Unofficial Tex Murphy

Above all I am objective when I deliver my critiques - but it never seems so because of the way I do it. If I like something, I say so, and if I don't, rest assured I rip someone a new one when I let them know it. So without further ado:

The review! (Hey, that almost rhymes!)

In your case Cubster - You've got talent and you know it, and you're able to tap into that in your work, and it shows. The camerawork, the first-person views of the Prince, the movements, all good stuff. You knew what you wanted and you got it, through hard work. Commendable.

As for the rest, the acting was decent, the musical score was superb, the sound effects by the clock was just right. Not overly done, but subtly eerie, which I really liked. The voice-over narrative was excellent, because if it went any deeper or darker it would overshadow the visual stuff. As it is, it's perfect for telling the story without stealing the show from what is being shown.

I know it's not completely done yet, but one thing has got to go.

When the party pauses when prince Prospero enters, and also at another point a little later on - there is much cheer and mirth. And whistling. Who the hell ever heard of a renessaince or baroque or whatever party where the guests sound like they're attending a AC/DC concert? Just saying it destroys the believeability in the era it's supposed to represent.

Cut that whistling out and you've got a grade A perfect product on your hands mate!

Other than that, go forth and put your mark on the world! You're doing great

-Fred

PS: Lemme know when you hit Japan, I'm sure you'll be a sensation over there if you continue to rise like this.

PPS: You mind if I ever send you a script, if I ever decide to go the now-much-preferred movie-route with my writings? *Laughs* Just kidding. I need to start again before I get ahead of myself. But that's another story.

I guess everyone does things differently or when living in different parts of the world some accents sound sexier than others. I hear English accents every day!

Now Welsh accents.... Wow

I guess to me it was narrated well, I just think that maybe it didn't sound as 'final' for the last few minutes when the visual side was taking a dramatic turn, but to have changed accent just at the end would have been too much.

But I thought the words were Poe's writings but agree with what you say about finding a balance between keeping his style and a modern adaptation.

Still, your work has a lot of creative talent there. Oh I meant to say my girlfriend and I went to Paris about a month ago and we passed a shop with a copy of Cubase in the window. It made me smile!

Just not alot to say is there.

but WoW thats amazing

thanks to some help from peaple i got it on my pc.

Alright...one question...

In Under A Killing Moon, Tex traveled to an off planet lounge. I never played Under A Killing Moon, and I can't get it to work on my system. So...what's the name of the lounge?

Vracar wrote:Alright...one question...

In Under A Killing Moon, Tex traveled to an off planet lounge. I never played Under A Killing Moon, and I can't get it to work on my system. So...what's the name of the lounge?

sent you a PM. Pelase dont ask for or post question answers here. Tahnks!

-Cub. =o)

Cubase wrote:

Vracar wrote:Alright...one question...

In Under A Killing Moon, Tex traveled to an off planet lounge. I never played Under A Killing Moon, and I can't get it to work on my system. So...what's the name of the lounge?

sent you a PM. Pelase dont ask for or post question answers here. Tahnks!

-Cub. =o)

Curiousity killed the cat, but I'll ask anyway. Why not?

Cubase wrote: ...Treat this as a pre-release private screening, in which case there are some rules you MUST follow:

1. Please DO NOT distribute this and further than your own computers. Any copies you create and distribute invalidates it as a private copy, which will put me in all sorts of trouble if it does get out in the open. You may show it to friends and family, but only if you are not making copies to give to them or sending them via the internet (through e-mail or video networks such as YouTube). i.e. please show them your copy only.

2. I will be password protecting the online directory AND the zip file with passwords only Tex Murphy fans such as you would know. If you are unsure of the answer to one of the password questions, please do NOT ask for it here, or post the answers online! If you are unsure, please PM me and I will tell you. Also, if anyone receives a PM asking for an answer from someone unknown please do not give the answers away.

3. By downloading your copy you are agreeing to the above terms.

-Cub. =o)

Second question then...why password both? Why not just one or the other? Why password at all if it's only available for a limited time?

Also, I can't get the password to work. I've copied and pasted what you sent me, along with variations there of. With and without caps.

