2012: Cyborg Apocalypse - Zombiesquid Productions

I have to disagree with a lot of people on this film. I thought the ending was very funny. I loved that the piece never really got anywhere because it felt like that was the point. With the intro were set up to believe that this is going to be a huge futuristic cyborg battle movie, but in reality it's a comedy about nothing. The Seinfeld of the Sci-fifest.

The only thing that bugged me was the eyelines on the reverse hologram shot. They look like they're looking at the guy's forehead! Oh well. I enjoyed it! Keep it up.
 
angrynerdrock07 said:
I have to disagree with a lot of people on this film. I thought the ending was very funny. I loved that the piece never really got anywhere because it felt like that was the point. With the intro were set up to believe that this is going to be a huge futuristic cyborg battle movie, but in reality it's a comedy about nothing. The Seinfeld of the Sci-fifest.

The only thing that bugged me was the eyelines on the reverse hologram shot. They look like they're looking at the guy's forehead! Oh well. I enjoyed it! Keep it up.
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Finally! Someone who gets it! And as far as the rain at the end, it was a particle effect done as an afterthought with After Effects. I never intended for that to be an FX shot, but after finishing my first edit I had the idea and wanted to try it. I think it worked.

Thanks again for the feedback everyone.
 
Slimothy said:
I thought this one was lacking in alot of departments, but could have been(could be) a good story. Right when you get into it, and the story is established, it ends. So essentially it's about a guy getting briefed on a mission?? The CG was decent and the ball hitting the hologram was a nice touch. Overall, I thought it was very, very visually boring, I remember you mentioning you might throw something together real quick, and that's what it looks like (Unlike 2:35 A.M).
BTW: Didn't notice the rain was fake either.
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Gotta agree 100% here.

The beginning had my expectations set high, and ended with me feeling a bit disappointied (and looking at the clock). The story really went nowhere, and if that was the point, well it's unsatisfying to the viewer (or at least some of us) ;)

Some of the framing of the shots was weird/off (eyelines already mentioned). The sound was also not so great, and the music fades/edits were really awkward.

I liked the hologram effect, and didn't really notice the rain. I also though the reverse shot of the one character holding the garage door open was too long.

Sorry for all the criticisms... but you said you wanted them :) -- I did take notes and am trying to be constructive... I appreciate that you shared your film with all of us here trying to learn along side you.
 
dj200423 said:
I think the biggest weakness was the abrupt and unfullfilling ending, but don't be discouraged.
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Why would I be discouraged? Abrubt and unsatisfying was EXACTLY what I wanted the ending to be. It's made even more so apparent by the pumped-up intro. This movie was an experiment in viewer manipulation. I wanted to create a film that gave you a lot of promise in the beginning, and then completely failed to deliver in the end. The reactions that I've been getting here are totally what I was expecting to get because that's what I was trying to do with this movie. The parts that suck are supposed to suck. Its not like I finished the intro and said,

"You know what? That'll be enough, I'll just throw some stuff together and go ahead and submit this thing."

Thanks a bunch to you guys that "got it" and saw the humor. I think I represent part of a sub-genre of movie fanatics that love horrible films.
 
I haven't read anything that anyone else has said, so forgive me if I repeat anything (I'm getting sick of typing this before I copy and paste every review I did tonight)...

2012 Cyborg Apocalypse – Right off the back the sharp transition from this melodic music to this upbeat trancey techno was a jolt. I liked the motorcycle footage and it made me think of a cheesy sci fi movie on Friday nights at 4am. That is a compliment. The lighting in the garage at first was good, but what pulled me out of it was the acting. There was something about it that just came across stiff. The hologram effect worked well for me. The jokes didn’t really work for me and the story seemed more like a teaser than a compete film. Overall I liked the lighting and shot selection. I think you did a good job of mixing up your shots to make it work. I would look at the levels because at some points the rain seemed too loud and then the music too loud, but overall I thought it was a good project that I enjoyed.
 
