REVIEWS
Climbing Up the Walls by
Obsessive24
Best Video, Editing
RU, AU, Drama RU, Judge's Choice (Shona)
Here is an interesting vid
which takes on a controversial and divisive topic in not one
but three fandoms, and does so in a way that shines a bright
light on it and forces one to face it head on. The timings
and clip choices in this vid are amazing - and the match
cuts amongst all three fandoms are awe inspiring. There is
such a sense of 'wrongness' pervading the entire vid and the
vidder [Nikki?] plays with the viewer to make them question
their own views. Victim or perpetrator? Can such labels be
applied? Should they?
This is a vid that everyone
should see, no matter his or her stance on the thorny topic
of incest in these fandoms. This is a vid that forces one to
face the issue.
(review by Andrea)
We've come to expect something special from Nicky
(no pressure) and this vid delivers once again. Not one
to shy away from complicated subject/themes this time tackling a
fandom fascination, or preoccupation if you like, for incest in
TV shows - but does so in such a way that it forces us to
scrutinize our own views on the matter. And to question them.
Putting aside my own views on the subject, I was struck
immediately by an overwhelming feeling of discomfort and of
being 'off kilter' As Shona has said 'wrongness' and
guilt. The execution is superb, one seamless transition from
after another and parallels fandom to fandom that astound/shock
when seen in this context. The last phase of the vid from about
3.09 steps up another level with a chilling montage , the
intimacy, the parents and children right through to the final to
the climax of the 'monsters' in the mirror. A seriously thought
provoking vid that really should be on everyone's 'to see' list.
Thrown Away By Leviathan
Best Video RU, Best Editing, Best
Character, Judge's Choice (Andrea), Best Action, Best Effects
It's all too easy, given the
later portrayal of the character in fandom, to forget that
Spike is in many ways the ultimate victim. This vid, in its
use of clips and timings, highlights this aspect of the
character and manages to show the incredible resilience of
someone who keeps on bouncing back time after time. There is
little to find fault with in this vid - the timings, the use
of effects, the lyrical matching; all these and more combine
to produce an accomplished character study which encourages
one to take a second look.
(review by Andrea)
It is great to have talented editors come to the whedonverse
fandom fairly late, it means we get awesome vids afresh and new
visions /interpretation of characters and themes. Here is a very
interesting view of Spike - the victim, the punching bag, the
rejected, the used and abused from the moment he was sired and
previously in his human life. All this builds throughout the vid
and the feeling of sympathy for the character is almost
overwhelming as the bouquet for Joyce is abandoned, Cecily rises
to leave a crushed William and the money flutters down over a
prostrate Spike as Buffy walks away. Most definitely 'Thrown
Away'. It's no secret that I am fan of VAST having vidded a
number of their songs myself - I think their style suits the
fandom well, you've chosen a great song for Spike.
Great clip selection to reinforce the theme and the editing is
so tight with great use of both internal and external motion.
Very subtle effects that work well and do not overwhelm. Some
particular clip/lyric matches which caught my eye/ear were 1.02
'Flag on top the moon' as he stakes his mother, 'Let me in
because I'm out' at 1.50 as he & Buffy sit on the doorstep,
'Don't say the words' as Angelus holds his finger up to Drusilla
at 3.06.
All in all an excellent Spike vid with plenty of action and
emotion. Just like the character.
Le
Manège by
Buffyann
Judge's Choice (Andrea), Best
Relationship, Best Music Use
(review by Andrea)
You know you are smitten with a vid when the chords strike up
and a wide smile immediately forms on your face, a feeling of
joy just wells up.... (sorry I was getting carried away)
Buffyann gets me all emotional again!!
I felt an immediate emotional connection with this vid - the
source is so beautiful and you have used all of that internal
motion and set it to the most perfect song for Chuck and Ned.
Tender and sweet (but bittersweet too) The vocals are haunting
and feel right for the show, I think being in French enhances
the sense of romance. I went and checked the lyrics and was
pleased that long forgotten schoolgirl French had allowed me to
follow most of it. I loved the touch of the finger tip as 'Un
Tour de Magie' and of course the waltzing couple to 'tourne'.
It just flows on- 'dances' even, seamlessly
(flying over the windmills works so well with that section of
the music along with the delicate overlay of Ned & Chuck) and
ends with our 'lovers' spinning on the roof. A Wonderful
uplifting, beautiful vid made with real instinctive talent and I
would suspect love for the song and show.
Enjoy The Silence -
Skeezerbeans
Judge's Choice (Shona), Best
Episodic
(Review by
Shona)
This is a remarkably clever
vid which combines and concentrates the entire story of the
episode in around 4 minutes in a way that makes me want to
watch it again. Whereas a lot of vids of this kind
(episodic) fall back on simply retelling the story, this vid
manages to take the salient points and interlace them in
such a way that works beautifully. From a graphics maker's
point of view, my only real issue with the presentation of
the vid is the use of the border around every frame. I
understand why it is done, it ties the whole together
beautifully, but rather than blending the 'letterbox' into
the video, it emphasizes it. This means that in some of the
more brightly lit segments, the viewer is acutely aware of
the border rather than what is going on in the rest of the
frame. Like I say, it's a tiny niggle and not one that takes
away from what is a highly accomplished vid. Kudos!
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