Video Showdown: Action Figures!
This is the first in an irregular series where you, the readers, vote for your favorite of two similar videos.
While Nickelodeon’s 2001 “Action League Now!” was several years ahead of its time, stop-motion animation revolving around action figures and their pre-associated cultural ties has flourished on YouTube. Entire cinematic thought experiments have been played out in this way (haven’t YOU always wondered what Alien 5 would look like?).
Coming in June, Seth Green of Robot Chicken has been given George Lucas’s blessing to create an entirely Star Wars-themed Robot Chicken special (a series of words that might mean nothing or everything to you, depending on you geekiness). And with your geekiness in mind, judge these videos.
Probot Productions, which refers to this medium simply as “ToyCinema,” has completed a variety of episodic content, including the aforementioned Alien 5 as well as a series of Star Wars prequels. Using many of the techniques and tricks Lucas himself used in the original trilogy, Probot uses the seemingly infinite number of toys and models from the Star Wars merchandise universe to recreate nearly every scene from the films. And if three minutes of Star Wars isn’t enough for you, coming up on May 24th is Star Wars Celebration IV where you and fellow geeks can watch all six Star Wars movies back to back to back to back etc. (as well as catch a sneak peak of Green’s Robot Chicken special)
Only recently posting to YouTube, ItsJustSomeRandomGuy already has eight videos and thousands of subscribers. Riffing on the “I’m a Mac” ads, RandomGuy picks at the successes and failures of comic book heroes hitting the big screen. The rivalry between the Marvel and DC factions is entertaining, but the heroes have far more complicated emotions (Superman is jealous of fellow DC Batman’s popularity while Wolverine of the X-Men is angry that Superman took director Bryan Singer away from his series). As RandomGuy humbly says in his profile: “Just me playing in Marvel and DC’s sandboxes with their characters. Let me know what you think! And enjoy!”
If you like judging things, especially videos, head over to the Pier Screenings site and rate some videos.
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You can also find Toy Cinema at the Official Star Wars Fan Movie Challenge:
http://starwars.atomfilms.com
Check out “Incident at Toshi Station” and “The Eyes of Darth Tater”
Chris on May 16th, 2007 at 9:07 am - Permalink
[...] We mentioned yesterday that George Lucas is handing out blessings, and it appears the divine Lucas is at it again. At May 27’s Star Wars Celebration IV the master of the Star Wars universe will throw his adoring fans a proverbial bone. Giving credit and attention to his loyal fan base, Lucas will select and personally screen his favorite fan film of the year. All other geeks will be forced to bow to the winner’s video prowess. And I’m sure there will be toy light sabers present. [...]
NewTeeVee » Star Wars Fan Films At Center Stage on May 16th, 2007 at 9:31 am - Permalink
It’s a tough comparison - the superhero rivalry is definitely clever and funny, but the star wars movie is so well done, with scenes almost perfectly recreated.
Charlie on May 16th, 2007 at 3:54 pm - Permalink
Both videos are excellent. One is beautifully simple and very clever and the other is a lavish, faithful and inspired homage. I gave it to Star Wars just on effort, but great job on both.
Veggie Jackson on May 21st, 2007 at 10:57 pm - Permalink