Bezman's movie Reviews on Newgrounds

[Spike's Confession]

watch!

++++ Makes me chuckle.

-- I really think you should have subtitles (optional). I watched it 4 times at least and still can't make out all the words to the song.

++++ Appropriate hip thrusting.

+++ Nice extras.

-- You could have cleaner gfx.

-- Shading would be nice.

- Not too keen on the joke at the end.

++++ All the music is so DAMN GROOVY!

==
A great wee piece.

Makes me laugh. I'm definitely more eager to watch the anime now (even if I know the ending - DAMN YOU!).

The graphics, though full of character, aren't as impressive as I had hoped after reading the comments.

Short and not as graphically sweet as it could be, but it was certainly an enjoyable watch!

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On an unrelated subject - I forgot to mention in my previous review another criticism of Roadkill and Juliet - the links didn't work, which was really aggravating.

Skaijo responds:

My review of "watch!"
______________________________


For an animation that was roughly a minute long, you certainly expressed an abundance of thoughts. Both your encouraging comments and criticism were valid--however, it would have been nice if you also mentioned the lip synching, which was virtually nonexistent by the second half of the movie.

I have to plug that the Groovy music is all thanks to the Seatbelts, Kanno, and the equally groovy Linus Mines.


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On an unrelated subject--I'd love to get a review from you on Don't Trip.

[Roadkill and Juliet]

of course

I kinda think you were taking a lot of shortcuts here, just to get it done faster.

Thing is, the humour and mood come across regardless. They are somewhat tainted but not enough to spoil the movie.

--- Various tweens forming only an approximation of the movement. The walking of the emo-king near the start looks particularly bad, maybe because it's such a major aspect.

When anything turns, it makes it look like a paper cut-out.

++++ The sight of the Emo dude scrabbling away at the air whilst under the parking meter made me grin then chuckle.

As did her getting upset whilst the bird flew away and the chaos scene, with the slashing and the chemical fire.

++++ Memorable story, thanks to the bizarre relationship and the way you juxtapose that ridiculous aspect with some semi-serious treatment.

++++ Emo King has crazy-memorable attire.

-- I'm actually not too keen on the colour 'dream' sequences. Maybe because I don't like the colours you pick all that much. I think it might be because the colours are all full saturation and high brightness in the first couple of scenes, making it a bit too much for the eye maybe. Some variation in those things is nice...

+++ I really like the way you've mixed together the 2 songs. What made you decide to put on part of that other song at the start?

==
I did enjoy it, of course. A few giggles and a smile throughout.
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Question - I assume all the foreign characters in your animations are Korean. Is it a phoenetic script? I ask because it seems that 2 of them mean girl and bird. Are those 1-letter words or were they meaning-based characters, like kanji?

Skaijo responds:

My review of "of course"
___________________________________

:I kinda think you were taking a lot of shortcuts here, just to get it done faster.

--- Various tweens forming only an approximation of the movement.

You'll soon realize that with each project I endeavor, I discover a new flash animating technique which I soon rape to death. During GvE, it was fbf animation loops, during Don't Trip, it was animated symbols, and for Roadkill and Juliet, it was full-model-tweening. Not that it's much of an excuse, I still learned a great deal, at least technically, from this animation. I finally had an efficient camera and smooth movement from my characters. However, I may have animated myself into a corner, resorting to tween walking loops rather than go out of my comfort zone to fbf animate them.

The fact that Hangeul for "girl" has a vowel in it that (barely) looks like a person is merely coincidental. Like English, Hangeul solely has phonetic values.

Emotional Content: 9.5/10

You really made it clear what you liked and what turned you off. Your choice of tense was neither lost in praise nor filled with angst, but rather objective, and helpful to all of your points.

Grammar/Clarity: 8.5/10

While I did easily understood everything you wrote, I believe closer attention to punctuation could have added a higher quality to this review.

For example,

:As did her getting upset whilst the bird flew away and the chaos scene, with the slashing and the chemical fire.

Although I understood the underlying meaning of those words, an appreciative effort is lost trying to interpret what you wrote the closest and most logical thought that you were attempting to convey.


Constructive Criticism: Overuse of tweening, Color Scenes, Bad links in the menu.

The criticisms that you pointed out are valid and original. I especially appreciated the fact that you pointed out the scenes that you felt were too saturated with color--which may have contrasted too much for the casual viewer. I hadn't considered that, and bringing that to my attention will certainly change the way how I animate from now on.

===============================

This is a wonderful review. The only thing that I can think of is that I would have liked more of your thoughts on the plotline: Was there an underlying theme? Was it simply a nonsensical animation for silliness' sakes? Were the characters personified well? Comments on the pace of the movie would have also been appreciated also: Did the pace of the movie stay consistent? Where certain parts too quick to follow--if so, was it appropriate to the situation/scene?

9.5/10

[Gordon vs. Evil]

we can't help

I know your skills are much improved, so I'm not gonna bother dissing the slight problems with the tweened animation (most of which are at the start and to do with stuff moving wrongly in relation to other parts of the scenery.

The movie starts with everything moving so damn well to the beat. The action carries on perfectly paced to the music (a trait all of your movies seem to possess).

I really like all the fbf animation, from the letters changing form at the start to the running off at the end.