Password website: Prevents anyone not authorised from accessing the file.

Passowrd file: Prevents people from accessing the file if someone has downloaded it officially, but it has gotten into the hands of someone its not meant to.

And remember, the second pass (ZIP file) is no spaces, all lower case, two words. without the word "Lounge".

-Cub. =o)

Awesome, thanks Cub! Hope I wasn't too much of a bother! And now to watch the film and write a review so dirty it would make Penthouse Magazine seem PG.

mr_cyberpunk wrote:The start.. All I can say is "BRING OUT YE DEAD!" - Monty Python Search For the Holy Grail.

Hahaha, that was the first thing I thought as well.

I hope you don't mind me snagging this film production of yours as well, being new to this forum and all. I got all the answers to the Tex Murphy questions all by myself, after all. I'm gonna have to watch this again to give you any valuable critique, though. I'm a huge fan of old-school horror films and I like Edgar Allen Poe. I thought this was very well done, so in my second run I'm just gonna have to hold it to higher standards.

Wonderful stuff! I greatly enjoyed it.

Grass and leaves in sunlight were green during the bring out your dead scene. This didn't fit well with the otherwise very good blue tint (well the bright sunlight as such wasn't very fitting). I suppose it should've been a cloudier day.

In general I found the camera work excellent, though I felt you came a bit too close (and/or was too low) too often. Heads were frequently partly above the camera's view, which is rarely a good thing. And some static close-ups were unnaturally close for no apparent reason. A face alone is only an interesting sight if there is something special happening. It's not a natural first-person view. I also didn't see any reason for showing just half the face of the clock as it struck 12 (you could've zoomed in from a full view of the face). Even more so because you used the full face to show time passing between 11 and 12.

I loved the smooth camera movements and smooth fades between shots. The camera was dancing along to the music in an enchanting way (my favorite parts of the movie). The walk-along shots were good as well, though the (unintentional I'm guessing) extra bobble effect when the camera moved towards the clock was too much.

The from below shots of the prince is a classic trick and you used it very well.

Oh and the voice-over was freaking awesome. A bit too quiet perhaps, but awesome. The death screams were a bit quiet as well.

It's edited very good! I wish my movie will be in one quoter as good as yours.

Because of my english I will put my opinion in points:

- people on the streat are to clean,
- too much light in the ballroom,
- in some shots camera flights too much
- in some scenes there are gaps when prince is coming, camera gose ahead and turns too him, we see gests and after a 1s prince comes on the screene.
- the only thing you need in my opinion is experience.
- colors are very good but mayby thay could be better, maybe some glow effect when the camera comes inside for the first time.

What I liked:
- photography
- idea of some scenes
- from the begining to the end the movie is on same, good level. there is no bad seen or something thet could be removed.

Can't wait to see your next movie.

Sam

Hey Cub,

Congratulations on a VERY fine film. I've been out of town for several days and just got back. Hence, my delay in replying to your post.

I must say that I thought the film was very artfully done. All of the components - mixing of narration and a touch of sync sound, lighting, score, costumes and set - blended together as a wonderful vision.

Since you requested critisims, I looked for the kinds of things that would be appropriate for post-processing. The things I found, you are most likely already aware of, but I'll list them here anyway.

At 1:25, when the man lays the dead kid down, it looks like the kid's head turns toward his left (stage right). I suppose it is just falling, but it looks like the kid moves it himself giving the impression that he's alive. Well, that was my impression, but most people may not see it that way. You might consider freezing the frame before he turns his head giving the impression that he is stiff.

At 1:44, the end of the street toward which the man is wheeling the cart seems a bit too bright and out of character with the rest of the scene. Maybe it's the because of red of the building beyond the corner or that the bush at the end of the street is too green, but it just seems a bit too bright to me.

At 4:09 and again at 4:20, 4:31, 11:01, 11:09, 11:16, 11:27 and 11:31 activity is seen through the glass doors which lead outside. It looks like shoppers on a busy, modern street with cars going by. You will probably have to roto-scope that.

These are the only things that mildly stood out to me.

But I must say again: Very, very impressive.

One more thing:

I forgot to ask if any worms were harmed during the making of this picture.