I, pet goat II ---> Best thing I've seen in 3D so far.

#61

Perhaps you’re right, and it’s just this movie which is too blatant to me. Still, I appreciate the work of all the artists, I just don’t quite like the script itself. Perhaps I should stop commenting it further, as it’s really too edgy and provoking. It got me to think about controversy of art, and I think it’s good. Thanks for discussion.

#62

I think that’s the funny thing to me, is none of it seems edgy at all, maybe I have just seen more of the extremes of expression on the internet, but all of the references seem too “easy”, and well trodden, it’s like shooting fish in a barrel.

Enh…anyway. :shrug:

#63

I really really love how jesus is shaking (spasms like) his body through the video. Mocap you reckon?

#64

Does the ring of the puppeteer with an “S” show, or mean… George Soros? (or Schwartz to Soros in 1936 name change) as the puppeteer?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Soros

The fire at the heart of suffering.

#65

I think I should stand corrected here, as both quotes above were a reply to my opinion that it necessarily wasn’t sexual content.

The way both of you explain it from your point of view makes perfectly sense.
I meant it quite a bit more simplistic, from the arousal part of sexual content.
Though sexual, I considered it rather symbolism.

However, you are both right.

#66

That the rituals of religions, effigies of cathedrals, media control, and even the dramatic powers of Leaders of Powerful Nations will never overpower the drive of Political Interests, Economic Interests, Sexual Desires, and the need for inequality and destruction that has driven human history for centuries.

Everything serves to feed the belly of the beast.

Even people who believe themselves to be powering their own fundamentalism are only tools of a larger interest.

But it emphasizes in the end that the youth can be free if they place themselves in a higher place, and trust in the divine (instead of merely symbols of the divine). Although the path is difficult and full of distractions and discouragement.

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

Not saying I agree with what I saw. But that’s what I saw.

And this is definitely the kind of movie I cannot make. It’s just too deep.

#67

Agree with many others- some good technical work which picks up from the first frames, but content is just some religious propaganda.

The nature of world issues is too complex for this video or its authors to ever comprehend. I’d say the content of the video is the source of the problem, citing how some western people think about their world, not the portrayal of its’ solution. If a solution even exists.

Jesus/Chuck Norris/Flying Spaghetti Monster to the rescue!

#68

When the twins collapse bombs go on different floors.

This clip is awesome but it can make a thread go down so easily.

#69

I tend to agree along this line as well. I’m surprised to see how many people are commenting on the apparent “depth” of the piece - without wishing to sound smug, if this is the deepest thing you’ve seen, then there’s a lot you clearly haven’t seen. I felt this piece was pretentious because it’s trying too hard - which is why I feel that ultimately it failed at being inflammatory in the right way, because when you try too hard to get a message across, you end up taking a side and alienating people with your bias. The “edgy” surrealism of Bush and Obama at the beginning, the cliché sexual themes, and the heavy-handed religious symbolism all scream ART STUDENT FILM to me. And I’m certainly not suggesting that art students/film students are fools or have no right to make statements, but rather that youngsters are often inexperienced in the world and lack the perspective to add meaningful context to their ideas.

#70

I thought it was remarkable -

I don’t care about its religious undertones, or whatever message its trying to push (someone feel free to explain it to me) , all I can tell you is I think it looks fantastic - the music, direction all wonderful. And the way the music and animation build up towards the end (in my humble opinion) works brilliantly.

Reminds me of The Fountain.

#71

The message you describe isnt very deep. Its more like a platitude.

#72

Again, not saying I agreed with what I think I saw in there.
Then again, perhaps it’s the “Emperor’s New Movie”… and it’s not meant to mean anything at all.

#73

based on the content of the animation and that the hands look like a monster and highlighted with red, one can assume that it is “Satan” as the puppeteer.

#74

What I mean is–the message as you describe isnt really deep–and you can find a basic version of it in many mainstream stories–sometimes without it being deliberate.
The message could be simplified as “Rejecting (false and corrupt) authority, trust in yourself–faith in your sense of purpose or destiny.”

I think there is a bit of that in Monsters Inc, or Star Wars, or… Bay’s Transformers…or many other movies.
But they dont wear the message on their sleeve because it is meant to be entertainment and a narrative, not just the message as its central reason for existing.

Gulliver’s Travels has lots of thematic and political messages-I’d say much more deep and timeless and uncomfortable-but it also works as a basic adventure fantasy story.

In the case of this film other than the technological design, the symbolism and message are its only reason for being from what I can tell.
The maker could have probably stated the same message in a short song and dance routine with catchy lyrics using his Obama-Bush morphing character–though it would have been technically less impressive. It may have been more entertaining.

So when you say you wouldnt make a story like this–I assume you mean you wouldnt want to make something where the symbolism and the theme are so dominant/heavy handed.
If you see what I mean.

#75

I think i messed up and ate the brown micro-dot.

#76

From my understanding, if there is a message that the writer is hoping to address, it has to be inferred and carried though the entire story. If it is thrown at you with no regard for story, then it becomes preachy. And that’s what I find about the presentation, it comes across as an artist escaped of preaching without reflection on the origin of the issue.

Reminds me of a blockbuster visual effect production that has lots of flash but really in the end says nothing. No single identifying concrete message.

#77

It’s interesting how everyone is reflecting themselves into the work. I think that’s what it’s all about.
Since I’m not religious, I saw a very atheist meaning in the short, where even Jesus is in awe of the immensity of it all and how belittled he is in the context of the shots especially the end.
To me, it’s a film about repressive powers and how unnecessary it is to consume media, politics or religion as a representation of oneself.

I would much rather enjoy a conversation about this film with a couple of beers and some real people though :beer:

#78

I don’t believe it is the lack of meaningful context, but as a choice between subjective and literal translation of themes. The lack of experience lends itself to the choice of the literal, which as an experienced viewer we begin to see as naive.

As comparision, the short is just as meaningful as Harry Potter and Twilight. A deck of visual plot devices throw in the wind to land on a coming of age story. This perticual story using political and religious symbols coupled with a fight for freedom. Naive, and trite.

#79

Viewing it a few more times, feels like there are three or four different themes.

On first viewing, it can be somewhat confusing, after a few times, its more apparent. I don’t think a short production provides enough time to layer in too many messages, because not enough can be conveyed about one particular thought to bring about a clear resolution. The theme of suffering is really general … and perhaps, at least what I would perceive as anti-American … probably because the lead in features American presidents extolling negative precepts on all that follows … could have trimmed so it’s more specific. Because it is followed up by religious symbolism, it switches from political to religion, then religion to something else …

#80

This animation makes the case that 9/11 was a controlled demolition.

If you look closely, you can see horizontal squibs firing down the length of the “tower” before it collapses.

An interesting piece altogether, although I don’t understand all of it.