Coop's movie Reviews on Newgrounds

[Blockhead: Quick Shot 1]

I know how you feel

Man, I hate it when people come in and get in the way of the TV. Even if I wasn't really interested in the show in question, I'd still be adamant that they were obstructing my viewing and therefore my enjoyment of existence itself.

So this Back to the Future thing... would this be some sort of lead-in trailer for a second Time Squad series? By the looks of it, the series would be set in the 1970s, as the guy there had the most amazing moustache. I might just have to go and make my goatee beard resemble it later on...

I know that you've just given us this little titbit so that we know you're still alive and that this probably have no relevance to the entire plot of Blockhead (little ever does, after all) but I know what I want and if this is how I get it then review all of your flash ever, I shall!

[Review Request Club]

[The Dot of Excellence 2]

Lacks everything

I think that we're touching upon the real issue with this 'series'. You're past caring if they do or don't pass judgement.

What we've ended up with is a Google search of images of 'video game females', which you've pasted around this one dot with an appallingly drawn smiley. I'd suggest that the best way to improve this flash is to try using a little technique that we in the Flash community call animation. This involves moving something around on the screen.

You've not got a preloader, so first off try making one of those. A tutorial can be found in the database of all NG Flash. From there, give the movie some substance - plot and background imagery are examples of 'substance'

The audio quality sucks, so don't compress it as much. Plenty of file space to get you to the 10Mb limit.

Try drawing your own images - these would look much better, as people look more favourably upon people willing to draw their own stuff than sprite manipulation artists.

[Review Request Club]

[The Dot of Excellence]

You said it.

Not entirely sure if this thread has a point or indeed how many people have actually watched this before voting on it.

I'd say that you need to start with a fresh canvas, but this isn't too far away, frankly. The sprites that you've used aren't anything special, as they are mostly stationary. If you animated them, rather than just leaving them to rot, you'd be able to show us that you can animate. I've seen it in the other flashes - you can animate, you just need to believe in yourself and allow your talents to be tested and they will blossom.

The music has sacrificed quite a bit of quality. Does it need to be compressed so much? The answer to this is obviously no, as this file is compressed to 147k. I've got bigger MSWord files on my computer. You can also help the flash with a decent background.

Also, a plot would be nice for the dot. Why is it having a party? Why is everyone else there?

So many unanswered questions, I hope you can provide something more substantial for your next offering.

[Review Request Club]

[Blockhead: Quick Shot 2]

It breaks when you touch it.

Hmm, a different style of Blockhead animation. Well drawn, but a little off the wall on the drawing style part of things. A nice new take on the conscience as well, plus with the subtraction fo sleep and the addition of caffiene, he actually encourages Blockhead.

Deploy test subject number 2. This time substitute the caffiene for twinkies!

I'll have to go back and watch the first of this little mini-series. Very entertaining stuff, coupled with the wanton desire for mayhem of Blockhead makes for random funny stuff.

[Review Request Club]

The-Swain responds:

Heh, the first in this "series" really isn't much to look at. For consistency's sake though, I'll say that the Quickshots fall outside the normal Blockhead timeline, if there is one.

[On The Moon (episode 13)]

What? The Newspaper?

Oh My God, what a cliff hanger. If only I hadn't already checked out the conclusion of this thrilling tale on Weebls Stuff, I might be just a little more intrigued.

That must mean that episode 14 isn't far from submission to this fine site :) Hooray!

Great animation, as always, bringing the quality of the drawing style together with the addition of an 8-bit sun beam. Good to see certain cult figures in the background, including Red Dwarf this episode. What other things can we expect in the future? The Planet Express team flying by?

Good writing this time as well - we've got a nice plot and more madness from Hitler, who proves that you can still be a star at the age of 119. I'd love to see a comeo from the Clangers or the Soup Dragon, by the way.

[Review Request Club]

[Dragonball Z Episode 2]

Meh

Surreal plotline, that moved far too fast for an episode of Dragonball Z. I've seen fights that last for fucking ages on there, so maybe fleh it out more with some fighting action.

The manipulation of the sprites is crude at best. I know that they don't produce the best picture quality and I do appreciate the different perspectives that you used for them, but it's not as good as it could have been. Yes, we all thought that the Goku throw was funny, but it's the only joke in the whole flash. You've got to make the decision early on if you're going to be funny or serious. With so few jokes, I'd go for serious and take that joke out completely.

Another way to improve it would be to find a better stance for the flying Goku. No man in flight should ever expose his groin like that. Kid with slignshots beneath would make a bloody mess, for example.

[Review Request Club]

[Jim and Pals Shorts: Ep 6]

Great delivery

This series really does have a lot of good things going for it. The addition of voices only makes it better than those before. Now you've got an extra medium to deliver the jokes with.

I love the way that the hand grenade has been drawn and I'd be surprised if people noticed that there was something wrong with the image until Jim pointed it out. That's the amazing thing with cartoons - the surrealism allows the gag not to be triggered until it is needed.

The way that you've laid out the background is coming along as well - there is slight improvement to the detail, but I'd suggest that the next step is to add an extra to the next short. Have them walk around or possibly playing something in the background. Something additional going on would just add to it nicely.

[Review Request Club]

Jimtopia responds:

That's a really good idea, actually. I think (if the next one calls for it) I'll have the characters be participating in an activity. That could really help out the flash; thanks for the idea.

[Wegra Adventure 3]

Hard to understand

It's still not a very good flash, I have to say. There is progress, as you've slowed down the speakonia, so we can actually understand some of what is being said this time around.

I've never been a fan of the 'storytime' flash where you've got a narrator's voice and almost a slideshow of images for the visuals. Why not give the characters some individual voices, even if you have to use Speakonia for them, you can change the sound of the voice so it sounds like half a dozen different people.

Next, the animation needs to be worked on. Once you've drawn the characters better, you can concentrate on getting the movements right, rather than just moving the entire image across the screen - it looks horrible and I'm sure you'll agree with me.

I know that these things take time, but seriously, spend an evening with your flash program open, relax, zoom in and draw. The images will look a little sketchy at first, but take the time to refine them and you can produce good looking characters which you can take forward from there to make good flash.

[Review Request Club]