AMV Review #39: Fizziks' A Killer's Requiem

quadir · Post by **quadir** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 9:46 pm

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On Monday at 20:30 EDT (8:30pm) in #amv-review we have a moderated discussion on a recently released video.
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Come join us!

This week's moderated discussion video:

(Fizziks) - 2007 - A Killer's Requiem
Category: Trailer
Anime: Darker Than BLACK (TV) [Spoilers]
Song: Lacuna Coil - The Ghost Woman and the Hunter

Please use this thread to discuss this video, there's no need to read the IRC log, just watch the video, and start talking about it! What emotions did it evoke in you? What do you think the video taught you about the character it features?

After each discussion, we throw out a "bonus" video, which often doesn't lend itself perfectly to analysis, or is already well established but is worth recommending. Check it out!

Bonus Video:
(fal-79D37) - 2007 - Rapture (<a href="http://www.umbrellavideo.com/vault/fall ... zip">right click, save as</a>)

Archive of previous moderated discussions:
2007 December 038-03 November 037-26, 036-19, 035-12, 034-05
October 033-29, 032-22, 031-15, 030-08, 029-01, September 028-24, 027-17, 026-10, 025-03
August 024-27, 023-20, 022-13, 021-06, July 020-30, 019-23, 018-16, 017-09, 016-02
June 015-25, 014-18, 013-11, 012-04, May 011-28, 010-21, 009-14, 008-07
April 007-30, 006-23, 005-16, 004-09, 003-02, March 002-26, 001-19

quadir · Post by **quadir** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 9:50 pm

FAQ:
Found a video for the review?
Please send all submittions to quadir@animemusicvideos.org or pm me on the forums. Don't post em in the thread.

Want to beta your video?
Just join the irc channel and paste it! There's usualy people there willing to take a look at a work in progress and give you initial reactions.

I heard something about runner-up vids?
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Discussion:

