just trying to keep your guessing of what the hell is going to happen next, whether a giant monster jumps out of the middle of nowhere, to if he'll lead up to the point of suicide. It's a fun little game of Red Rover; just sending something back and forth and back and forth until they call for someone else to come back over.

Like I said, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. An uneeded ending by far and just way too predictable. A bunch of unknown animals coming out of nowhere, lightning be the only source of illumination in the area, the owner finding the dog dead, being overcome by the creatures, and then the scene fading to black to come back upon music that was playing on a radio in the earlier parts of the film and the very road that the man had taken to get to his unfortunate resting place. I've seen this happen too many times before in some of those "big budget" films. Just like those films, this movie has become a disappointment and mediocre with almost no originality to it at all except for the change in the features of the creatures that manifested before the main character.

Also, the ending; the ENDING: what the fucking hell were you thinking? A repetition of your, according to your numerous viewers, outstanding humerous qualities? In order for the movie to be at the upmost, greatest quality, you need to be able to pique the viewers curiousity. Why is it that many a good fortune of people have stumbled to their knees with a starvation of creativity, begging for scraps that old movies have just happened to toss out to anyone in their general audience? But back to the case at hand, may I ask, what were you trying to prove? That you can make the most depressing, suspensful of movies into some of the most humerous of them all? It looks like you're going through a falling out; trying to keep that creative spark alive.

I admire your optimism and your die-hard attitude towards creativity, but just be honest here: what creativity do you have left inside you at this moment of time? WGJ4K seems to have dried you of it, so just, I would suggest, take a little more time off from these movies. Try finding something else to occupy your time. Or, perhaps, look around the community. An abundance of ideas have began to sprout out all over the place! Just, all I ask, stop trying so hard to bust out unoriginal movies.

[~Play~]

Bravo.

You have very well respected the matter of what needs to go on into a friendship, although I do see this as not your necessity for a goal. It kind of breaks my heart, to be quite honest, as the entire thing just shows how much of a pity my life, your life, hell, probably everyone's life is until they actually try to go out and enjoy their lives and live for the moment with friends and family. This just shows how much of a charming aspect the theme is.

Although I am sincerely touched by the scene of heartfelt companionship, I do believe it is in order for me to say that this could you some work. The whole scene of the woods they are running around in, chasing after each other, just looks to be very well pieces of cardboard cutouts that you could buy off any local market that happens to have some for sale on Christmas (give give give, get get get). It's too much of a blur at times that it puts too much of an unbalanced contrast between the characters and what environment they're interacting in. A little avant-garde, perhaps? The trees are basically looking like they have no clutch on a ground-based reality; a 3-D ratio. The background is looking like it's just there to be a pretty little thing.

Also, you left out something (although easily fixed by just right-clicking and pressing play in the bar): a replay button once the movie is finished (for that second-time over audience). Perhaps you left it out just for the purpose of it being a project movie? I don't know. But it's still a matter to be delt with.

Bravo, a second time through. Such a wonderful masterpiece you have commited to this proud community and all the wonderfuly things going on around you. I look forward to seeing what's in store for your next movie.

Cheers.

RiverJordan responds:

Hey lil man! That was an awesome review :)

Didn't realize that play issue, I'll fix that!

Also, as you were mentioning the whole living in the moment, pity peoples lives thing. You should go watch the movie "The Secret", It changed my life, and now every day is better than the last, everything is perfect!

:D

["The Waterman Movie"]

R.I.P. Leslie Nielsen.

It's sad to see one of the finest actors of this generation, this era to pass away. To think that he just died today too...I'll always remember that funny bastard.

Anyway, even through only the first two minutes of this movie, I have gotten a sense of refreshment among comedies. For once in a lifetime, there's a comedy that will be out that's worth seeing. Something that'll actually make me laugh for once. I'm not thrashing any of the other comedies out there, it's just that this particular piece of work has shown a little spark of hope that's left in this world. I am really looking forward to this movie.

But I do have one question: Did you get Leslie's voicing done before he met his unfortunate end?

[The First Christmas]

Left out a few things.

I do agree with VoxDeo on all things. The audio needed some cleaning up obviously, and the entire deal sort of actually gave me a view of religious tolerance among beings (of course, I follow the same biblical sense as the animation showed above). The only thing that I think you had off was the whole story. If I remember correctly, it was an Angel that came down from Heaven, telling the 3 Bishops to go to Bethlehem and give gifts to the child of God. Also, I think that it was a star that guided them there, not just the Angel or God (whoever you were picturing) telling them to go to Bethlehem and somehow they find their way there through the pitch black darkness of the night. You got the message across to me though. I salute your efforts and, throughout these hard times and countless endeavors of our nation, wish you a "Merry Christmas."

