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Josh-B

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Recent Movie Reviews

25 Movie Reviews

I find this a very interesting film for Newgrounds. I wouldn't say its something that surpasses all other movies here in quality, but definitely for maintaining quality over its length. Its got a story that could easily work as a longer movie, but it's excellently worked out in a way that no part of the overall concept feels like it was compromised or left out due to limitations by the artist. Its not often you see a "complete" story here.

My first impression was definitely one of interest, but I had a feeling in the back of my mind that this was just another everyday flash guy trying to make a "good" movie, yet would fall short due to his own limitations in his writing ability or animation, and, in a few ways it does feel like it appeals to the cliches of other successful dystopian sci-fi flicks which, ironically, makes it seem a tad unoriginal when attempted by someone with not as much caliber in filmmaking.
Yet, its the infusion throughout of blatant vulgarity and sexual themes that makes me smile a bit and reminds me that this is definitely something that you would only see on Newgrounds, and not in any previous sci-fi movie I've seen.

Once I saw it through to the end, however, I was greatly impressed by the writing of the film, how it really surprises me, instead of making me think, "oh great, an amateur trying to be mr. great dystopian science fiction author over here, how fucking original". Its not, say, a feature-length film, but it definitely has a unique enough story to be worth noting, and I'm impressed that it was done by only a few great individuals just trying to make an entertaining animation.

Great job!

Excellent work, if not quite up to the others.

As usual, your work touches the upper threshold of Flash talent, providing an inspiration to others who follow you. You usually tend to push the limits of possibility with the program every time you submit something, yet in this installment there seems to be nothing particularly new or earth-shattering to talk about.

While you still show intense amounts of quality, there were a few things that weren't quite up to speed as your previous entries. The fact that it was sort of a prelude meant that there was no single story to talk about,or a simple problem or premise. This obviously seems like a build up to something far more extensive and I have no doubts about it being top quality, but my greatest worry about the series is that your transfer from simple stand-alone animations to a far more massive series might somewhat diminish the quality of the series.

Adding more depth to characters and settings in a story can either be something that adds to the series, but it can also be a sort of death sentence for the animation. Now, there is nothing you could do that could actually be "bad", but i'm afraid that this new depth you're adding to the series could somewhat diminish the quality of your work, setting-wise.

Still, I hope the best for your future endeavors and I look forward to your next installment

~Josh B

Long detailed review

Alright, I suppose I'll give this toon the whole spiel.

I remember back in the olden days about 3 years ago when I first saw Blockhead, it was simple antics that appealed to many audiences expecting simple humor. You were consistently thinking up new things for him to get into and I especially enjoyed Blockhead's new dialouge every episode. Blockhead was also a constantly developing character which was evidenced in Time Squad showing a sort of 'secret past', adding more dimensions to his character. Even though Blockhead had simple ways, he was always responding to a new situation in a humorous way and always had something new to show, even if you did throw in a few recurring jokes. This is what I enjoyed most about the series.

But, as I feared, this is no longer so.

Around the whole redesign at about Episode 9, I liked the new look and everything and the type of humor stayed delightfully the same as before. But the following episodes started getting bland for very good reasons. Its not that the writing has become bad, it is just become far too repetitive, which in its own sense is still considered bad. You see, I just think that Blockhead is starting to become too adamant a character, with nothing really too new. I see him saying a lot of the same type of dialouge choices and too much of the same actions, characters and jokes. One major thing is the Weevil character whom doesn't really fit in as well. A new recurring character every episode just doesn't seem to work after awhile, besides maybe a cameo later on or a brief reference. But just putting him in every new episode just doesn't feel right. It felt good with the two original characters: Blockhead and his Conscience who gave the series its true essence. But you have a new character who you try to base plots around, kind of ruins that aspect about the series. The only main recognized characters that worked were the ones in Time Squad and that was kind of just throwing Blockhead into a completely different genre.

Maybe the whole reason for this is Blockhead is just such a one-sided character that can only last so long before it just starts to get old, and I don't know if you should just move on or what. Or maybe your new, improved art style has somehow taken away from the series simple beginning and has limited or damaged the writing and situations.

Either way, I don't feel as good about this series as I used to. I may have rambled a bit these past few paragraphs, but I hope I can get my message through to you in the way I intended.

Hoping for the best.

The-Swain responds:

I won't disagree that this episode has "more of the same" when it comes to some of the comedy, especially concepts that were frequent through Episodes 9, 10, and the Ghostmas special, and someone expecting to be surprised throughout will undoubtedly be a little disappointed.

Thing is, there's a method to this madness. It's been over a year since the last actual episode in the series, and any repeat of old concepts was meant to remind people of what they'd been missing. This was supposed to be "just another episode", but I think the passing of time between episodes makes each one a little more precious, and then maybe a little disappointing when it doesnt turn out to be a brand new awesome experience.

