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WoW Moviewatch: Children of the Stars
It's been a while since we've seen a night elf video. Maybe between goblins and pandaren, we've just lost the interest in that old standby of elfdom. That's okay: Quixotica is bringing sexy back with Children of the Stars. It's a long video, chock full of machinimated night elf characters. Described by Quixotica as a tribute to night elves and the people who play them, Children of the Stars is an immense shout out to the night elf community. The closing credits are nearly as long as the video itself but that's because so many people were involved. And those credits are just as good as the main video. So take some time, sit back, and get your Kaldorei on. It might be a while before you get another chance. 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: RePlay
Seems like everyone's talking about trolls today; good, bad, tusked, or otherwise. Let's kick back with a rerun of RePlay by Quixotica. Get it? Do you see what I did there? Twice? Also, as a quick note, I really miss this version of the iPod. While Quixotica released this video for the trolls, she probably didn't mean the kind in forums on comments. For whatever reason, you don't see much machinima focused on our blue-and-tusk Azeroth trolls. It's a shame because the race brims to the rim with lore and character. And while RePlay isn't a lore video, I'll take what I can get. 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: If Women Ruled WoW 2
Work Warning: Cursing, mature themes, and more. Be forewarned. There's sexism and racism, intended in a critical way. The first If Women Ruled WoW was mostly played for laughs. And while there are plenty of jokes in this sequel, the overall tone is much different. It feels a little more thoughtful to me. In the end, I couldn't quite decide where I landed on it, which I suppose is part of the point. It certainly has some star power, featuring Gigi, Lil Biz, Quixotica, Ray, and Nyhm. Lots of gender issues line the streets of Azeroth's community. Sometimes we do a good job of things, avoiding a lot of the misogyny and hatred that stocks up other gaming cultures. Other times, we don't do such a bang-up job. This video flips male/female and then trots out virtually every crass stereotype and lame trope we see about women in gaming. I don't know if the video serves as a successful critique or wince-worthy parody. Normally, with the cursing, I wouldn't feature the video (we're a family blog, you see), but I truly feel the video's heart was in the right place. What do 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: Bad Romance by Quixotica
Warning: I'll just repeat my original work warning from the first time. There's some slightly not-safe-for-work imagery at the opening of this video. I've stared pretty intently at the film, and while there's not much that would directly lead it to an "R" rating, it's still a little risqué for the cubicle farm. Try to watch this one at home. This version of Bad Romance by Quixotica is still my favorite. It has a powerful story with real motivations, some intense action, and a real sense of narrative flow. It's a great example of how you can make a music video with depth and motion, not just a little crazy dancing. 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 Transmog Run
Work Warning: Some cursing. We've all been there. You're totally in love with this incredibly awesome dude or dudette. Your own little fantasy world builds up around the object of your obsession. You run through the dialogue in your mind, slowly building up the perfect date. This is Quixotica's version of those events, but I can't spoil the ending. Quixotica made this video to help celebrate Valentine's Day. While The Transmog Run probably won't be an ideal video to share with your loved one, it's a great way to look at the holiday with a bit of irony. 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: Forever Forsaken
We just had a video last week about Alliance pride, so let's take a look at the other side of the fence today. Forever Forsaken is a tribute video featuring dozens of undead characters. You'll probably recognize some of the names featured in Quixotica's film, and you'll definitely meet a few new Forsaken. Forever Forsaken is a beautiful, moody video, although it's hard to follow any kind of plot through it all. I'm not sure that matters. Forever Forsaken is so gorgeous to watch that you really focus on images and animation, without much thought for narration. The music does a good job of underscoring the introspective themes while still highlighting little moments of humor. Ultimately, Forever Forsaken is an impressive piece. Congratulations to Quixotica on another hit. 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: WarLock
I first featured this song a few months ago. WarLock is a collaboration piece by Cryssy, Sharm and Quixotica. It celebrates that most DoT-oriented class. At the time, there was a lot of hubbub about my use of "iconic" to describe Kesha. To be fair, I never said anything about whether I find that style of performance good or not; I only really said that if a person hears it, that person tends to think of Kesha. But I'm especially glad for WarLock because whenever I hear the music from Tik-Tok, it's WarLock's lyrics that spring to mind. WarLock has completely eclipsed the original in my subconscious, so I get to have that little party dance with myself. It's the little victories that make life worth living. Now is good timing to bring WarLock back up, because I hear Cryssy is working on a new project, so I hope to see that come to fruition soon. In the meantime, I'm just glad to have a few of Keisha's lyrics gone from my brain. Edit: Fixed the spelling of Keisha. When spellcheck goes wild, right? 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 machinima@wow.com.
