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WoW Moviewatch: slashdance vs. Ulduar
When I saw slashdance vs. Ulduar for the first time, I wasn't sure whether I should laugh or cry. This is slashdance's version of a raid-patch trailer, something to help get its members riled up and ready to go raid. Of course, it's obviously more of a parody about those kinds of similar movies. But this piece is much more tailored to the "rest of us." You know, those of us who struggle a bit more with the content.I can't really discuss too much about the movie without spoiling the plot. But it's slashdance, who's very well known for the Redshift movies. The author's eye for quality is definitely apparant here, and I like the wry sense of wit. I also have to admit, I've been the guy to say "You are not prepared!"[Via WarcraftMovies.com]If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.Previously on Moviewatch
WoW Moviewatch: Culling of Stratholme
Warning: This movie will contain spoilers if you have not completed the instance titled Caverns of Time: The Culling of Stratholme.You can think of The Culling of Stratholme by shadowline1990 as a "cover video." Basically, he took the in-game events that take place during the instance of the same name, and applied a more cinematic feel to them. He opens with a current-day shot of Stratholme, complete with Scarlet Crusaders wandering by. Then, in a cut scene, moves to the argument between Arthas, Jaina, and company.While the storyline obviously isn't unique or original, the way the author shot the events is much more attractive. I was apprehensive at first, but the new video creates a great deal more emotion and gravitas to the events. It was the contrast of present-day and pasty-day that really won me. I will admit, though, I'd avoid face-shots of Jaina. The eye-rolling thing human females do in-game makes them seem flaky, and it did detract a little from the video.I'd definitely encourage the author to keep advancing his skills. He has an eye for applying good shots and emotion to his subject matter, and I hope he advances the story in an interesting, new direction.If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.Previously on Moviewatch
WoW Moviewatch: Adventures of Puff & Lilpuff - Episode 7
Warning: The language in this piece is not safe for work.You can only very tenuously call today's piece a "movie," which might disqualify it for being featured on "Moviewatch." However, Myndflame's "Adventures of Puff & Lilpuff - Episode 7" targets the same audience of WoW players who would recognize them from their epic series, Illegal Danish. I wanted to make sure Moviewatchers didn't miss out on the comedy.Of course, part of the news here is that Myndflame will be releasing the prelude to Illegal Danish 3 on July 3rd, 2009. This particular episode of Puff & Lilpuff features a petition thread on Gameriot, encouraging the Illegal Danish folks to include the nominal characters in the machinima.Overall, this mostly-audio series is pretty funny. It's rooted in the body of work Myndflame has created, and is definitely a creative use of characters. Over the seven episodes we've already scene, the interaction between Puff and Lilpuff has become more complex and involves. I think that the series will continue to build on this intricacy, and will probably become a staple of many a WoW player's weekly game routine.If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.Previously on Moviewatch
WoW Moviewatch: The Peasant: Cost of Freedom
I feel like I say this every time I post a trailer, but I guess I'll say it again. I'm often nervous about featuring machinima trailers, because while the trailer can be super-duper Sylar-as-Spock-level awesome, it seems like half the time, the trailer never materializes into a movie. However, sometimes trailers look so cool that I can't help but point them out anyway. Farinar Films has a pretty solid reputation for delivery, though, so take a second to check out The Peasant: Cost of Freedom.The video looks absolutely gorgeous, and I can't wait to see the final production. Farinar's promising a dramatic, character-driven story, without any of the usual Action/Adventure tropes. It's supposedly much more focused on its protagonists' inner conflicts, which promises to make "The Peasant" much more interesting than standard fare.[Via WarcraftMovies.com]If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.Previously on Moviewatch
WoW Moviewatch: Who's Watching Me in World of Warcraft
Who's Watching Me in World of Warcraft is a short but absolutely wonderful video by Keenamor. It's a parody of a very popular commercial floating around out there, so it probably needs no explanation to get set up. Keenamor was inspired by a similar video based in the Halo universe. He did all the voice acting himself, and claims the video was created spontaneously when the inspiration struck him. Like I said, it's short. Keenamor probably could have done fancier graphics, but I'm not sure that's necessary. If you know the source material, then you'll instantly recognize the joke. You don't really need anymore explanation or fine-tuned images to get the punchilne.Ultimately, it was funny, and I would LOL again. Click here to see it for yourself.If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.Previously on Moviewatch
