WoW Moviewatch: R.A.M - Episode 1
by Michael Gray 
Mar 6th 2009 at 12:00PM
M??xans! presented R.A.M - Episode 1 over on Machinima.com. He listed it as a comedy, but I'm forced to wonder if it wouldn't be better as "Surrealist" or something. The movie is shot in most black and white, but at the end, it spontaneously bursts into color.
The plot seems simple. A gnome is out adventuring in Tanaris, when a undead rogue decides to grief him. (I know, the possibility of such an event is inconceivable to most of us.) After a bit of trial and tribulation, the gnome swaps out for his draenei. The draenei kills the rogue, and proceeds to camp his corpse.
The whole video is very odd. The pacing is slow, and most of its framing shots are reminsicent of old, silent movies. For example, there are several face-frames given to the gnome while the rogue is creeping up. These imply the gnome is unaware of his pending disaster, and paying the creeping Undead no attention. This kind of technique was key to silent films, to help portray a better understanding of the events to its audience. I felt the technique was valuable to "R.A.M," but still felt slow and clunky over the duration of a long movie.
I can't say whether I liked or disliked "R.A.M." It mostly confused me, and I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. If it's Episode 1, however, I look forward to Episode 2. Sometimes, these things make more sense as they play out.
Click here to see it yourself!
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, WoW Moviewatch
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Freedomfighter Mar 6th 2009 6:39PM
楼主
Doomthehorde Mar 6th 2009 12:27PM
We don't really understand Chinese, you know...
Yeng Mar 6th 2009 2:05PM
It probably says 'First'.
mephiles Mar 6th 2009 6:04PM
dude just use google languege tools lol
Doomthehorde Mar 6th 2009 6:05PM
cba, I really don't want to go through the trouble just to find out he said something like "First! suck on it!"
Montas Mar 6th 2009 12:28PM
What about that "program window" that appeared there... isn't this about some hacking / cracking program?
ZuWhowho Mar 6th 2009 12:39PM
Not half bad actually, it's a lovely idea for short piece; the quiant use of dramatic irony and the constant switching of posistions of powers between the two where shown nicely, but admittadly it lacked the timeing and pacing needed for comedy; it was long winded at times, and the music didn't match with the important moments. The final critisum is that the switch between black and white to colour and the characters was to abrubt, I see why the arthour did it, but it needed some work.
I still enjoyed watching it by all meens, and it get's extra points for beeing shot in the live game, which shows this author is wize enough not to try something too ambisious, and thus I look forwad to more works of this style.
Catiya of Feathermoon Mar 6th 2009 12:39PM
I have to say, I really disliked this one. I felt it was unnecessarily drawn out and slow paced. Nothing eye poping or extradordinary and very predictable.
Discrete Mar 6th 2009 2:32PM
It wasn't a PVP video for sure, so I think the pacing was spot-on. I completely disagree with Michael's assessment of the video (but its not the first), and I reckon we just have different tastes in comedy.
I lol'd pretty much the whole way through. I knew the setup, that there would be a rogue, and the music just hits it spot-on during that time. The campy style, the lyrics that (unlike common practice with this music choice) didn't strain so hard to match up with the action, giving a bit of juxtaposition to the action.
They took their time with the action, giving some time to portray how it would go down in game. The change to color was awesome, and totally appropriate. Look at it this way; he was toddling along on some lowbie toon, or as my guild would say, "Doodley-doo'ing" around. When the rogue's orc warlock friend showed up, it was time to can the flapper-era hijinks and open the throttle with his shaman main in fully tiered goodness, to the tune of Elivs' "Little Less Conversation". Super effective, imo, and I'm going to register with machinima.com just to see if I can subscribe to the user.
A+, would watch again!
Catiya of Feathermoon Mar 6th 2009 4:47PM
@Discrete
It's hard for me to see what you're saying, I still don't feel that any of it (timing, music, execution) really worked. Just seems we have very different tastes in machinima, my friend! Glad someone did enjoy though, there was probably a lot of time put into the piece. :]
schm0 Mar 6th 2009 1:02PM
This movie was horrible.
Unnecessarily long, so much that "quaint"-ness of the author's intent was lost in the seconds of pause between each scene. I know that the world of machinima is full of crap, but that doesn't mean it should be showcased here.
I'd be happier with one great video every month as opposed to many lesser ones over the span of the month.
jimonaxe Mar 6th 2009 1:54PM
A little drawn out perhaps, but the first half was enjoyable. Unfortunately the switch-over was horrible. Granted there had to be a contrast in music, but what a terrible contrast!
Seems the author had a great idea for the horde gankin the gnome, but completely lost interest in tying up the ending.
Thlop Mar 6th 2009 10:10PM
S'alright, but didn't like the ending.
Who would make a male draenei hunter?