Edited IRC Log wrote:20:34 http://a-m-v.org/video/152795
20:40 <PaperIsland> Trailers are hard to review
20:40 <quadir> and yet we've never done one
20:40 <quadir> this is your cue
20:40 <Rathisponge> I understand what you mean Paperisland.
20:40 <PaperIsland> I guess I'll go calibrate my review robot *kick*
21:01 <quadir> this is the first trailer we've 'mained'
21:01 <quadir> trailers have been a pretty popular video category in the last few years
21:02 <Servo> yeah, even I made one
21:02 <quadir> with DJ_Izumi mentioning in doki's favorite thread that they "took no skill"
21:02 <Servo> probably because the time put into trailers can be shorter than others
21:02 <quadir> (izumi did a long line of trailers for awhile)
21:03 <teya> depends on the trailer
21:03 <teya> was the audio for this trailer copied directly?
21:03 <teya> the whole thing?
21:03 <Kionon> I don't think so.
21:03 <quadir> that's the first interesting point with this video I think
21:03 <Kionon> I think this was a full composition.
21:03 <teya> seemed more original
21:03 <teya> nod
21:03 <Servo> i guess the important question is did the trailer engage us to go and watch the anime
21:03 <Kionon> I gave him high marks for originality.
21:04 <Servo> Kionon: yikes i did the opposite
21:04 <Rathisponge> I felt that was its purpose Servo
21:04 <Rathisponge> at least in regards to that I felt it did its job
21:04 <Kionon> I think he edited the audio.
21:04 <Rathisponge> quite well that is
21:04 <quadir> so with non-trailer audio... one has to ask themselves, "did he label/turn it into a trailer because of length?"
21:04 <PaperIsland> I don't know how original it was... death isn't a new theme or anything, it was very much a typical trailer pattern as well
21:05 <quadir> ie, is this merely a incomplete/short video with some text slapped on to make it a "trailer"?
21:05 <Kionon> I don't think so.
21:05 <PaperIsland> Definitely not
21:05 <Rathisponge> I agree
21:05 <teya> nono
21:05 <Kionon> It followed the trailer formula that all trailers follow, even hollywood trailers.
21:05 <teya> it was a trailer
21:05 <PaperIsland> It's whole intention was aimed at creating a sense of mystery, not at being a stand-alone action video
21:05 <Kionon> It was deliberate.
21:05 <teya> though as i commented in my op
21:05 <quadir> right.
21:06 <teya> the first part felt like the opening of House
21:06 <teya> artsy
21:06 <Servo> i didn't feel characters were established well though
21:06 <PaperIsland> I liked the running person and the sound coming in before the visuals
21:06 <Kionon> It bored me, but then few trailers don't.
21:06 <PaperIsland> but I didn't like the static and tv close
21:06 <teya> the static paused
21:06 <teya> i didn't like that
21:06 <Servo> the static pause probably felt off place overall
21:07 <Servo> in terms of content
21:07 <Kionon> My main issue was that the scenes were too long.
21:07 <Kionon> The audio source was faster than the video cuts.
21:07 <quadir> teya: paused?
21:07 <PaperIsland> I thought the pace was refreshing at point
21:07 <PaperIsland> s
21:07 <teya> at about 0:10
21:08 <PaperIsland> the reaper has arrived for instance
21:08 <teya> it paused
21:08 <Kionon> It felt like I was actively waiting for a cut scene.
21:08 <Servo> Kionon: your not saying visuals need to be as fast as the audio though
21:08 <teya> quadir: i don't think it was just my player
21:08 <Kionon> I'm saying the two need to flow together in a reasonable way.
21:08 <Kionon> I am say this trailer did not accomplish that.
21:08 <quadir> teya: was your player
21:08 <Kionon> ing
21:08 <Rathisponge> I enjoyed that part as well PaperIsland
21:08 <MD_clipunting> what was it about
21:09 <Servo> hmm, I questioned that too MD
21:09 <MD_clipunting> some guy touches people and there heads melt
21:09 <MD_clipunting> ?
21:09 <Kionon> It's a trailer, it's suppose to make you want to see more.
21:09 <Servo> some guy in a mask
21:09 <teya> quadir: seriously? guess i gotta edit op =/
21:09 <teya> nobody else saw the pause?
21:09 <Rathisponge> Are you asking what the anime is about MD_clipunting?
21:09 <Kionon> I'm curious whether there was an intent to reference the Cylon trailers for BSG.
21:09 <PaperIsland> well you may be touching on an issue there MD_clipunting, do we let the anime influence are opinion of the trailer?
21:10 <PaperIsland> It's not the editor's fault that the whole death theme is a little bit generic, but the series was chosen...
21:10 <Servo> i haven't seen the anime, yet I wasn't convinced to go watch it from this trailer
21:10 <quadir> PaperIsland: I always note in my ops if I've seen the anime and/or like the audio seperatly so the editor knows where I am coming from
21:10 <Rathisponge> I understand what you mean Paperisland
21:10 <MD_clipunting> I mean if it is a trailer...shouldn't I understand what is going on by the end..or at least have an idea :|
21:10 <PaperIsland> Reminded me a little too much of bleach
21:11 <quadir> Servo: at the same time I feel like if it had been fast cuts and showing a lot more... I would be even less interested in it
21:11 <Kionon> Honestly, I wasn't moved to see the anime either.
21:11 <quadir> when you can take a certain premise and find at least 5 different animes that do the same thing
21:11 <quadir> doing fast cuts becomes a bit pointless as it might as well be any show
21:12 <Kionon> I don't want "fast" cuts.
21:12 <quadir> in tha trespect I much more appreciate seeing "moments" in the anime
21:12 <Kionon> I want cuts that work with the tempo of the audio.
21:12 <Kionon> I do not feel that was done.
21:12 <quadir> something I can actually breathe in and ingest a bit
21:12 <Servo> yeah I hate fast cuts too, it disorients its audience
21:12 <PaperIsland> which is sometimes useful, but in this case I think we might have been disoriented enough already
21:13 <Servo> disconnected I think is a better word actually
21:13 <quadir> the other thing this video did was good use of overlay text
21:13 <MD_clipunting> fast cut? MD is a novice at this..
21:13 <Kionon> I liked the overlay text.
21:13 <PaperIsland> The text was very nice
21:13 <Rathisponge> I thought the text was overall done very well
21:13 <quadir> in terms of long scenes it actually let you read and see what was going on at the same time
21:13 <Servo> mmhmm
21:13 <teya> quadir: yes i liked the text too
21:13 <Servo> hehe, unlike most AMV credits
21:13 <quadir> the pace made the text work
21:14 <Kionon> Mmm..
21:14 <Kionon> I dunno about that.
21:14 <Kionon> Maybe some places, but not the entire video.
21:14 <quadir> otherwise you'd complain you missed stuff while reading the text
21:15 <quadir> I dunno, I felt the same disconnection you guys are talking about
21:15 <quadir> I just chalked it up to the price to pay for the text+getting an actual feeling of the scenes