WoW Moviewatch: How To: Flame Leviathan
How To: Flame Leviathan showed up in today's WoW Moviewatch via a roundabout method. The video has been posted on The Daily Quest, but it was just also featured over at Swiftmend. With that level of exposure, we wanted to make sure to give the video its due right on Moviewatch. It's a video from those awesome Yogscast guys, and it shows you how to fight Flame Leviathan. (Kind of.)About a minute and a half into the movie is where you'll find the funny, though. I'd be hard-pressed to tell you why, but your intrepid WoW.com reporters found Xephos and Honeydew's work in this video hilarious. There's just something unmistakeably hilarious a cruising-around rap song being played while dancing on top of Flame Leviathan.If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.Previously on Moviewatch
WoW Moviewatch: Trev and Eroth Episode I Trailer
Tipster "Snark" sent me a note about the Trev and Eroth Episode I Trailer by Fudgewartz. The full movie is due out very soon, so we'll know pretty quick whether this trailer will turn into the promised series, or just fizzle out.I couldn't quite make out the premise of the story, but it clearly involves at least one or two gnomes. Therefore, I hope it turns out to be awesome. The voice acting sounded fun, but the dialogue was definitely a little muddled. The author said that some of pre-production work wasn't quite finished, so hopefully that's one of the things that improves before the final release.The series is expected to have six main installments, with a few scattered "shorts" after its conclusion. Here's hoping it turns out well! I can't guess what's up with the Terminator head, though.If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.Previously on Moviewatch
WoW Moviewatch: Holy Priest PvP!
It took me a few minutes to get this joke. But once I did, I laughed. While this is certainly outside the normal operating procedure for Moviewatch, the Holy Priest PvP succeeded in making me literally "laugh out loud." As a result, I thought it was a must-see for many of our loyal audience.I was, at first, skeptical of the accuracy with which the author portrayed the Holy Priest experience. Borrowing a friend's account, I immediately loaded up Warsong Gulch and proceeded to rock out. I must assure you, gentle Moviewatcher, that X2oph was loyal to the actual play style.Ultimately, though, I think the movie didn't need to be quite as long as it was. The soundtrack was well chosen, since it help keep the "feel" of the video lighthearted. However, once you "get" the joke, I think the movie has delivered its payload. Brevity can be the heart of wit, as they say.If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.Previously on Moviewatch
WoW Moviewatch: Why can't I raid?
You may remember Taintedlore from her remake of The Womanizer Song. She's hooked up with movie maker Leonnardum to create a new parody video, called Why can't I raid? If you don't recognize the music, it's based of Rihanna's song, Unfaithful.The video's pretty solid, and does a nice job of complimenting the lyrics. I like how Leonnardum has found little visual queues to match Taintedlore's singing, without overwhelming the music with complex visuals. What really struck me about the final piece, however, was the use of modulation with Taintedlore's singing. She seems to have a great voice, and I like hearing her sing. I don't understand is why her voice is going through the electronic modulation, since it didn't appear in the original song. I'd like to hear her real voice. Though, as always, it's possible some artistic technique flew over my head, and I should get why it's in the synthetic style.Overall, I continue to be interested in Taintedlore's work, and I would definitely like to see more from Leonnardum going forward.[Via WarcraftMovies.com]
The Colosseum: Caylie the Priest
The Colosseum takes us inside the world of the Gladiator (Brutal, Vengeful, Merciless, and otherwise), to interview some of the top Arena fighters in the battlegroups. Our goal is to bring a better understanding of the strategy, makeup, and work that goes into dueling it out for fame, fortune, and Netherdrakes.Caylie is the Priest in a Priest/Warlock or Priest/Rogue team, "Esport Ballers." Currently sitting at 12th place for their battlegroup, the team has traditionally done well in previous seasons.The player prefers to go by Cayley, due to his character names back in previous seasons. Despite having other options, he says he prefers the Warlock/Priest team for the sake of a challenge.Check out what else Caylie had to say behind the cut.
