Goro's Top 10... AND THEN SOME

[Gorosaurus]

Because these lists are the new Reality TV of the Bulletin Board, I'm going to see if I can't cash in on the discussion.

I'll have a few sublists as time goes on, because everyone loves those.

The list which will be revealed details the most impacting movies to ever strike me personally, be it indirectly (Through effecting the community), or directly (Being Z-man awesome). Any way you look at it, I win. SO LET'S GET THIS PARTY A-STARTED



To keep things interesting, I figured that sub-lists weren't enough. So I made it my top 20, much like Aaron has. However, it is the top 10 which have been thuroughly thought through and placed accordingly, whereas the 10 after that are very moment-based decisions. Placing could volley in any direction.



#20.


IN THE BOX - Guy Collins

First of all, I'd like to get on my little soapbox and make a broad, potentially dangerous statement: I found In the Box. Haha, now I don't know if that's largely true or not, but it seems like after I made a rogue thread in Critic's Corner about that wonder I found called In the Box, it began popping up on people's favorites lists and became almost over-loved instead of it's prior over-looked status. But enough of the back..err, foreground.. wait.. after-ground, yeah. Enough of that; In the Box is the perfect example of the nearly-perfect short action movie. Excellent, fitting music (And well-edited), MEMORABLE characters, incredible, stylized action, visual flare, and TONS of unadultered fun. The storyline is short and crisp, exploring the before and during of the plot, and the voice acting is as good as it gets. In my previous review I couldn't get over how incredible Guy's grasp of sylized physics is... and that has not changed at all. Much like Brad Ross (Heeey.. havn't I seen these two together before?), the action occurs in short bursts, yet inbetween each burst as a cinematic slow-mo gem. People should take notes on this movie to see how good a short can truly be; In the Box deserves the admiration and harddrive space of everyone with even half a shred of fun in them.






















#10.


Videogame Nightmare 2 - Mike and Justin

Videogame Nightmare is like a time capsule... however, this time capsule was sent BACK in time. It's contents were two unconventional 3dmm directors. They took the things they've learned about cinematics and videogames alike, and headed to the year 1998. There they would make Videogame Nightmare 2 (Before making a normal time capsule and opening it in 2003) in a style that would blend well with the movies of the day, yet contain oddly advanced parts which, when melded so well into the classic style, don't stick out at all. VGN2 is everything you loved about the 'golden era,' yet amped and vamped enough to be quite watchable today. The graphics teeter along a string boarder of crude and incredible, the music can't decide if MIDI or WAV would better suit any given scene, and the cinematics are at the complete mercy of 8-bit mapping, yet somehow this indecisive mix proves to be completely irresistable to the viewer. And that's not even MENTIONING the comedy! Justin and Mike have self-bashing (Both literally and non) humor down to an art, and their parodies of famous games still gathers a chuckle to this day just from memory. Some scenes in this movie are as classic as the games they are based on; watching this movie is like wandering into a candy store, and finding that your pockets are chock-full of change. Instead of explaining what on God's green Earth I am takling about with my metaphors, I think I'll leave you all with this: Videogame Nightmare 2 is truly perfect in the spirit of what Justin and Mike were aiming for. Also of note, this hit can be enjoyed by people completely unfamiliar with 3dmm, and that says many different things. A lot of them good

[Denny Betterman]

Cool cool, but how about a new kind of top 10 thread? We already have the critic's corner full of review threads reviewing the same movies over and over, why not get more specific or goofy than just the overall top 10?

...And please don't ask me to do it

[Hey Mikey Pictures]

WE FINALLY APPEAR ON A TOP TEN LIST! KICK ASS! * sleeps well at night *

[Digital Taco]

Originally posted by Gorosaurus
First of all, I'd like to get on my little soapbox and make a broad, potentially dangerous statement: I found In the Box. Haha, now I don't know if that's largely true or not, but it seems like after I made a rogue thread in Critic's Corner about that wonder I found called In the Box, it began popping up on people's favorites lists and became almost over-loved instead of it's prior over-looked status.

NOT TRUE. It was totally popular when it was released, and it's always been one of my favourites.

[Gorosaurus]

What really surprises me is that Guy had made it for school, and didn't really plan on releasing it at all, apparently. This is what I'm told

[Gorosaurus]

#19.