DvorakStudios responds:

I have heard many different versions of the story. One involving a child finding his way into a cave one night to find Jesus (or the Saviour) sleeping in a carved log of wood, another involves three angels trying to find a gift for Christ to give him on his birth. The animation above has the version of several shepherds (I have three but a number was never given) being informed of the Saviors birth by an angel and visiting him that night. Later in the story, it reads that Wise men (again, no specific number given) visits Christ two years later by fallowing a star to give him three gifts. I might do that second part this year. Thanks for your version, though! :D Were did you here it? It sounds very similar to another religious story I read... Thanks for your review and Merry Christmas!!!

[WGJ4K: Hottest GameChicks]

Brilliant.

Although I do have to say, being a semi-long time fan of this series, that I'm disappointed for this being the season finale, but I'm also happy and very well elated for how this entire storyline had turned out. I thought of it as a bit odd to bring a specific drama episode at the last second of a series thus-so-far completely made up of 50/50 videogame jokes and irrelevant jokes of the listed mannner.

The quality and quantity that this series has given out so far is absolutely spectacular. To get to a point where you can very well call this a "Long-running web series" is utterly amazing and has brought me to where my tongue can't even make a single sound. Strange, yes, but a good sign of hope that this series will last a long while.

But the main reason, the most positively elusive action that has brought it down to a mark of expansive perception, is that you produced such high quality episodes in periods as little as a month. This highly surpasses, unfortunately to JAZZA's concern, the "Larry" series' greatness. Such robust films in so little a time is just absolutely phenonemol.

Your actions have given the very type of "Web-based series" a whole new design and such a mile-high drive. Honest to God, you have a whole new world to put our mindsets into; our point of views on life into. This series, so far, is a concept that has been molded and sculpted so many times before. But oddly enough, it hasn't spoken out to me until just this series coming into the public masses.

Congratulations on this marvelous; this fine piece of artwork that you have accomplished in time.

[WGJ4K: Mickey's Rebuttal]

Amusing.

"Mickey the Dick" seemed to have more of a, how do you say, "Higher Role" of the three in this episode (hence the name of the segment that the show's doing live). You have seemed to step up out of a safe-zone and gone full-out with this animating this series; new are techniques, new kinds of animation, and your own original theme song (done by the lovely Hania) are just a few of the virtually grounded bases of a great animation series, but you made it look like you didn't break a sweat with any of this and that you didn't need it in order for this series' popularity to thrive; I'm not saying that the efforts that you have put into this are wasted, it's just that more-or-less you could've done the best possible even without them.

~Animation~
Not much to say here. It's smooth, unique in it's own way, and is full-out mind-blowing. The only thing is that there wasn't much animation at all other than the opening credits, your ending themes and ad promos, and a few movements done by Mickey (i.e. punching Eric, taking his pants off, etc). Most of the times, it seems that's just it with all of these episodes. For instance, there's the Robert Burgless episode, the interviewing episode (2nd episode in the series and I can't think of it off the top of my head), etc.

~Art~
Sophisticated, yet still able to work with. Funny, but different. You have put a new label on the term "art" and have broken through the genre of a cartoon animator and put a whole new spin on it. Semantics are just a small thing in the art world (to some limitations), and you have put a bullet-hole through them easily.

These formalities that I have listed off in the review can be easily fixed if more time were put into it. Of course, I'm not really complaining, since you have just broken off a good chunk of my "laws of entertainment" list. Bravo and, until my next review, Au Revoir!

Overall: 9/10, 5/5.

[Hammer & Fail]

Mind-blowing.

You sure out-did yourself with this project. Although, god, I REALLY hate to be doing this: just a few things.

Here we go...(not quoting Bud Light)....

~Animation~
Sure enough, you pushed and pulled until you got this project out of the gutter. I'm getting surprised almost every time you put out a new piece of work for the general audience of newgrounds. What I mean by that is that every time you do this, you seem to be shockingly better than any other submission that's put out on the day. The affect of it wares off, shure enough, but you leave a lasting impression to about a month's worth of work.

~Voice acting~
Jesus, I mean...this just made me blink like I was paralyzed to the screen in a slow-motion Matrix scene; mind-blowing, to say the least. All of you guys; Edd, Eddache, Chris, Harry---all of you have definitely put some work into this (although I don't know if I should be putting Harry in on this, considering he was listed under the "Music" contribution).

~Artwork~
Simple, compelling, different---the three words that describe this work. Yes, the styles that you use is what I would like to see change from time-to-time, but I'm guessing that I'll have to deal with what I can get. So, whenever you get a chance, break free of this cartoonish bond between your drawing utensil (guessing you use a tablet) and form a few different bonds with other styles of art.

I'm trying to obliterate the useless-ness of this review by getting through to the main criterias of a movie. That's what really matters I think. Don't remember to tinker around with the different techniques that are used all around newgrounds and godspeed to you, dear sir.

Overall: 10/10, 5/5.

eddsworld responds:

Woah, thanks for the big review! Glad you liked it :D