WoW Moviewatch: Oxhorn Brand Medley
Reader Ted T. asked for a good place to get started with Oxhorn videos. That's a really tough call, because Oxhorn's created so many different movies. But, I guess my favorite Oxhorn piece is the Oxhorn Brand Medley. (Moo Money actually first covered it about a year ago.)Not only does it combine everything there is to love about Oxhorn machinima, it also expands his music in some interesting ways. When my fiancee and I first saw it, we spent all weekend singing its chorus over and over and over.The chorus seems simple, but is actually rather difficult to belt out in tune and in time. "LOLOMGWTGDAIRYQUEEN" flies across the screen to help you know what Oxhorn's singing, but getting it down corectly and reliably can be a challenge. The "Oxhorn Brand Medley" revisits and tips its hat to some of his best songs, but still manages to blend them all together in a convincing way.While it might help if you're familiar with Oxhorn's many videos, you definitely don't need to have seen them to enjoy the video. Take a few minutes, check it out, and see what you think.If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.Previously on Moviewatch
WoW Moviewatch: Green Tambourine
Dude. Wait, what? I think I got a contact high from watching this trippy video. This is Green Tambourine by Demachic. It seems like we've missed covering it before now, which is a shame. As the story goes, a bored Blood Elf finds a trippy hookah hanging around, and decides to try it out. He's looking to break that boredom and day-to-day life he leads in Silvermoon.While it might be my inner hippy speaking out, I found this video absolutely gorgeous. The colors are vibrant and beautiful, and Demachic's flair for scenery sets up a great context for the music. All the characters really fit in that 60s and 70s psychadelic genre, and the whole thing just comes together wonderfully.The song was originally by the Lemon Pipers, and it actually reached #1 on the charts in 1968. Demachic's video is a great homage to the song.Thanks to Stephen for the tip!If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.Previously on Moviewatch
WoW Moviewatch: In Memory - Retribution Final Trailer
The In Memory - Retribution Final Trailer is one hell of a piece of work. The author, Necka, says that he's over 70% done with the actual movie, and that he and his production team are in the final stretch of completion. The script writer is Kirochi, who seems to have created a powerful story.The trailer hints at the movie's epic action, including more than a few appearances from WoW's biggest bad guys. The movie has been through a few bumps and bruises such as delayed start times, and having to work with scenes that existed before its current incarnation. Even with those challenges, this looks like the final production is totally going to be worth it.The subtitles can be a little tough to read, but the voices are clear and easily understood. The camera work in awesome, and I think Necka's framed each scene in a way that really captures your attention and imagination. The YouTube video can take a little time to load, but is totally worth the wait.[Via WarcraftMovies.com]If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.Previously on Moviewatch
WoW Moviewatch: Gnomebusters
Maitseling of Chroniques Darnassiennes posted Gnomebusters over on Warcraft Movies. The movie came about because, apparently, Maitseling's guild mates complained that he hadn't featured gnomes in machinimas. How better to address that issue than with an homage to one of the finest films ever created?The video's a lot of fun. I like the way Maitseling translated the world of Ghostbusters into something visual in Azeroth. My only complaint would be that none of the soundtrack references WoW, since the song and dialogue is pretty much a direct lift from the original movie. That didn't really detract from my enjoyment of the film, though. I'm old enough that I saw the original film in the theatre, and Maitseling's work really took me back.Who's afraid of those gnomes?If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.Previously on Moviewatch
WoW Moviewatch: World of Warcraft 101: Episode 2 - The City Life
Wowcrendor has released a follow up to his World of Warcraft Instructional Video. He's changed the naming convention a tad, now calling it the World of Warcraft 101, Episode 2 -- The City Life. This sequel's focused on Billy's first time wandering into Orgrimmar.The video is smile-worthy enough to watch a couple of times, and I think it's fun for quick, low-pressure viewing. The video uses all the same tactics and gags as the first one, though, so I'm not sure how much more play it has left along those lines. WoW 101 is certainly a good idea, but maybe adding another voice actor would help expand the universe for any further episodes.If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.Previously on Moviewatch
WoW Moviewatch: Why you should never eat a brownie
Okay, I need help with this one. Waus from Trollbane sent Why you should never eat a brownie in to us. As the story goes, Waus was eating a brownie when he suffered from a collapsed lung. While in the hospital recuperating, he was inspired to create this machinima. I don't know what to make of this video, so I'm curious what the legion of Moviewatchers think about it.The video's short and fast-paced. Basically, an evil Draenei snags a dangerous brownie and tricks a Night Elf into eating it. The voice acting is subtitled, but I'm pretty sure the Japanese dialogue does not match up with the subtitles. Obviously, after the Night Elf eats the brownie, she suffers dire consequences.I feel almost ashamed to admit it, but the video made me laugh. It's just so over the top that it got giggles from me. The Blood Elf voice was worth a chuckle, and the whole thing is just so absurd it hit my funny bone. The animation isn't fancy, but I don't think that was supposed to be the point anyway. So, I don't know. It made me laugh, like I said, but what do you think of it?If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.Previously on MoviewatchEDIT: By the way, Waus is a "he." The pronoun monster bit me.