GODZILLA 1998 - Matt Burkett

Ah, here is is. The very first 3d movie I ever watched, and was actually enticed by long before I had the program. It was only through Z-man's constant urgings that I bought the program off of ebay to finally give him some much-deserved feedback on his classic. Not knowing the limitations of 3dmm (Yet knowing that there were some), I had a great time watching Godzilla 1998; I was an avid Godzilla fan at the time. It wasn't until later that I realized how superior G98 was to most of the movies released around that time - the character design, while inconsistant, is still at least there. There was an actual effort to expand on a story played many times before, and the music was quite entertaining throughout. Today you can watch Godzilla 98, and I think you'll probably see past what's on screen and actually view what the director saw in his mind. For instance, there's a great scene where Godzilla's shadow flows across the cityscape - It's really not that impressive architecturally, yet there's genius in the idea alone, and I instead see a great scene showing Godzilla's immensity and the insignificance of the people below. It's a shot that Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich toyed around with in their movie of the same year, yet instead missed a step and focused on the people's size in relation to the buildings around them, which is nothing we don't already think about every day. There's more told in a simple shadow than in a building shattering into pieces above a frantic crowd. On a different note, the crudely animated final battle was incredible both in it's time and when I first saw the movie. Today I can see the shortcuts and whatnots, but I have to recognize that Matt was being a pioneer with each new scene in this movie - nothing like them had EVER been done before, and if that final battle, with it's engaging MIDI track, still entertains today and thuroughly rewards those who sat and gave good thought to the story beforehand, then that's saying something about the legacy of this movie. I'd say a remake is in order anyhow






#9

Ghost in the Shell - Redwampa and Spencer Crabb

People have made a sport out of accusing REDUX of stealing Ghost in the Shell's thunder in the awards of 2003, and I feel that it's a shame that the two are paired together at all. Ghost in the Shell is a riveting tale which completely trumps the story it's based on. The direction in this movie is second to none - especially for this length of film (Granted, there's an epic-sized movie or two I still have yet to see), and every scene is crafted and polished to a glorious shine. The directors' attention to detail is astounding.. the characters even have nostrils. Nostrils! I'd be hard pressed to add a ears or a neck, but the level of precision put into this movie is simply astounding. The voice work is among the best ever done, showcasing the community's greatest talents. The story is, simply put, the greatest ever put in a 3DMM movie. That's not to say that it's the most complex (And that's not to say that it isn't!), but it is a very well-rounded, entertaining and ultimately quite rewarding plot. I can remember myself remarking "Whoa" a number of times at the twists and turns the directing duo puts into GITS, and when those epiphanies are coupled with some of the greatest, most well-planned and coordinated action scenes done in any animated format ever, it's not hard to see why Ghost in the Shell is an easy candidate for a Top 10 placement. Yes, there are problems, and yes I can still tell the differences between the two directors (Which really did bother me during my intitial viewing), but who even expected this movie would ever come out completed - let alone this well? It's a testament to great directorial vision and obvious care put into a project; it's not hard to see that both of the directors held this film very close to their heart. It's a shame to hear that Redwampa has finally quit 3DMM, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that it's not his squirrels that will be his lasting legacy, no sir. Instead, Ghost in the Shell will shine as his crowning achievement. As for Spencer, I surely hope he continues working on movies for years to come, he is one of the very best action directors in the community (He makes a GREAT team with Evan Strobel), and I eagerly await his next project. As for Ghost in the Shell, it hurts me very deeply when I think that I might've robbed the directors out of the respect they deserved, however I don't believe this is the case. GITS' power is self evident, and if REDUX proves to be half the historically cherished movie that Ghost in the Shell is ure to be, then I will certainly be elated.

Great things come from pairs of two.

[Dominator Dan]

Wierd way of going 20 - 10, 19 - 9, 18 - 8


Great list man!

[Andres]

*eagerly awaits for the appereance of SATANIK in this list*

[Aaron Haynes]

Top 20, not Top 200

[Andres]

it's still as #1, baby.

[Michael Jeffrey]

Man I'm so glad I have a big ego and search my name every few weeks to see if people are talking about me.

I can barely remember how In The Box got big, I did it (here's that fucking story again) in 2 weeks for a school assignment, and released it here only because it had community voice actors in it.

Thanks AGAIN Goro, you should do a monthly review of In The Box to boost my self esteem.

[Orcus]

http://www.3dmm.com/bboard/showthrea...96#post1033096

Guy?

[Gorosaurus]

Hey Guy, are you working on any sort of animation stuff right now? Like even flash or anything? Because it'd be nice to have something to look forward to, yessiree


But it does seem as though Orcus was even more impressed than I!

[Michael Jeffrey]

Originally posted by Orcus
http://www.3dmm.com/bboard/showthrea...96#post1033096

Guy?

HOLY SHIT, I read the original review but I didn't see the top 10. This is insane in the membrane.

