WoW Moviewatch: Things You Need
by Michael Gray 
Nov 19th 2008 at 12:00PM
Things You Need is a submission to the machinima category of the 48 Hour Film Project by Stone Falcon Productions, Oblivious Films, and Slashdance. It's a little raucous, and a little rowdy, so your mileage on this film is going to vary according to your taste. It's the story of a down-trodden gnome who encounters a magic shop, gets a tub of magic paint, and hijinks ensue.
I really enjoyed the first part of the film. It was cute, amusing, and the musical portions were pretty darn funny. I loved the shop owner, and the dialogue and play between the two characters. It was lighthearted, fast paced, and totally worth the time. I'm not as sold on the gnome's female companion, created using the magical bucket. She's stereotypically vacuous and unsatisfying for the gnome, who decides to erase her.
There's two schools of thought on this. The first is the obvious concern about the misogyny, the creation of a "perfect" woman, the exploitation of her, and the immediate use of her for base purposes. The other side to that discussion, of course, is that you can interpret the piece as a criticism of that kind of behavior, questioning the motives and character of a man who would do such a thing. Ultimately, though, I don't know if there's a lot to be read into it except a joke, and whether or not you find the joke funny. Like I said, your mileage is going to vary.
[Via WarcraftMovies]
If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.
Previously on Moviewatch ...
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Machinima, Humor, WoW Moviewatch
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Naix Nov 19th 2008 12:09PM
Mildly entertaining.
ramz Nov 19th 2008 12:48PM
actually, oblivious films also worked on this gold nugget.
redstar Nov 19th 2008 12:23PM
ensue!
Darkcyde Nov 19th 2008 12:32PM
His problem wasn't that he's a Mitchell, its that he rolled gnome. Reroll as something else and problem solved. Maybe an irradiated looking nelf would work.
therandomguy Nov 19th 2008 12:28PM
Awesome :).
Nintai Nov 19th 2008 12:30PM
That was mildly hilarious. Reminds me of my ex.
lownwolf Nov 19th 2008 12:41PM
were there political jokes in there as well or am I just reading too far in to things? Joe the Plumber, Frank the butcher. Also, the Blood Elf sings about being able to see Russia from her roof.
Beatphreek Nov 19th 2008 4:01PM
She also mentioned that Africa was a country, so, I'd imagine there were a few digs in there for sure.
Arrowsmith Nov 19th 2008 12:39PM
Great, now I have to memorize the words to that girl's song so I can annoy my friends. Oh well, it's something to do before I go questing!!
Narlic Nov 19th 2008 5:47PM
Seriously, I need to find a transcription. Did I mention the government spies?
Candina@WH Nov 19th 2008 12:39PM
Meh
One gnomish finger up, and I'll leave you to guess which one ;-)
0.o Nov 19th 2008 4:44PM
your thumb? =D
Xanite Nov 19th 2008 12:50PM
Amazing for 48 hours of work. I did not think it brought down what men think. It shows that looks aren't everything. Great job.
Malacia Nov 19th 2008 1:11PM
Somebody needs to tell whoever posted this that this is a WoW blog, not a feminist movie website. Seriously, analysing the misogyny in a machima video? Wow, deep.
Jeni Nov 19th 2008 1:21PM
Not the first time Movie Watch has written about misogny in machinima. As a feminist myself who's master's thesis was on female sexuality and representation in online social worlds, I really have to say that you're reading way too much into this stuff. Move along. Sometimes humor is just humor.
ThorinII Nov 19th 2008 1:30PM
Very funny!
Macheath Nov 19th 2008 2:18PM
Wow, a discussion on misogyny, and it's not even lunchtime yet!
The point was that Pat Mitchell is a big superficial asshole, and when he's got the opportunity to create his own "perfect woman," he describes nothing but physical attributes and ends up unsatisfied. At the end, he finds that he's (perhaps ironically) better off with an inflatable toy. Guys like him don't deserve any more. There's your moral, if you need one.
Really, though, it was just supposed to be funny. Lighten up, chum.
Lemons Nov 19th 2008 2:37PM
mhmm...and when all you're using is PAINT to make your "perfect woman" what else could you do? Can you really DRAW a personality? Sounds like a game of pictionary gone awry.
"Okay...so...draw your wife's personality"
"What? Ummm, how would I even do that?
"You can't draw my personality? You insensitive jerk!"
Jun Nov 19th 2008 2:28PM
Yeah, it was basically a goofy twist on Pygmalion but in a more modern context. Wait. What I just wrote sounds too pretentious. Hell it was a really quick idea that we (mostly Mac) came up with based around the character we were given who happened to be a painter. We didn't think very hard or deep about it because we only had 48 hours to make the film. If we had had 48 WEEKS to make it, it would have been a masterpiece that would have no misogynistic issues whatsoever! In theory. *cough*
I'd also like to point out that I'm a girl. And although I knew our female character was going to be depicted as a bit idiotic, which in general might not be most politically correct portrayal of a member the female gender, I also want to point out that she was the creation of an insensitive superficial male and therefore not a 'real' girl. THAT'S MY DEFENSE AND I'M STICKING TO IT
Lemons Nov 19th 2008 2:33PM
Anywho, I thought it was pretty funny actually, and the fact that it was made in only 48 hours is nothing short of amazing!