WoW Moviewatch: Bad Romance by MichelleLynn
Bad Romance by MichelleLynn isn't the first video on WoW Moviewatch to feature the song of the same named by Lady Gaga. I don't know what it is about the lyrics and music that seems to inspire people, but she certainly seems to come up a lot. The first video was also titled Bad Romance, and was the creation of Quixotica. MichelleLynn is relatively new to machinima, which makes this first piece of work fairly impressive. The character models she used all feel appropriate to Gaga's song, and I liked the way she set up and transitioned from shot to shot. I will confess that I couldn't make heads or tails of the video's story, however. It seemed like there was some kind of narrative that MichelleLynn wanted to convey, but I just couldn't piece it together. Maybe it was something about a love triangle? Like I said, though, this version of Bad Romance was pretty nice for someone so new to machinima. I hope that she gets enough encouragement to continue, since I think she could really go somewhere in the medium. I would just try to make the story a bit more transparent. 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: Bad Romance
Warning: There's some slightly not-safe-for-work imagery at the opening of this video. I've stared pretty intently at the film. And while there's not much that would directly lead it to an "R" rating, it's still a little risque for the cubicle farm. Try to watch this one at home. Bad Romance by Quixotica came highly recommended to me by Selserene. How could I not leap to check out a video with that kind of recommendation? When I viewed the film, I was in no way disappointed. Quixotica managed to create a breathtaking, beautiful video. Some of the dialogue is a little funny. "Purr for daddy" has become one of my favorite joke-lines around the house, and you can imagine how much my beloved fiancee loves hearing it. But I think Quixotica created this video with that kind of satire in mind, and I think she really drove home the genre and theme of her video. It's about betrayal and hope, and she relies on a certain level of tongue-in-cheek self-awareness to keep those themes from becoming over-powering. If it had been any more over the top, it would have entered Twilight levels of angsty silliness. Quixotica should be commended for her artistic vision, and her ability to bring together video imagery with a wonderful soundtrack. I truly hope she picks up a second installment for this video, because I'd like to see where the story goes. 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: Guildy Conscience
The language in this video isn't entirely safe for work. They curse a bit.You probably remember last month when Nyhm teamed up with a trio of creative types as a final farewell to WoW videos. Their video, Pwnage Like Us, showcased three talents who I wouldn't exactly call new to the scene, but who are probably still relatively fresh to casual machinima viewers. Well, Gigi, Decision, Quixotica, and Abandonation are already back with a new music parody piece -- Guildy Conscience.This music video is a take-off from Eminem and Dr. Dre's "Guilty Conscience." I admit, I'm not incredibly familiar with the original song, and I prefer it that way. It lets me enjoy the work on its own, though I will say that vocal styles are definitely spawned from Eminem's distinctive sound. The song is a quick series of three parables about decisions everyone faces in World of Warcraft. Well, maybe not everyone, but they're common themes on Mr. Schramm's Guildwatch. First, an undead rogue encounters a gnome and has to decide whether to gank him. Second, a troll's got to resist the temptation to ninja gear from Malygos. And, lastly, a tauren wrestles with complexities of buying gold.It's meant as comedy, but I actually greatly enjoy their commentary about these ethical issues in WoW. That being said, I'm really wearing out on the "I'm a bad ass Belf!" gig, and hope that Abandonation and Gigi explore other personality facets. Quixotica's work on the video is remarkable, and I really do believe these three could create some astounding work in the coming months.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: Pwnage Like Us
Nyhm says to call it an encore. One last card up his sleeve as his way of saying "Goodbye" to the fans of his videos and World of Warcraft. A final masterpiece bearing his name, as he shuffles off this Azerothian coil and goes on to other pastures. Pwnage Like Us is not only Nyhm's final appearance in WoW machinima, but also a strong sendup for a trio of three friends to whom Nyhm would like us to pay attention.The video itself is a great farewell piece. It's an ensemble, and definitely feels like an homage to the work Nyhm's done over the years. I certainly feel like it's among the best featuring Nyhm -- it's got good lyrics, a solid beat, and the vocal performance is among the best. The animation is awesome, and I like the "book" transitions. I definitely love seeing the addition of a Tauren performing. It might just me, but I've worn thin on the Blood Elf as Star thing. I know they're probably the "hottest" models in game, but it's just kind of fatigued in my mind. Nyhm will obviously be missed. I'll be watching for more from Gigi, Demineonz, Abandonation, and Quixotica in the future, as I really did love this video.If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.Previously on Moviewatch ..