EDIT - Goro, this thread has got me thinking about sequels.

[Gorosaurus]

It would only be the coolest thing in the history of ever, that's all.

[Gorosaurus]

Haha.. You could call it "OUTSIDE OF THE BOX"

[Aaron Haynes]

Ammunition Unlimited still has some of the most amazing set pieces I've ever seen in the history of 3DMM. It's endlessly creative, it reminds me of the first time I played FF7.

[Michael Jeffrey]

Aaron, do me a review of AU for lockntoad, because you keep making these sweeping statements about it but I want to hear why.

[Aaron Haynes]

Hahaha, fair enough. It's just one of a million things I've been meaning to get to is all.

[Michael Jeffrey]

That's cool Aaron, just whenever you get around to it I'd be interested to hear what you think.

AND NOW BACK TO OUR FEATURE PRESENTATION, NUMBER 18.

[Allergic 2 Life]

awwwwww thanks goro.

[Gorosaurus]

#18


YETI AND SQUIDWORTH'S HALLOWEEN NIGHTMARE



Completely out of left field would bring a name which would become one of, if not the biggest director in 3dmm's modern history. Jon Barton released Yeti and Squidworth in Tony Teulan's Fright Fest, and needless to say, it completely saved it. However, before watching the movie, I remember getting a bit of a pre-disposition by just reading the thread alone. Best character movement ever? Animator of the year? This son of a hee-haw probably doesn't know a sphere from a rhombus! But since I didn't either, we might still be equals. After the first watch (Botched due to 3dmm problems), I was amazed to see that I wasn't mad at all, but amazed at how someone can come completely out of nowhere and release something that outdoes all other current releases. It was a pleasure to watch, and truly deserving of the best animation/animator award. The comedy was great, though unexpected, and direction superb. I can't help but think that Yeti and Squidworth (Even though I don't know if we should be able to discern one from the other yet) are destined to become the 'NUTS squirrels' of 3DMM's modern age. This is a big reason why Yeti took a spot next to Adrian's Green Cell in REDUX - a spot normally reserved for Redwampa's creations. While the squirrels still had an equally important role to play, I fel-err.. my bad, back to the review. I have not yet checked out the newly released 'GOOD' edition of Y&S, but if there's nothing changed from it to the original, well.. it's got a place in my top 20. Jon Barton is now one of the people here who I can consider a true friend, and his upcoming Ringworld project remains something I look forward to with the utmost anticipation. JP's finally got some competition!
























#8


LITTERBUG 2: TERMINATION
(Original Edition)

Ah, here it is. The action coup de gras, released in 2000 no less. Jimmy Pozin's marvelous work here has proven ageless, as it will ALWAYS be a work you can show anyone, regardless of their familiarity with 3dmm, and both you and your guest will be immensely entertained. ..And that's after the 3rd watch! I will admit that after the intial 'wow' factor of it's first watch wore off, I jumped on the 'Pozin-Can't-Direct' bandwagon. You know, the one that says he just moves a camera for the hay of it, and there's really no redeeming value to his 'directing' at all. Well, granted.. there is truth to that. Other than visual thrill, the direction doesn't offer much, and time that could be better spent in other places is often used hovering in-and-out-and-through cell blocks and watchtowers. However, that doesn't mean that Jimmy Pozin is any less a genius of the sport. Not only was this movie a COMPLETE pioneering feat, but the action is actually fun, engaging, and memorable. Heck, even the opening LOGO had me mesmerized for years. There are lines in this movie that I still trade with friends and family at the oddest times, such as "I got busted down at the school," "Get over heeeere, we need some heeeelp!," and the exlaiming of "Hey Josh!" whenever that specific Offspring song plays (On cue, no less). Honestly, I prefer the original (Unfinished) version of Litterbug 2 to the remastered, finished 2002 work. I preferred the voices, music choices, and the knowledge that ALL of the work in it was completely revolutionary at it's time. The new version, while beautiful, and.. honestly a better product, does clash with the old one (With obvious new scenes which would blow people away today, much like earlier ones did back in 2000). Unfortunately, the magic of Litterbug 2 escaped with Pozin's later release of A Ragtag Group of Rebels, but I have complete and utter confidence that Jimmy will retain all of the Litterbug 2's awesome qualities with his future releases.

