Maybe it's lack of a Y chromosome, but I found this short a bit long and sexist to the point I was a bit insulted. However, it's very well animated and the character personalities are fun to watch.Good job Blur!
A Gentlemen's Duel
Every animator should have these books on their shelf...
2007-08-03
A Gentlemen's Duel
Maybe it's lack of a Y chromosome, but I found this short a bit long and sexist to the point I was a bit insulted. However, it's very well animated and the character personalities are fun to watch.Good job Blur!
A Gentlemen's Duel
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Angie, I have a Y chromosome, and I really didn't like this one either.
I applaud the effort, but I don't like so many of the subtexts in this short. In fact, I found something hidden in one of the stills available last November.
In response to this post, I wrote up my thoughts and my discovery. If anyone cares to, follow the link below:
http://pushingposes.blogspot.com/2007/08/poses-pushed-little-too-far.html
Wowsie Wow Erik it's amazing you caught that pose! And readers, don't get me wrong...anyone who knows me understands I am far from a prude and enjoy off color humor.
It's just like Erik said, the short would have been much more engaging to watch if the female character had a brain. Hell, if she had some way of participating in the duel and creating conflict between the two men it would have been brilliant!
Erik, I also had the same impression with Fifi the poodle and started to really love him until he was humping the shoe. Again, with the easy joke.
CG Society has the "behind the scenes" so-to-speak of how they developed this story at Blur. They talk about how they began with a story where the touch of the lady's hand would incite the struggle between the suitors. Somehow, they said, they couldn't make that work? That sounds much more interesting to me, frankly. A subtle touch contrasted by a duel would make for a great way to show acting choices.
Frankly, I felt if they had to beat the crap out of her while they fought, it would have been funnier to just stop when she is down and they realize this and then fight over who actually caused that to happen - the end. The short just seemed to go on and on...
On a positive note though, I have to say...the little intro with the two frogs is very cute and there are many nice touches throughout the short that reinforce the story that I really liked. I loved how the butler had this dainty umbrella to protect the female character from debris. In fact, since she ends up with the butler in the end anyways...I wish all of his moves had been more "gentlemanly."
For example, when the butler grabbed her head and bent her over to get her out of the way of the robots...what if he had gracefully picked her up in his arms? This would have been a nice contrast, since he is so much smaller then she and also a more subtle acting choice in contrast to the other two men less than chivalrous behavior. In addition this gesture would have been a foreshadowing of who would really get the girl?
So, anyways...I thought the animation was better than some movies being made out there. I just wish the story was a more developed idea and more cleverly laid out.
Well Angie and/or Jamie, it sounds like we agree on a lot of issues regarding this short. I really like a lot of the creative story variations and alternate angles you suggest. Seems like some great opportunities were missed story wise.
On the other hand, those folks a Blur sure do know how to make things look good.
Thanks for taking the time to check out my post on the subject.
Post a Comment