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WoW Moviewatch: The Grind Returns, Episode 1: Face Time
You could easily be forgiven for not remembering The Grind from machinima-maker Oblivious Films: The series premiered way back in 2009 and has been quiet since 2010. While that's a long time to be gone, The Grind is looking to make a comeback with a new video, which hopefully has an "episode 1" moniker, which implies we'll also see episodes 2, 3, and so on. So just what stymies our heroes after so long gone? Mostly being confused by the model changes that have happened while they've been away. Check out their latest adventure and, while you're at it, we highly recommend going through the old episodes too -- they're like a WoW time capsule, and some of the jokes are even funnier with the added dimension of "Did we really used to go through all of this to play?" Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.
WoW Moviewatch: Crueler Heads Prevail
It's been such an astounding week for some really great machinima that I didn't want to rerun just any old video. Looking back in the archives, I was reminded of Oblivious Films' Crueler Heads Prevail. An award-winning video in the 48 Hour Film Project, this dark comedy tells the story of a troubled prince who finds a wish-granting worm. Take the time to sit back and enjoy! Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.
WoW Moviewatch: The Grind - Episode 3
If you've been following machinima for a while, you should definitely remember The Grind. It was a favorite of many fans for a very long time, and it's now come one the street with a new installment. With one of the best opening sequences I've seen on a WoW movie, The Grind: Episode 3 has been released by Oblivious Films. Clocking in at 15 minutes, this new edition has a great deal of comedy and content. There's a handful of cameos and shout-outs to other work, as well as a wrap-up to a dozen loose plot threads. The embed above only has about half the movie; you can check out the full version here at WarcraftMovies.com. Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an e-mail at machinima AT wow DOT com.
WoW Moviewatch: Things You Need
Things You Need is a submission to the machinima category of the 48 Hour Film Project by Stone Falcon Productions, Oblivious Films, and Slashdance. It's a little raucous, and a little rowdy, so your mileage on this film is going to vary according to your taste. It's the story of a down-trodden gnome who encounters a magic shop, gets a tub of magic paint, and hijinks ensue. I really enjoyed the first part of the film. It was cute, amusing, and the musical portions were pretty darn funny. I loved the shop owner, and the dialogue and play between the two characters. It was lighthearted, fast paced, and totally worth the time. I'm not as sold on the gnome's female companion, created using the magical bucket. She's stereotypically vacuous and unsatisfying for the gnome, who decides to erase her. There's two schools of thought on this. The first is the obvious concern about the misogyny, the creation of a "perfect" woman, the exploitation of her, and the immediate use of her for base purposes. The other side to that discussion, of course, is that you can interpret the piece as a criticism of that kind of behavior, questioning the motives and character of a man who would do such a thing. Ultimately, though, I don't know if there's a lot to be read into it except a joke, and whether or not you find the joke funny. Like I said, your mileage is going to vary. [Via WarcraftMovies] 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 Rumpus Machine
The Rumpus Machine is the latest offering from Oblivious Films, of The Grind fame. It's the story of what happens when an easily-frightened dwarf and his friends stumble upon a "metal pig" which seems to grant their every wish. It's not a follow-up to The Grind storyline, but rather a new, self-contained story. It's kinda like what O. Henry would have written if he'd only lightened up a bit. The moviemaking here is top notch and the storytelling is quite funny with everything from sexy dancing girls to throwback dungeons. Make sure you stick around throughout the entire credits roll for some final jokes at the end.Drew "Drewbie" Syring from Oblivious tells Moviewatch that Macheath made this film for the BlizzCon machinima contest and, for you Diablo III fans, "yes, that is really the real Deckard Cain who was kind enough to lend his voice talents to our production." How'd they manage it? Just watch it, you'll see.Updated: In case it wasn't clear to anyone who watched the film: The filmmakers want you to know that they got the actual voice actor for Deckard Cain to perform in their film.[Via Vimeo]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: Opening of the AQ gates
A lot of readers seemed to enjoy Ahn'Qiraj: The Movie yesterday, including Drewbie. He contributed a video that Macheath, his production partner at Oblivious Films, created about the opening of the AQ gates on the Malygos server. The process to open the AQ gates takes months, so obviously, the anticipation was intense when the time finally came. Hundreds of players were there, anxiously waiting for the moment to arrive. However, the person who was to ring the gong couldn't even do it without crashing! Then there was the blinking and falling ... You never forget your first, though![Thanks, Drewbie!]If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.Previously on Moviewatch ...
Cinemassively: Inside World of Warcraft, Episode 3
For fans of Machinima.com, Inside World of Warcraft won't be new for you. However, those new to the IWoW series will enjoy the three episodes out so far. It is a comedy news series (sometimes) starring Macheath, of Oblivious Films.Typically, the host spends some time telling jokes, then launches into a few pieces of humorous news, complete with banter. While not much is covered in six minutes, and it can be hard to take the news seriously given the delivery of it, Inside World of Warcraft is still an enjoyable machinima news program. There needs to be more programs like this for all platforms!If you have machinima or movie suggestions from any MMO, please send them to machinima AT massively DOT com, along with any information you might have about them.