[Gorosaurus]

#17


REDUX


Can you believe it, a project I worked on making the list? Well rest assured, if I thought of this as my project, it wouldn't be here. REDUX was a project I started at the request of Andres de la Hoz as a "director's persepctive of a classic movie moment." Now, originally, I figured he meant non-3dmm, but after I learned that the Earthquake Scene from Land Before Time wasn't quite what he meant, I decided to do my own take on an Adrian Pikios work. Why Rebirth? Because I can't help but think that if I tried to do stuff from any of his other movies, they'd either look the same, or wouldn't measure up. REDUX was a movie which was to be held by awesome scenes, and little else. Little did I realize that after taking Aaron Haynes onto the project later that year (I said "Do you like working with HMCs?" and he said "Yes." HOOK LINE AND SINKER) that it would become a movie that MEANT something. A contemporary look at the slight past, present, and possible future of 3DMM trends, REDUX is pretty, yes, but that is hardly it's greatest feature. When you get down to it and you understand some of the symbolism, REDUX has you ponder why the community acts in certain ways, and offers an opportunity to fix a few faults. On a practical level, REDUX cleverly hid the wonders of the Expansion Pack in it's download, showing that the future really CAN be as hopeful as the movie aimed to show. From an outsider's view, the joining forces of Aaron Haynes and Gorosaurus must've been a whole lot like learning of Adrian Pikios and Redwampa's collaboration when the Showdown was released. In fact, if we stretch that further - Adrian's character was the central figure in the Showdown, when Pikios himself only had a minimal job in the movie's production. In REDUX Gorosaurus is the central character and, after all is said and done, it would be quite true that Aaron Haynes did the majority of the work. It's a shame Red and Adrian never joined forces for a sequel; that would've been fun to redux as well.














#7


Two of a Kind
(Original Edition)

Two of a Kind was not a movie I was real keen on seeing. In fact, I vividly remember it's writeup on 3dmm.com's main page. In the words of Space Goat himself, "Two of a Kind is a lot like a foreign film.. you have to be either crazy or retarded to get something out of it." Well.. that's about as close to a direct quote that I can remember off of the top of my head, but what matters is that it was very off-putting. At the time, the name Jordi Visser meant nothing to me.. well, unless someone who couldn't spell well was referring to Star Trek. I was, however, quite familiar with the Stranger movies. They were a longtime favorite of mine (And I did a lot of searching for them because I never found all 3 at the same site), and it wasn't until I decided I had nothing to do one day and might as well watch ToaK that I realised this was all the same series. Holy cow... it surprised even me, but after two consecutive watches, this critically destroyed movie managed to overcome all previous Stranger movies on my favorites list. It had everything - comedy, action, more comedy and action, drama, and what I felt was an awesome, strikingly powerful story. Not a plot I suppose, but it was a very cool story that, be it my youth or the genuine greatness of the writing, amazed me to no end. It took the Stranger movies and turned them from being unrelated action tests to being chapters in a clear story. Personally, I don't care much at all for Jordi's update of ToaK (Ver. 1.2) because he robbed it of everything that glorified the original. The physics-less and sense-less style was replaced with reality, the comedy replaced with vengeance, and action less fun and more serious. My favorite part of ToaK is where Charlie Lownoise's Beaitiful Days starts up: The meaningless, yet highly entertaining alien flight. In fact, it's really saying something when you can just flip through the scenes as I did for this review, while listening to Rob D. - Clubbed to Death, and it still reeks of style. I'm not sure quite what that's saying, but that's probably because it's foreign (HAW.). Two of a Kind is most striking because it manages to juggle the expected irrelevance of the Stranger series with a worthwhile, sensible story. There's also some beautiful scenery in ToaK; some of the best ever made in the program. Unfortunately, this was the only credit most people gave Jordi back when this movie was completed. It's a crying shame, and what's even worse is that it apparently affected Jordi so much that he decided to scrap his own style and adopt various others' traits to recreate this movie in a way that, I feel, removes all of it's character and individuality. While ToaK 1.2 is actually a great movie, it's not one of my favorites because of what I've mentioned through this review. The original is probably one of, if not the most underrated movie of all time.

[Jordi Visser]

WTF!

I still can't believe you like that movie so much. It's a piece of shit. I just threw everything in it that popped into my mind, mixed with things I caught in movies I liked back then and childhood nostalgia (the music, which is hilarious; every scene has a completely different style of music).

Then there's the much spoken of scene transitions and slow motions... What was I thinking?! Notice in Stranger 4, there is not one single slow-motion.

I seriously can't watch it and not burst into tears. Everything is so 16 year old-ish. I thought movies like Face/Off and The Matrix were the shit back then.

Ahh well, thanks for liking it anyway... at least we (me and Jorrit) entertained someone.

[Gorosaurus]

I guess that says a lot about my mental maturity, haha. And my apologies to Jorrit. Although I referred to some of his talents, I never mentioned him by name in the review. You guys made a great team regardless