Though I disagree about the Weevil; he's less a character and more a prop. Another target of Blockhead's obsession, but more versatile than giving him a reason to say "Introducing tongs!" every episode. He doesn't have any kind of role in this episode even, and the escape scene is more to highlight Blockhead's needless obsession with yet another ridiculous focus. Though you're right to call Blockhead single-dimensioned - the only thing I can ever change about him is the environment with which he interacts. Hence another red herring for him to chase.

Alas, I do miss the old days of just Blockhead and his Conscience, and there will be plenty more scenarios where just the two of them can go at it. But don't be worried about the direction of the series - every episode, I sit down with my collection of comics I drew as 13-year-old and pick traits that I intend to use each time. Maybe next time it will be more to your liking?

Recent Game Reviews

14 Game Reviews

Know what's more pathetic than Wade Fulp's life? Guys who spend their free time making a game about how pathetic Wade Fulp's life is.

ZING!

It was quite an ambitious project you made, unfortunately it turned out to be fairly disappointing in many ways.

The way I see it, the game was basically in two parts: A decent animated part and a pretty crappy game part. I'll cover both in detail.

For the animated scenes, they were quirky and well-animated. Your style is interesting, if not my favorite, but it was animated quite well with the characters not being too stiff and providing a decent amount of action.
For the writing...well, its ok for Newgrounds standards I guess...It was often unnecessarily dirty and skipped details, trying to focus on the characters and their quirkiness, which was often overly typical and crudely humored (although I did enjoy the racially stereotyped baddies, a guilty pleasure). I even saw things that were at most transparently lifted from shows like Archer, almost as if you took the ideas from that, made all the jokes a lot more blatantly dirty and set the whole thing in space. I'd recommend an M rating, but I'm sure nobody really cares at this point.
But effect and animation-wise, you went all out. 3D integrated into some aspects (another Archer thing but...), sprinkled with special effects and it makes a decent visual experience (if you turn down the conversations).

Game- wise, I realize it was the focus of the game (I think), but it's so unassuming and uninteresting its almost like a boring segue to tie the animated bits together. The ship controls are wonky as well as firing, burst fire especially-the missiles were pretty cool. The way the health works is especially unclear, not that it matters as death is a minor inconvenience, with a guy comically racing out to fix your ship in a few short seconds every time you die. Since there's no way to lose so there's absolutely no challenge, which is *kinda* an important part to any game, IMO.
There is also little to no explanation from the previous cutscene that explain what is actively happening in each respective level. The little info you get is, I assume, coming from the little portraits that talk occasionally, which I can't tell when they are saying something key to the story or just spouting off in response to a certain action due to the sheer noise and commotion of the battle and the background music.
The ships are so low detailed you can't really discern what it is supposed to be, and sometimes whether or not if is even an enemy, which I have to say is the one weakness in your graphical style; it does not work for games.

The best part about this whole project is definitely the music, which listening to would be one of the few reasons for me to even play this movie/game thing again. I also enjoyed the voice acting a lot (spot on), even if I didn't really enjoy what was coming out of their mouths.

I understand this is a big project for you and you really put a lot of work into it and wanted it to succeed. This is why I gave you a higher review score than I would otherwise. But glaring weaknesses prevent it from becoming the one big great project you wanted it to be. I get it, you're just a bunch of individual Newgrounds people working towards a single goal and you aren't, say, an experienced professional team. I respect that. I only hope that you can improve upon your weaknesses and save this series from its disappointing "pilot".

I love yer games luis

Whenever I look at those crosses my eyes ignite. You should make a jew-friendly version

Recent Audio Reviews

5 Audio Reviews

Nice Sound

I'm glad you've upgraded to more professional sounding sounds. The only issue, is your songs still have the same complexity as before. The whole realism of the sound is nice and all, but the song as a whole doesn't do it justice. Plus, you still have the same instruments as in the original song. Like add other things that go with, but are not in the original.

Pretty nice work tho. Try laying off the Zelda.

Alright

Pretty good song. The whole thing is kinda slow paced like any good jazz song. Like you said, its a bit jumbled, but it fit prety good.

And the song referenced is furmpus by DanPaladin?

Glaiel-Gamer responds:

nope

Wow.

This is the most beautiful song I have ever heard. It feels like my ears just went to heaven. You are truly a god at making music.

Recent Art Reviews

9 Art Reviews

Rtil likes the heavy honies.

Maybe you should label these with 'spoiler alert'. Just a suggestion.

MindChamber responds:

the game is about 5 years old

War. War never changes.

I am Bedn.

Josh @Josh-B

Age 31, Male

Nuttin

Somewhere in Oregon

Joined on 8/14/05

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