I triple echo all the comments about the bike scenes and I thought the hologram was great. I was waiting for the cyborg battle- but I guess you must be saving that for part two :)
 
Yeah, got kind blue-oystered with no cyborg battle, but if you're trying to tease, then mission accomplished :)
 
Hey ZombieSquid -

Fun short. I liked the use of humor. It had a very exciting opening. In general, the editing during many of the shots with your two main actors was a little awkward. And did the guy with the beard lose his pants in one of those shots, or was that my imagination? Also, the sound was a little muddled. The hologram was great - loved that acting and the eyepatch. Great job!
 
mikkowilson said:
I can only think of one other blue-... saying.. and I think it explains this one. But why "oyster"?

- Mikko
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*shrug* Not sure. Not sure what sort of guidelines one should have during these reviews. If I can say things like blueballed, balls, balling... umm testicles?

Well, at least it got people contemplating it.

Oysters probably in reference to Rocky Mountain Oysters (re: buffalo testicles, if memory serves). Yep. So there it is.

But yes, I was blue-balled for lack of cyborg battle. Balls.
 
This movie felt like a big tease with the title. I expected cyborgs and I got no gas... kind of a let down. I like the begining shots though looked really cool. the hologram was cool the acting was a little weak. hope to see more are you improve.
 
You guys started out with a scrolling story that set the bar way too high. The cycle shots were well done and got me interested from the start. Then unfortuantely the rest of the time was spent inside a garage, come on guys!

The hologram was well done. The ball toss was a nice highlight, good idea! I noticed the heavy set fella was looking above the hologram though in at least one shot. Funny gas joke, but this one just let me down overall, not enough substance.
 
I'd like to encourage all reviewers to read my previous response posts on this thread before they review. Thank you.
 
This was the first film I watched and I was blown away by the opening sequence, as I think everyone may have been. But I also am one of the ones who "get" this one. The humour was just my style, and the "NOT COOL!" line is something I've been repeating out loud and laughing about since I saw it. The very southern accents were great, btw. :)

I had no idea the rain was fake at the end. The hologram was very well done. None of the edits/cuts were distracting at all, which to me is always a good thing. I hate to watch something only to be drawn out of it by re-editing a scene in my head to fix what I just saw. So good job there. My only gripe would have been the audio in some parts and lack of foley in a couple spots. Otherwise, great job!

Terri
 
Along with everyone else here, the title sequence really got me interested. I couldn't wait to see how you pulled off the whole cyborg battle scene.

Everything was good for me until the lights were turned on in the garage. After that, I just couldn't get away from being critical of the lighting and sound. I know you were going for the comedic approach, but I think the jokes would have been much more effective if the whole mood wasn't shifted so drasitically. They would have been much more of a surprise and would be easier to concentrate on.

Aside from that, I really liked the jokes and was impressed by the look of the hologram and the various angles you showed of it. My only other critique is that the compostion/angles of the biker and the guy in the garage speaking to each other (around 1:30) could have been a little better, and the focus on the guy on the right was a little soft.

Brendan
 
Loved the intro. Enjoyed the irony of the ending. Was bored by everything in the middle. Talk, Talk, Talk....even the hologram, which was really cool by the way, was talk, talk, talk. I guess with a title like 2012:Cyborg Apocolypse, I was hoping for a bit more action and a lot less dialogue. And even that would have been much easier to forgive if it were not so hard to hear what your actors were saying. While part of that fell on poor field audio, the dialogue also seemed a bit rushed and mumbled.
 
Being a motorcycle nut I really loved the opening shots of the bike .
The guy with the beard sure looks like a buddy of mine who bounces at the local strip club.
As you requested , I read your responses before writting this .
I now understand in what you were trying to achieve here .
I think after watching 2:30 am ( well done) I had in my mind what kind of film I was going to watch. I think with that in my mind is what threw me off.
In all HONESTY I wish the guy left to do battle on the bike .
I don't want to repeat everyone elses comments BUT the guy running out of gas at the end Killed me ..Why ? Because I have done it ..lol
For a 4 min short , I think you did really good !!.

AS for no one understanding your short , Don't feel bad , No one understood mine as well ....lol
Ian
 
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