WoW Moviewatch: The Chair
by Michael Gray 
Apr 9th 2010 at 1:00PM
The first is the more abstract of my interpretations. In this version, there is no context or story to the room. We simply have an undead trapped in a non-descript room, struggling with coming to grips with why he's there and what's going on. We don't know the events that brought him to this place -- only that he is here now. And when time has passed, he's struck down cold. You could lay any number of metaphors on this situation, and that makes The Chair one of those sublime pieces of art in which your own experiences are reflected.
The other, of course, has to do with the legend of the player jail. (On which The Chair's prison room is clearly based.) This is the place where the truly troublesome players are taken to be interviewed by the game's powers-that-be. Left in this isolation, the undead's behavior and answers must not have pleased the GM, and the player is ultimately struck down for his transgressions.
However you interpret this video, it's obviously an awesome piece of machinima.
Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an e-mail at machinima AT wow DOT com.Filed under: WoW Moviewatch
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
michiel-ajax Apr 9th 2010 1:13PM
wow, thats one heck of video :O
thumbs up man!
Kalcifer Apr 9th 2010 1:13PM
That's amazing. So simple but well executed and the haunting soundtrack only adds to it.
originalzombieslayer888 Apr 9th 2010 1:21PM
Actually enjoyed this I like to use mah brain power!
ringthree Apr 9th 2010 1:27PM
I think another interpretation could be the realization, denial and acceptance of undeath. The loss of all humanity, draining the life of all that is around him. Denial at that loss of humanity, an attempt to embrace life again only to be crushed with the reality of the situation. The shock of reality is so strong as to have a physical effect. I think this is a good metaphor of the lament of the undead.
Dan Apr 10th 2010 12:20AM
Of course there's always the out of wow context. I interpreted it as a man who had been banished to sit in some terrible chair for eternity. He is somewhat immortal so he's flesh has decayed he's been there so long. He's finnaly had enough to rather take the punishment of destruction over sitting there for eternity so he gets up, has one last hurrah and gets destroyed.
dawnseven Apr 9th 2010 1:28PM
It kinda reminds me of the request: "Less artsy, more fartsy".
I guess I are uncouth.
Sarah Apr 9th 2010 1:58PM
This definitely is a very interesting movie, but I personally don't feel that using WoW models was the best way to go with it. I feel as if we lost so much emotion that could have been shown if some other model was used, or even if this one was edited.
But then again... maybe that was the point?
Hazelton Apr 9th 2010 2:16PM
If you want to see something similar with live action, this reminded me a lot of Jim Henson's The Cube (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6203080879952576646#).
Its mostly similar in setting, but worth checking out.
Taedran Apr 9th 2010 1:40PM
wth? I want to see more!
Bryan Dare Apr 9th 2010 3:10PM
As a filmmaker, I can greatly appreciate the artistry in this fine film.
/applaud
Mitawa Apr 9th 2010 5:06PM
I could have really liked it but the /rude emote at 1:15 ruined it. It was deep and meaningful and emotional... until he grabs his crotch. Yay. Ugh. v_v
I think /No might have been a better choice, but really... there are a number that could have been picked. The /rude was just jarring.
Ah, well.
Tokkar Apr 9th 2010 8:05PM
I agree. While the video itself was done very well insofar as lighting, shadowing, blending and whatnot, the /rude emotion sort of killed it at that moment. The undead "/no" wouldn't fit, but perhaps /kneel or /beg? Hmm...
This would be interesting to see with some kind of a narrative (done in the gravelly undead way) and a lot longer - maybe something with the analysis of his life and decline into undeath?
Overall, a great movie though!
Ne0nguy Apr 9th 2010 9:59PM
Players in the GM dungeon would likely get frustrated and ultimately say or do rude things directed at the GM that send them there.
The subject was struck down after making the gesture.
Although you probably didn't expect to see that in this video, it fits the scenario.
ducss750 Apr 9th 2010 7:31PM
............wow....................
Dreyja Apr 9th 2010 8:11PM
What an interesting idea. Seriously, who would have thought about doing this about that place in the game most of us will never see.
/sing song voice: "Somebodies in trou-ble" ;)
I agree that I think a different emote would have worked better than /rude but overall - is awsome!
Cataca Apr 9th 2010 11:53PM
THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS!
Playertwo Jun 26th 2010 3:13PM
In my eyes, the room is a virtual limited world, just like azeroth, the avatar is the player, its face in it. The avatar is struggling with something at the begining - it could be the aftermath of something that happend or is happening. Then he realizes his power, his roar is fiercome, he uses it, he dares confrontation, he taunts at soemthing, perhaps other players or the world itself - only to be struck down by it (world/player).
I think this movie could be an end-less cycle aswell - as in this repeats itself over and over, hence the begining - his troubeled by failure, /facepalm? Only to get back up agian and be struck down once more ;P
brillant movie btw. ;D