Lycurgus1985's movie Reviews on Newgrounds

[CC - Clockification]

That is so typical of Strawberry Clock too...

I must say that was a very well done Clock flash there Gregosan.

The graphics were basic but very smooth and well-drawn. The fact there was no choppy framerate either was fantastic. It all just flowed very fluently. The clocks were also very detailed but it would have been nice to have seen some more subtle details such as the water inside MineralWater Clock splash around as he moved.

The shading/use of shadows was well used when it came into play. The camera angles utilized throughout were quite a feat too, giving it a nice cinematic presentation. I just wish that the use of shading/shadows would have also been utilized in the exterior outside the Clock Headquarters instead of just being used for shadowy, dark corridors and rooms.

The sound throughout was crisp and clear without any glitches or fuzziness. The clock voices sound as monotone but lovable as ever. It was even surprising how there was some emotion coming out of the computerized voice instead of remaining the same tone. It's amazing how a few commas, question marks, exclamation points, etc actually give the computerized voices some life. Of course, the "facial" expressions/reactions of MineralWater Clock helped make it more evident and/or gave the illusion. By the way, the screams were superb.

Now to the most important part of the this flash, the humor! Instead of being in your face and/or gross, it was character driven, cerebral, subtle and random. Granted, the first test was cliched all the way but its presentation where it nearly becomes seizure inducing was quite intriguing. But definitely the weakest of the humorous tests. The second test was not only random and amusing, but even had me want to dance. It was one of those moments where you just feel like participating.

The third test was very amusing because there is this pressure evident if MinerWater Clock should choose the correct answer or choose the wrong because of the big red infamous B. Yet, the fact you know what choice he will make just makes one want to laugh like a little school girl. It makes one feel involved with the trials and tribulations while remaining humorous.

Of course the ending takes the cake. Once more we feel the frustration that MinerWater Clock feels but you can't help but laugh because it would be so typical of Strawberry Clock to pull such a stunt and leave his fellow clocks hanging out to dry. Since the flash kept me so involved with the events and humor it gave it this genuine interactivity to it, thus the 5 I gave in interactivity.

Overall, this was a fantastic little Clock Crew flash. I hope to see more from you in the near future. You are very promising.

But I must ask, why did the CCHQ look like a gargantuan version of GoldenClock? =P

Gregosan responds:

Haha, the CCHQ looks like GoldenClock? I've never thought of that..they look similar though, LOL!

Thanks for your review, it's actually just an intro movie for my clock because I'm new in the CC. So that's why the jokes and the movie length is not that hardcore.

Thanks for your support!

[Spoilsbury Toast Boy -2]

The Plot Thickens...

David old chap, I must give you a round of applause and an encore. I never thought you would return to the world of Spoilsbury Toast Boy. However, when I saw the news update on the front page of your site, I let out a giddy squeal of joy.

I love how with each installment of the series we get more answers yet more questions arise. It is particularly disturbing to see what these beetles are doing, manipulating these children and murdering them. It really makes for a surreal world.

The visuals as per usual are incredible. You would give David Lynch a run for his money. The use of the music and sound was very effective too. I definitely like how you utilize "Valse Sentimentale" throughout the flash. It only adds to the bizarrness of it. The fact it sounds so warm and comforting but has this haunting/depressing tone underlining it cues one off to the fact that there is definitely this vileness surrounding this world these beetles try to present to the humans.

However, I do have to comment I did think the whole sodomy angle that appeared at times did seem to be a bit much. Also, I do not understand why Spoilsbury Toast Boy speaks in a foreign intellect while everyone else speaks english. Another thing that bothered me is that the Grandmother's voice sounded completely different from before. It was more deep and grainy, sounding more like an old man.

Besides all of that, I highly enjoyed seeing you return to the surreal world of Spoilsbury Toast Boy. I hope to see another installment in the near future.

Three cheers for David Firth. :)

[Ratbag & Furball #03]

Ahhh... Nostalgic Saturday Morning Flashbacks...

I must truly thank you for creating this series.

The drawings are simplistic but have a very appeasing style that echos back to some of those wonderful saturday morning cartoons of old.

I was also quite happy to see this episode went for a different approach the previous two episodes. While I enjoyed the previous entires, they did echo too much back to Itchy & Scratchy and Tom & Jerry. I find it amusing how it looks like they are getting along and playing video games together yet it is obvious they are equally frustrated with each other via their dreams. It added a slightly different angle to the cat & mouse cartoon concept.

I also appreciated the little light-hearted anime touches in the animation/sound that echoed back to one of my old-time favorites, Heathcliff & Friends.

My main qualms with the episode are basically little knitpicks. The sound quality with the FF7 battle theme during Ratbag's dream changes in quality three times, from mediocre to good to bad. Also, I do find some inconsistences between the episodes as far as the characters go. In Episode #1, Ratbag and Furball had a Tom & Jerry-like relationship. In Episode #2, Ratbag & Furball had a Itchy & Scratchy relationship where Ratbag was a complete psychotic and Furball was nothing more than a victim. Now we have the current Odd Couple/Grumpy Old Men style of relationship.

If you're just experimenting with different ideas involving the characters, that's fully understandable. But I must say I definitely enjoy the current relationship between the two in this episode, putting on a friendly face around each other when they can but secretly cannot stand each other. I think it just adds more to the whole cartoon.

Overall, I really enjoyed Episode #3. Keep up the fantastic work!

stoners-lunchbox responds:

Ratbag & Furball's relationship is as unpredictable as i am. That's what should make you want to see more episodes. It'll keep on changing, but the adversities between the two will always be there. They'll just manifest themselves in different ways.

