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WoW Moviewatch: Mad World of Warcarft
It's definitely felt like a mad world around Azeroth for the last few months. Not only are we all busy jumping on Deathwing's back, fighting for the future of the world, but half our compatriots are visiting another universe as Jedi and Sith. Things have just felt odd. The Pandaclysm is coming soon, when a third of our population will become monks. It's like the world is holding its breath, waiting for something. Thinking about how it's become a mad world immediately leads me to Brunhila's Mad World of Warcraft. The song is a year or so old, but it remains one of my favorite pieces. Especially with the gear acceleration necessary at the end of an expansion, her lyrics ring especially true when we're all firing up and leveling alts. It's a great song, and it's standing the test of time. If you haven't heard it, you're missing out. 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: Boombox
This isn't the first machinima for Boombox by Lonely Island; that was this version by Atraira. But funny songs will live on for ages. This version by Zervanity was created for a graphic design class. I think it's interesting that both videos primarily used draenei to tell the story. Are draenei the secret master of rhythm in the World of Warcraft? Zervanity's version has a few subtle things that recommend it. First, I like the view from space shots, since that gives the song a nice, worldly feel. Second, it felt like Zervanity used a larger variety of Azeroth races in his song. That being said, the visual distortion in the video felt distracting. I think it was purposefully meant to be the audio line in video form, but it just seemed like some bad data distortion. It happens. Nice job, Zervanity. I hope you keep expanding. 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: Nagrand Arena Showdown
New folks are trying their hands at machinima all the time. A guildmate of WazopVids tipped us off to the Nagrand Arena Showdown. This is Wazop's first machinima, which makes it a particularly impressive achievement. There isn't much plot involved with Nagrand Arena Showdown. Let me summarize for you: A pair of arena teams enter the Nagrand Arena and fight each other. Plot criticisms aside, Wazop produced an amazing-looking video for his machinima debut. It definitely has some influence from anime, but the action was surprisingly entertaining. With a little practice and narrative development, Wazop clearly could do some absolutely amazing works. 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: Wherez mah chicky
This is Snikkle's first machinima, which makes it an astounding success both in terms of content and form. The video uses mostly in-game footage to tell its tale but it does so in a creative, animated way. It is definitely not just two people standing around. The story itself is sweet and effective. Wherez mah chicky is a fantastic first video. What's the story? Well, it's pretty simple. A common chicken has gone missing, having been temped by the allure of Darkmoon Island. While that might sound like a silly concept, take the time to watch the video. It goes from silly to incredibly sweet. Great job, Snikkle! 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: Caroling -- Now With Sweaters!
This will be our last holiday-themed video. Even the in-game version of the holiday is over at this point, but I wanted to squeeze this one last film into the rotation. Why? Check it out and you might see why. A guild got together to go caroling. While they presumably were completing the achievement, I absolutely love when guilds get together and have fun in-game outside of a raid. Raids are awesome, but there's something special about extracurricular gatherings. These folks all slipped on their holiday sweaters and toured the world. It looks like a really great time. The video has a bonus at the end -- a quick song by Jonathan Coulton. I hope all you dedicated Moviewatch commenters had a great holiday season. 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: Unreleased Dragon Soul Cinematic
Wowcrendor has made pretty good with his unreleased cinematics series. His Unreleased WoW Mists of Pandaria Trailer nailed down some of the fan myths and legends spurring on the oncoming pandapocolypse. His new Unreleased Dragon Soul Cinematic is no different. Wowcrendor revisits the final cinematic in Dragon Soul, in which the dragon aspects chat about their new mortal lives. We even get an arrow-to-the-knee rebuttal, killing a joke that very badly need killing. I can't help but feel this is a more realistic conversation between the dragons than the one we actually got. After all, who wants to spontaneously be made mortal? Bring on the Age of Pandas! 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: Something
Have you ever wondered what John Lennon would look like as a WoW character? Well, wonder no more, my friends. Machinimist Eric Cartmans recreated the music video for Something in Azerothian glory. One of my favorite touches in this piece is the original video being simultaneously played in the corner. While this music video definitely feels like a learning experience for Cartmans, the end result is a surreal, real-life-in-WoW that blends music history with gaming innovation. It's a trippy walk down memory lane with The Beatles, and the video just fundamentally works for me. I have to admit that I'm not the biggest Beatles fan to ever walk the planet, but this video really won my heart. Cartmans painstakingly recreated so much of the original that you can feel his care and affection for the material. That speaks volumes in the end result. 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: Beautiful Azeroth