WoW Moviewatch: Leeroy 5 - For the Horde
Occasionally, we're reminded that WoW Moviewatch isn't just machinima. It can be live action movies, also. Today's film proves exactly that, because there's no way I could pass it up. Herculean Productions has released their new episode, Leeroy 5 - For the Horde.I love this Leeroy as much as I loved Leeroy 4. They're having fun, and totally rocking out with their enjoyment of the game. The little gags and spoofs are done with a deep affection for the subect, and that translates into a bouyant film experience. The special effects are just enough to convey the game events they're describing, and the team uses creative angles to make the "inside" of an instance believable.As a significant note, however, the predictable "Leeroy Jenkins" jokes finally made their way into the series. Considering the cultural history of Jenkins to WoW players, I found the references satisfying.So, click here to check out Leeroy 5. You'll either thank me, or flame me. Either way, I think you'll have some fun with this movie.If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.Previously on Moviewatch
WoW Moviewatch: The Inevitable Cataclysm
Today's Moviewatch is a production of FlyingCow Studios. The Inevitable Cataclysm is a trailer for an upcoming PvP film. These things just keep getting more and more finely produced, don't they? Even though it's a trailer, I'm pretty sure that the final video will come to fruition. We'll have to wait and see if it actually lives up to this preview.What's interesting about this is the implication of a story driving the inevitable PvP footage. We've seen other authors do similar, but I think FlyingCow is being very upfront about its own tongue-in-cheek nature. Of course, the same could be said about Buddhist's work. But while I felt like Buddhist had a lot of commentary in the video, "The Inevitable Cataclysm" feels more obviously sarcastic. The opening monologue is pretty over the top, and the "coming soon" seals the deal.If nothing else, though,"The Inevitable Cataclysm" might be worth a faint chuckle for its 90 second run time. They did a good job of keeping it short and to-the-point, and letting us hope for more.If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.Previously on Moviewatch
WoW Moviewatch: World of Warcraft -- Haikus
In honor of today's featured movie, I was going to write this entire post in haiku. It's possible, but I don't think it would have been convincing or effective. Still, I wanted you to know it was on my mind. You can share a little "ha ha" with me at our little untold joke.World of Warcraft - Haikus was created by John DeVeaux for his film class at Emily Carr University. The project was to use pieces of "found footage," and fit it together in the context of a haiku. John took pieces from official trailers -- some are based on gameplay, while others come from different sources -- and framed it inside several text scenes.The machinima is awesome, but it's all official stuff so I'm not really surprised. What impressed me, however, was John's sense of poetry. He pulled official game language to create several haikus, all with a very strong sense of urgency and epic intent. Each haiku lends importance and inspiration to the video, and I think ultimately created a much stronger experience. If John progresses into his own machinima, I think he could create some impressive stuff.
WoW Moviewatch: M is for Muchacho
Warning: There's a bit of sex bits in here, which might weird you out a bit.M is for Muchacho was suggested to me by Art on the tip line. Uploaded by Wuza, this video is actually one hell of an interesting freshman effort. The plot is a familiar one. A small group of compatriots are relaxing by their campfire when the king's men come to harass them. Unable to pay their taxes, the cadre must train at the feet of a combat master in order to defend themselves when the king's men return. What makes it so interesting to me? While the animation is basically made up of various in-game footage, "M is for Muchacho" shows a definite appreciation for story. At a run time of over 20 minutes, the story admittedly could have used a faster pace. Another option might have been to chop it up into smaller pieces. Regardless, Wuza was clearly trying to work on characterization, plot, and story-arc progression. (Also, I found the soundtrack choice for the muchachos' training montage to be hilarious.)I hope Wuza keeps working and developing. I like story-based machinima, and I'm always eager to see new creators enter the fold.If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.Previously on Moviewatch