WoW Moviewatch: Inside World of Warcraft, Episode 2
(Update: Apparently Oblivious Films stopped doing them after the first episode and this was an in-house Machinima.com blunder. I stand by my criticism. Why hire Baron Soosdon, who didn't make this video, if they're not going to utilize him?)Those Oblivious Films boys are nothing but trouble. They get one episode of Inside World of Warcraft under their belt and Drewbie is running around with trannies, while Macheath is down and out on Skid Row. What will we do with them?While I do adore Drewbie and the comedy stylings of his partner, IWoW2 had some things that drove me up the wall. The aspect ratio seemed to jump, the bird noises were annoying, and a lot of the jokes felt forced. I'm not sure how frequently these were intended to be released, but the first episode came out three months ago. If they're only doing news reports quarterly, you'd think they'd have more to discuss and less to make toilet humor about ... What's going on, Machinima.com?If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.Previously on Moviewatch ...
Cinemassively: How not to make a machinima
It's that time again where I discuss how not to make a machinima. Two months ago, I awarded Crap Mariner the 2007 ZOMG! That Sux! Award for his video effort. This month, we'll be checking out a training video of sorts that was designed to prepare the machinimator for his first real World of Warcraft film.Before there was the award-winning The Grind series, there was Oblivious Hardcore. When Macheath wanted to learn how to use Adobe Premiere Pro, he packed every possible transition and effect in, resulting in a cluttered, but funny video. If you check out Oblivious Films, you'll see that this exercise definitely pointed them in the right direction, but this video lives on as a testimony for overindulgence.[Thanks, Drewbie, for letting me use this as an example!]
WoW Moviewatch: Too much of a good thing
A long time ago in a land far, far away, the boys of Oblivious Films decided that they wanted to make epic machinimas. However, Macheath had to learn Adobe Premiere Pro first. What follows is a video, Oblivious Hardcore, made about two years ago, before The Grind, their award-winning series, was created.Drewbie, of Oblivious Films, was kind enough to let me use this as an example of what not to do in a machinima. As a lesson for himself, Macheath managed to fit a mishmash of filters, transitions, text, and effects into just over two minutes of video, proving that you can have too much of a good thing. Machinima isn't an all you can eat buffet. Choose your main course, be it filters or effects, wisely and let the sides, like text and transitions, enhance your meal!Previously on Moviewatch ...
WoW Moviewatch: Inside World of Warcraft, Episode 1
In the course of my daily machinima search, I learn new things all the time. For example, I now know that I need a rainbow unicorn in my life, or the fact that Martin Falch can see into my SOUL! It's a good thing that I wore my tinfoil hat today, or things could have been messy.Inside World of Warcraft is a machinima series produced by Oblivious Films in collaboration with machinima.com. Apparently they're going around WoW searching high and low for the latest issues, gripes, and machinima. Their inaugural episode features some epic forum complaints about each class, and a speedy review of Tales of the Past 3.If you're into Drewbie, unicorns, MacHeath, unicorns, Oblivious Films, machinima, and unicorns, then you'll enjoy this video. I can't wait to see where Episode 2 leads them![Via Machinima.com]Previously on Moviewatch ...
WoW Moviewatch: The Grind, episode 2
If you enjoyed yesterday's episode of The Grind, today's continues in the same fashion as our intrepid heroes continue their search for a way to defeat Onyxia. (Though if you're wondering where the story goes from here, there's not an episode 3.) And if you don't watch anything else -- skip to the end for the Ask a Ninja feature. (Unless you're a member of the anti-Ninja Pirate contingent, of course!)
WoW Moviewatch: The Grind, episode 1
Somehow this episode of The Grind reminds me a lot of my guild's last attempt at Onyxia... (Don't make the same mistake we did: just because you're level 70 doesn't mean she's a pushover!) However, instead of heading out to Dustwallow Marsh and experiencing Onyxia wipes for yourself, you could enjoy the suffering of others vicariously, with the entertaining characters from The Grind. (Though their Halloween Special took top prize for comedy at BlizzCon, episode 1 isn't new. Sadly, we haven't seen anything new from Oblivious Films since summer.)
WoW Moviewatch: The Grind Halloween Special
This entry in the 2007 BlizzCon machinima contest won the Comedy category. It's the latest episode in the series by Oblivious Films, The Grind. You know, squirrels can be deadly when cornered, especially on Friendship Day.
BlizzCon Machinima Contest
You may recall that there were a few contests going on at BlizzCon, one of them being a machinima contest (and the machinima that comes out of major contests like this is always incredible!). Well, in last night's contests session, we found out who won and saw the premieres of the three winning videos, and now they're available online for all to enjoy! Drama winner: Interlude by Slashdance Comedy winner: The Grind: Halloween Special by Oblivious Films Action/Adventure winner and Best in Show: Snacky's Journal, Episode 3: Freaked Out Over Fishing by Stone Falcon Productions And if that's not enough entertainment for you, there's also a few runners up you can check out at the AT&T Blue Room.