We've seen a lot of landscape tours of Azeroth; it's a favorite subject for fans and machinimists alike. Beautiful Azeroth caught tipster Simon's eye when it appeared over at Kotaku Australia. With such a gorgeous video making the rounds, there's no way we could ignore it. Beautiful Azeroth is intended to be a series. This first episode offers a sterling view of Kalimdor, soaring over the wreckage and growing copses with a reverent eye. The background music by Clannad doesn't hurt, either. I suppose if any single artist really captures the heart of Kalimdor, it'd be Clannad or Enya. 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: Stoney Baby
We're still in the grips of Winter Veil hysteria here, with the occasional shout-out to real-life Christmas. Today's video parody is titled Stoney Baby. It's an obvious parody of Santa Baby, aimed right down the barrel at Rich Maloy of Big Crits. Written and performed by Erin Campbell, Stoney Baby has plenty of puns and jokes to mark the time. I enjoyed the animation in the video, especially, because it looks like it was created nearly entirely from in-game footage. That's rare enough nowadays that it almost feels unique to see videos based on the game itself. So for this holiday season, Stoney Baby has a little bit of it all: a fun song, great voice, and in-game animation. Check it out and let us know what you think. 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: 12 Days of Winter Veil
Winter Veil isn't quite over yet, which means we still have a little time to enjoy some WoW holiday carols. Arrowstorm put together this video celebrating a GM's gifts to guild members. 12 Days of Winter Veil is a nice review of what we can expect from WoW for the next year. While the song feels like it drags on a bit, the original version does the same thing. There's not much you can do to make that song go faster. Here's hoping everyone's staying in the spirit this week! 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: Sex, Moonkinology and Space Culture: Fear & Loathing in Moonglade
The good Baron Soosdon describes this video as a scientific reproduction of what you feel being hit by Moonfire. Instead of a few seconds of analysis, however, Soosdon provides a long, 7-minute review of the strobing, painful experience. There's no sex in Sex, Moonkinology and Space Culture: Fear & Loathing in Moonglade. It's a long, trippy right through Moonglade and elven forests, completely with dancing Moonkin and spectacular colors. This video should be avoided by those with epilepsy. Everyone else with an appreciation for Soosdon's unique and powerful style should click right away and go for an amazing ride. 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: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like This Raid Isn't Going to Happen
Thanks to the Raid Finder, we're rarely stuck on raid nights without at least the possibility of a raid. That wasn't always true, though. Once upon a time, raiders would sit for hours outside an instance, hoping desperately that enough people would materialize to go kill some bosses. Celebrating both the holiday season and the inevitability of Murphy's Law, Oxhorn created It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like This Raid Isn't Going to Happen. It's a long song title, but don't worry, it's all for a good cause. You'll recognize the song right away. Here's hoping everyone had a great holiday weekend and that your festivities will continue through the week. 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: Christmas with the Critters
Some folks just want to spend a nice, relaxed Christmas weekend with friends -- or, alternatively, a pack of local critters. We all have our own tastes. But then a big, bad wolf comes along and makes that impossible. Don't worry, though. The protagonist is a clever target dummy and works out a plan to deal with the wolf fairly quickly. Christmas with the Critters was made by Mushanga for a machinima contest a few years ago. The movie is clearly a success, because we still look to it now for a little holiday fun and to warm the cockles of our heart. 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: I Saw Three Rogues
The holiday season is in full swing, which makes it a great time to celebrate with some WoW-themed holiday music. This is Oxhorn's I Saw Three Rogues. This is a pretty distant parody video; while it's obviously evocative of the holiday season, none of the lyrics in the song directly reference Winter's Veil. I Saw Three Rogues is actually about three years old, although it only saw video form last year. While we might see something new from Oxhorn, this one's pretty good to kill time while waiting for Santa to show up. Visit the WoW Rookie Guide for links to everything you need to get started as a new player, from how to control your character and camera angles when you're just starting out, to learning how to tank, getting up to speed for heroics and even how to win Tol Barad.