21:15 <Servo> hmmm...this is kinda off the video we're reviewing, but does it occur to anyone that most AMVs that use text use them too fast for the audience to read?
21:16 <PaperIsland> No I haven't really noticed that servo...
21:16 <PaperIsland> Did you think this video did that?
21:16 <PaperIsland> I thought it was all legible
21:17 <Servo> not with this video, I thought the text in this video was done well
21:17 <Servo> but most AMVs have their credits and text on so fast you cant read it without pausing the vid
21:17 <Rathisponge> I thought the text was easy to read, but my experience with text in other videos has been similar
21:17 <quadir> Servo: text in credits doesn't count
21:17 <Servo> depends on the editor's taste
21:17 <quadir> Servo: since technically you could give your credits in the video metadata and not have credits at all
21:18 <quadir> if I have a video and the credits is 1/3 of the length of the video I feel like cropping that sucka
21:18 <Kionon> I can't stand MTV style credits that are part of the composition, however.
21:18 <quadir> nevermind that credits break playlists
21:18 <Kionon> Those used to be prevalent in the early days.
21:19 <quadir> and credits that play another song like ugh
21:19 <Kionon> I do that :P
21:19 <Kionon> But I provide cons with a bumperless version.
21:19 <quadir> intro/outtro if you MUSt put them in should be silent
21:19 <Kionon> I strongly disagree.
21:19 <quadir> Kionon: I make playlists... you suck
21:19 <PaperIsland> I disagree as well
21:19 <PaperIsland> It's a case by case basis
21:20 <Servo> remember, despite credits being credits, it is still part of the video
21:20 <Kionon> Other vide projects have music and credits. Why should we be the exception?
21:20 <Kionon> ...and we're off the track here.
21:20 <quadir> true
21:21 <Kionon> I think this video is a good example of integrated text.
21:21 <PaperIsland> I agree
21:21 <quadir> the pace was /consistent/
21:21 <Servo> i can agree to that too
21:21 <PaperIsland> Perhaps the strongest part of the video
21:21 <PaperIsland> was the text
21:22 <quadir> the red text was really really great
21:22 <quadir> did people notice how the red text ended up labeling the onscreen footage directly?
21:22 <Servo> i'm wondering if the text themselves contain the emotion the trailer is trying to convey
21:22 <Kionon> Yes. I noticed.
21:23 <quadir> the 'killing machines' was a weak label
21:23 <quadir> but the rest were really great
21:23 <quadir> I think my favorite was 'Liars'
21:23 <Servo> well the 'killing machines' labe came in a little too late
21:23 <quadir> although 'Traitors' was #2 for me
21:23 <quadir> written accross the arm
21:23 <Kionon> Traitors stuck in my mind the most.
21:23 <quadir> doing the traitoring
21:23 <Rathisponge> I thought that was an interesting use of an effect quadir.
21:24 <quadir> my first viewing I didn't catch the labeling though
21:24 <Servo> Traitors for me
21:24 <quadir> I just thought he was emphasising the words
21:24 <PaperIsland> It's always nice to give trailers a little bit of review value with things like that, since they're traditionally weak on that
21:24 <PaperIsland> weak on review value i mean
21:24 <quadir> and the red is a reoccuring theme, the opening theme turns red, and the ending title is red
21:25 <quadir> so I forgive him the #ff0000
21:25 <PaperIsland> I think that the visuals could have been a little more unified in terms of color and shade actually
21:25 <PaperIsland> That was one of my problems with the video
21:25 <PaperIsland> Switching from night to day
21:25 <PaperIsland> Green, blue, red
21:26 <PaperIsland> watch it with that in mind and you'll notice it
21:26 <Servo> yeah I agree PI
21:26 <quadir> PaperIsland: didn't it always stick to night?
21:26 <PaperIsland> No
21:26 <Servo> nope
21:26 <Kionon> Review was very weak.
21:26 <Servo> color balance was basically the issue
21:26 <quadir> I didn't notice any day in there
21:26 <quadir> I notice some interior stuff
21:26 <Kionon> I had no interest in watching it a second time.
21:26 <PaperIsland> :49
21:26 <quadir> oh the guy at the bridge
21:26 <quadir> :20
21:26 <Servo> another at :20
21:27 <quadir> I see
21:27 <quadir> yeah 2 scenes of day I guess, and a few brightly lit interiors
21:27 <quadir> color work is something few manage to pull off in videos
21:27 <Servo> you also have an unbalanced saturation cut at 1:00
21:28 <Servo> color work is something most AMVers dont even think about
21:29 <PaperIsland> And yet... color is a huge part of anime
21:29 <PaperIsland> One of its strong suits
21:29 <Servo> an awkward red hue cut to unsaturated cut at 1:17 to 1:20
21:29 <Kionon> I color correct, but I prefer to keep all shots balanced to what the director originally chose.
21:29 <Kionon> There are exceptions.
21:30 <quadir> yeah that's something really tricky
21:30 <quadir> but it is true it sticks out more in a shorter video like a trailer
21:30 <quadir> alright, final thoughts?
21:31 <Rathisponge> Overall a good trailer :)
21:31 <Servo> final thought: the vid ironically is better than most professional anime trailers
21:31 <quadir> I ended up liking the long cuts to this type of lyrics, and the text use really sold it for me. Being a fan of Noir, I actually could see myself get into this.
21:31 <Servo> does it ever occur to anyone that most 'actual' anime trailers suck?
21:31 <Kionon> ...I'll echo Servo. Definitely better than what the industry is producing, but there's a reason I usually hit the next button on my ADV DVDs.
21:31 <PaperIsland> A video that put out a solid effort using text and dramatic build well, but had some technical flaws in scene choice
21:32 <PaperIsland> I haven't seen too many AMV trailers that are actually trailers for their own anime
21:33 <Koopiskeva> wuts the video |:?
21:33 <quadir> Koopiskeva: it's in the topic
21:33 <Koopiskeva> nvm
21:33 <Koopiskeva> |:
21:33 <quadir> since 20:30 EDT
21:33 <Servo> didn't dokidoki edit something for ADV and Banner of the Stars once?
21:34 <quadir> Koopiskeva: if you manage to watch it in the next few mins put your thoughts in
21:34 <PaperIsland> I think atomx's The World Moved On has a style more anime trailers should emulate, though it's a bit long
21:34 <quadir> I'm getting the link to the bonus in order
21:34 <PaperIsland> for a trailer
21:35 <quadir> the making of "Whisper of the Beast" was really the first time I saw how much colour correction could be done to enhance a video
21:35 <Servo> of course, Whisper has to substitute characters into a setting thats originally not there
21:36 <Servo> oh wait never mind thats a different amv
21:36 <Kionon> I color correct a lot more than I want to because I tend to use sources from the 80s or 90s that really need it, since they were produced in analog.
21:36 <Kionon> quadir: you don't even want to see the avs file I used on the touch beta I tossed you the other day.
21:37 <Servo> color correction is involved most of the time in masking