I'll keep up the work. That's a promise i'll have no trouble keeping.

I'm working on a new episode. This one will be quite a surprise to current Ratbag & Furball fans. They'll probably hate me for it.

Thanks for the feedback!

[Decline of Video Gaming 3]

Forced & Tired Installment with a Polished Look...

While having enjoyed the previous Decline movies greatly, I found this installment rather disappointing.

While I applaud you for vastly improving the look from the previous installments, that's the only thing that Decline 3 has to show for itself. Everything else feels forced and tired as if the only concern was to churn the product out for the mob of fans rather than true passion.

For one, where's the story? It goes nowhere! This installment is so muddled and directionless that the only thing linking the events together are the parodies just so it can get from Point A to B. I mean, it's never even defined why Dim and the gang were in Japan in the first place. They just go there! Plus, the Evil Developers bring nothing new to the table either. It just feels like a poor carbon copy of Decline 2 with a new setting and polished look at times.

Which also brings me to the jokes. While the jokes in the previous Decline movies felt inspired, unpredictable, ribald, random, and original, the ones in Decline 3 all are either based off existing jokes, predictable, tired, or just very lame. For instance, the jokes involving the MSG3 dream based off the chocolate land segment from The Simpsons or the whole "Evil Robot Usses" from Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, and even the whole phone call stuff from all those lame 90's post-Scream slashers. We've seen it all done before and a lot better. The jokes just feel lazy. The quality has downgraded to that of the current Legendary Frog cartoons.

Some of the jokes make no sense either. For instance, why does JT scream at the end of his first MSG3 dream? Also, the Zelda: Minish Cap joke made no sense at all. The only parts that honestly made me laugh was the opening with the PSP, the jokes with Tom avoiding fire, and the Metroid joke.

Another thing that bothers me is you have some really nice setups to some fabulous ideas but the execution is half-cocked. For one, the game show doesn't even feel like one due to the fact that Dim, Dan, and JT are the only ones answering the questions or participating. The other team presents no challenge for them. Also, the evil robots were a cool concept but they are defeated much too easy!

All you have here is eye candy with a glossy sugar coating.

Now don't get me completely wrong, I appreciate the time you put into this but it feels like there was no passion going into this installment this time. It felt more like it was being rushed out just to keep the masses satisfied. This series basically went out with not a bang but a whimper. In my mind, A Decline Christmas is Decline 3.

If you guys even attempt a Decline 4 (which I doubt you will since you voiced that there is no interest), don't completely give in to the mass of fans. Take your time to make the best product with not just improved looks but improved and fresh material too.

But nonetheless, you guys deserve some credit and a break for the all the time you put into this series.

The-Super-Flash-Bros responds:

candy with a glossy sugar coating?
mmmmmmmmmmm............*drool*

Thanks for the well written, well thought out review. The 'repeated jokes' are running gags (seen in many cartoons) and the direct references to other things is called satire. JT screams at the end of his MGS dream because Snake equips a microwave. Its a pretty horrific image. The Minish Cap scene.........he's small - he gets eaten by a bird. Simple, no?

Decline 3 - if anything - was NOT rushed.

-Dim

["The Fox and the Mirrior"]

Mirror + Mirier = Mirrior...

I highly enjoyed this animation. This is definitely something I can relate to.

Even though a lot of people are complaining that they wish the drawings had been cleaned up a bit more, I don't. I like the patchy look it gives the animation. It reflects the mood of the piece quite nicely in my opinion.

My only qualm has to be that at times the frames do skip and that there is no preloader. You should have used Flash to touch those areas up just a little bit more.

Besides that, I loved it.

Also, I think I figured out this "mirrior" word of yours. It's obviously not a mispelling of "mirror" after reading your author's comments. So, I did a little research. I came up with the terms "mirror" and "mirier."

We all know what a mirror is.

Mirier means a troublesome situation.

Combine the two together and you get mirrior, a mirror that is a troublesome situation. =P

[F U Clock - Ep. III]

By Jove, errm, B...

...You've done it again! :)

I have to say the Speakonia voices chosen for FU and Adrenaline work perfectly for them because it really expresses their cynical mood. You never seem to have to worry about their emotions not being expressed through their speech.

Only complaint I have is that sometimes FU and Adrenaline spoke too fast and made it hard to understand them such as the "S'Pretty fuckin' awesome" and "How the Hell does that even work?" lines. Besides that, to quote Bill & Ted... "EXCELLENT!!!!"

FUClock responds:

Yeah... I'll take that into account. Usually I'm very selective about how fast/ what the pitch is of the characters' voices because really, jokes hitch about 90% on delivery. I thank that you've noted that the voices don't suffer too badly under the computerized voices, and simply use them as a style.

I can't justify the "'S'pretty fuckin' awesome," being too fast, but everything said when a zombie bursts out is usually just meant to add to the confusion and chaos. Still, duly noted.

[Sweet potato]

While I like chinese food myself...

...I love this flash movie!

Nef, you are a fantastic flash artist. I really look forward to your future flash movies! You have so much talent!

Here, have another potato! :D

[Vending Machine Problems]

Why such a low score?

It looks like the clockhaters gained up on this one.

This isn't that bad of a movie. It's actually fairly humorous. Yes, the fact it is short hinders it a little but you warned ahead of time in your description and on the preloader that this would be short so I don't know what people are complaining about. Hell, I've seen "shorts" submitted that were shorter than this but got like 3.50 ratings and higher. There is just no justice sometimes.

Overall, decent flash. Obviously room for improvement but does not deserve the red-headed stephchild of a slack-jawwed yokel treatment it's receiving.