WoW Moviewatch: A Warden's Demise
A Warden's Demise is the second installment in Karash's series about Maiev Shadowsong. The movie involves some deviation from strict WoW lore, but a little deviation is good in the name of art. Now for the fair warning -- this movie is long. It is perhaps one of the single longest machinima videos I've ever seen, clocking in at about 80 minutes long. With such a mammoth movie, I'll let the author's word speak for it: Maiev goes to Northrend joining the fight against the Lich King. There, Maiev is not only confronted with the wild beasts of the northern wastelands, but also with a nightelf society, that is undergoing a radical change after ten thousand years of isolation from the rest of the world. Her personal conflicts with the high priestess Tyrande Whisperwind and the human highlord Bolvar Fordragon are threatening not only her own mission,but also the unity of the Alliance in the war effort against the undead threat. This is a pretty good video, if you groove to the idea of a story-based machinima. The story feels a little slow in places, but Karash did a great job of keeping it going. Take the time to kick back with a cup of coffee and check it out. A Warden's Demise is a visually appealing video with an astounding amount of work. It's worth your time. 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: Epic Rap Battles of Warcraft
Finally, Wowcrendor has decided to lay down a parody to the hit YouTube series Epic Rap Battles of History. If you're not familiar with the series, Nice Peter grabs two pop culture icons and forces them to engage in comedy rap. The videos are well acted, clever, and a lot of fun. In Wowcrendor's version, Hogger and Gamon throw down for lyrical superiority. Don't forget to visit the YouTube page and vote for the winner. Not to show any Alliance bias, but I think Hogger won, personally. 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: All I Want for Christmas is a Blue
This song is one of our favorite ways to ring in the holidays. It's steeped in the holiday spirits, a healthy love of the game, and solid amounts of talent. It remains one of our most requested Christmas videos. It's kind of a shame that All I Want for Christmas is a Blue is starting to show its age. Does anyone really get excited about blue gear at this point? Still, aside from that anachronism, the video shows off the same nostalgic longing for a happy WoW holiday. Happy holidays, y'all! 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: Dragon Soul in 1 minute
It doesn't take very long to find a Dragon Soul group using the Raid Finder. Certainly, you won't have time to read in-depth descriptions and watch complex videos before the queue pops. For those of you who need a quick run-down or just don't have the attention span for anything much longer, Fatboss has created a guide to Dragon Soul ... in a 1-minute video. This video will be at its funniest if you've already completed Dragon Soul, of course, since you'll then get the joke. if you need a super-fast description of the fights that's in more earnest, check out our 5-second guides for Siege of Wyrmrest and Fall of Deathwing. 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 Secret of the Crystal Eyes
The Secret of the Crystal Eyes is the kind of machinima we regrettably don't see a lot nowadays. Essentially, it's a cinema-format movie. It runs about 22 minutes long and features characterization, plot, and world development. While the particulars of the movie may or may not appeal to you, I encourage everyone to take the time check out this story-based movie. A frequent complaint among machinima viewers is that there aren't more films like this. The only way to encourage their creation is to visit, comment, and celebrate each release. The Secret of the Crystal Eyes features some pretty good animation, fantastic voice acting, and a well-developed plot. Adventure stories tend to appeal based on personal taste, but there's plenty going on in The Secret to satisfy any WoW fan. The technical aspect of the machinima are astounding; take the time to check it out. 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: Dungeon Dan Makes Dungeons Fun Again
Are you getting bored with the Dungeon Finder? Feeling frustrated and annoyed with your slow progress through the item levels? Myndflame has just the trick to help you out: Dungeon Dan Makes Dungeons Fun Again. Perhaps channeling the ghost of Crabby, Myndflame's video proposes a new kind of instance helper. Dungeon Dan helps you avoid fire, pick out the right gear, and (most importantly) keep your spirits up. While we probably won't see Dungeon Dan in the game any time soon, we certainly could hope. Having Dungeon Dan ride shotgun through rougher Raid Finder groups would be nice. 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.