CrackTheSky · Post by **CrackTheSky** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:35 am

That bonus video was fucking win, one of the most unique uses of Beyond the Clouds I've ever seen

YouTube · Post by **Kionon** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 6:34 am

CrackTheSky wrote:That bonus video was fucking win, one of the most unique uses of Beyond the Clouds I've ever seen

I felt the same. I wanted it to be the main vid. :3

Emong · Post by **Emong** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 2:34 pm

The bonus video was.. something else.

The song choice was a surprise. Hurt are an amazing band and this one deffinitely one of my favourite songs by them, but I just really couldn't connect the music and the footage, despite that the sync was quite decent technically. Maybe it's that I've done a video to this song myself, using a horror movie so I've just been too used to it by now (but I didn't cut the song in this kind of an evil way

) Even if I hadn't, I think I would have thought the song choice was totally off anyway. It might be something that has never been done before, yes, but there's a good reason for it..

Besides that, I thought it was a very interesting watch. I didn't really grasp its concept but it seemed cool (I was too distracted by the song / anime combo) and the story-line was deffinitely interesting. Despite the disconnection, it managed to keep its focus by the syncing techniques and effects that weren't all that cheesy, actually. I liked the fast-paced fade-out part and the various transitions made to link two separate animes together. The beat sync could have, and should have, been tigether though as the song is intense and imo the video should progress on the same tracks with it.

Deffinitely not a bad video, the combo was just too off for my liking.. It was original in its own way, and I'm not talking about the combo here

3/5