Your running animations really are amazing, specially as it's straight at/away from the 'camera'. Had you done some other form of animation before this? It's just so damn impressive, that running.

I think Jenny Gordon is pretty evil herself, considering she's kicking the little fellow at the start and whatnot.

Her tying him up is probably my favourite section.

Whilst I felt slightly cheated at the ending before the race ended, it's probably the best place you could have stopped it. I mean, seeing her lose then get upset wouldn't be much fun.

==
An awesome movie that makes me grin for parts of it and keeps me entertained throughout.

Also, the premise kinda captures the imagination, maybe BECAUSE it's just there, without any explanation. But you give these people such character in their movement that we can't help but wonder about their past etc.

Skaijo responds:

Hey! Reviews from Bezzy. Nice way to brighten my day. Thanks for all your thoughts:

My review of "we can't help"
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:I know your skills are much improved, so I'm not gonna bother dissing the slight problems with the tweened animation.

You must be referring to the dodgy "camera work" for which I agree with you that it is off. That's what I get for literally tweening all of my objects on the stage, instead of creating symbols.

:I think Jenny Gordon is pretty evil herself, considering she's kicking the little fellow at the start and whatnot.

That was actually the central idea of the animation. It's a satirical parody of good and evil, where good is replaced by a person, who, like all people, are a little evil themselves. I'll admit, compared with the final look of the project, that underlying theme may have been a bit too prestigious. But that was what I was going for.

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Emotional Content: 9/10

Your review has a very uplifting and encouraging tense. I'm glad to know that you were entertained, and you expressed your impressions after seeing my movie in a very touching tone.

Grammar/Clarity: 8.5/10

I'm assuming you're... English?

Either you're using slang, or your spelling of certain words (such as "favourite" and "specially") is simply a result of adapting to a different version of English based on your region.

Your running animations really are amazing, specially as it's straight at/away from the 'camera'.

I'm not absolutely sure as to what you meant here. Are you trying to say that the running animations were drawn directly, live, in front of the camera--or that the angle at which I drew the animations would have been particularly challenging?

You're choice of diction certainly shows thought. Even despite a few awkward moments, I'm still able to comprehend a majority of the review.


Constructive Criticism: Tweening problems.

Although you already stated that you wouldn't go into much depth concerning the tweening problems. It would have been nice if you spent a brief moment discussing other problems concerning the flash animation. For example, the Preloader bar does not operate, and there were many line disagrements in the animation. Also, the use of shape tweening, motion tweening, and fbf animation could have been used a bit more harmoniously.

It's my opinion that more time spent of constructive criticism could have made this reivew more worthwhile.

That withstanding, you explicitly stated what you liked about the animation to a moving degree. Although I appreciate the kind and precise words, more attention should have been placed on how I can improve this project as well as future projects; or, since you are aware of my later works, what things I'm failing to improve on since my first project.

8.5/10

[Ask Al: "Superheros"]

wee

My favourite of the 5 is probably the last. I liked the start in that and also felt you gave him time to really get into his stride. It felt like a silly guy talking about silly things, whereas this is a guy who's kinda making up stories.

The thought that Al is a bit of a fibber makes me like him less.

Still, I enjoyed all these and will be looking forward to any new ones.

I don't like the way you used one beginning for 3 episodes, though if I consider it an intro, it's not bad. But I'd just rather see him in different places as that really added to #5's charm.

==
Great wee series.

[Ask Al: "Animal Heaven"]

the spell you have cast

+++ Kinda amusing start.

++++ End line made me chuckle.

+++ Had fun playing with the sample button at the end. (if you hold tab, you get an echo effect)

+++ Liked the other button

++++ I find myself engrossed by this character. Is he a bit crazy? Is he in another universe, where that can happen? Is he having a laugh?

I wonder. But the fact that I'm wondering is certainly a good sign!

- Animation for the old guy seems a bit stilted.

- start screen

==
Consider my rating of an '8' not just for this movie, but for the spell you have cast with this series as a whole, making me fall in love with this old bird.

[Ask Al: "Cold Noses"]

just so

I'm not sure what to make of Al...

I think he may have just been making all that up.

Good to know he isn't afraid of speaking his mind and handing out criticism.

- Having the same start seems a tiny bit lazy.

-- Start/end screens.

++++ Lovely character.

==
Not sure what to make of this series. But it's just so compelling and it makes me grin.

[Ask Al: "Meaning of Life"]

to me

++++ Al just has such a wonderful character. Very likeable. Seems like an easy-going guy. I'd love to have him as a friend.

-- I really don't think the start/end screens are as well put together as they could be. Seem well drawn but badly designed.

==
Not that amusing but it's kinda like a 'feel-good' comedy to me. All about taking a chill pill and taking it easy.

[Ask Al: "Chicken or Egg"]

am about to

+++ Al seems a charming character.

+++ Unexpected silliness made me grin and kinda chuckle.

+++ Clean gfx

++++ Awesome audio. Really adds so much to the character.

- Lip synch and animations are kinda over-simplified.

-- The start screen gave a slightly poor first impression. I disapprove of your colour choices. Green text on a green bg? The individual elements are all well drawn, but the bg/al/title and button don't go as well together in terms of their colours as they could.

==
I enjoyed it and am about to watch another episode.

Oh, btw, Al kinda reminds me of Woody Allen. Is that intentional?