The most recent videos I have watched are The Move by Fabian Kollakowski and Sick03 by Pierre-Hadrien Bardeau and Fred Touzelet. I don't own a copy of Sick03 yet but I already have a copy reserved for Worlds!
THE MOVE
The music is bomb. I know a lot of people would probably complain but it is the style of music I love most. The progression is so complimenting, too. The video seems to play in order of player ending in the more advanced player (always Vasek!!) and the tracks follow this guide. The first track is upbeat and cute, whereas the final track is dark and ominous -- tracks between build from the first to the last. The Move is definately the most "artistic" shred video I have ever watched. The black and white format appeals greatly to me.
It doesn't look like Fabian has played with the contrast much on the picture but I am always really impressed with flat plains of colour -- the sky is almost always a flat white -- a single tone. I'm not sure if that is understandable, but it's something that attracts my eye and adds to the beauty of the video.
The (seemingly now) standard for player-separate chapters is another plus. Most recent videos have been devoting sections to single players, but in this video the divisions are black and white (ha!). The music obviously helps in this aspect.
I only have a few minor complaints about this video. The introduction is boring. I love a shred video that busts huge from the start: an introduction that features the biggest or nearly most impressive combo or move or run in the entire video (something that really bothers me in the Unanim Works videos). The introduction in this video is almost 2 minutes of black screen (nothing) with Ales' playing guitar in the background. It basically feels like your DVD isn't playing properly the first time you watch it. I feel it could have been done differently. In my own videos when I want a lowkey moment with no picture for more than a few seconds I will use footage (it doesn't really matter of what) and turn the contrast down to almost nothing. I feel something like that would have made it a little more interesting. One other problem I had was with the font used to distinguish the players in the outro. That's all.
It was such a great video. The outro was wonderful. Oh and one more thing was the reactions shown before Ahren and Vasek's sections. The faces showing terror while the music builds to accomidate the shred.
SICK03:
Actually it's really late now (almost 5) and I don't feel like writing about Sick03 right now. But both are must-see's. Both videos feature Vasek's SEVEN 6 ADDS IN A ROW!!! (Dropped on 8!!) And Sick03 shows Vasek busting FIFTEEN 5 ADDS (bedwetter > phoenix > blurriest > blurry whirl > blurry whirl > blurrier > pdx torque > ps whirl > spinning whirl > scorpions tail > mobius > ps whirl > ps whirl > spinning whirl > ps whirl) straight into ripwalk > ripwalk > stepping whirl > spinning clipper > symp whirling swirl > more. Sick03's interactivity with the players and community is what I like the most about the video. My favourite parts (aside from Vasek shred, which is insane!!) are Pete saying, "Worlds was never like this! Worlds was never like this!!" and Sunil saying "Sick zero trois!!". Also Sick03 is so visually appealing. The Move is beautiful in its simplicity. Sick03 is beautiful in its design complexity. From the simple "soft transition" on the border throughout the entire video to the classic player introductions with the frozen frame over an animated montage of information. The highlight of any Unanim video is the professionality.
(I actually ended up writing so much that I put a title in front of it anyway.)
Oh -- the most practical feature of this video: DVD menus and animations!! Playing around with chapter selection and special features (Vasek's Secret!!) is almost more fun than watching the entire video. I heard a complaint about certain parts of the video disturbing the continuity -- the "All Star Shred". Looking at the DVD features before actually watching the video all the way through gave me a clearer vision of the video as a whole (which could be a con if not explored before first viewing). Choosing a player's section from a menu is a great feature!
Oh, one last mention: the fisheye. Unanim videos are filmed so well that half the time I don't even notice the fisheye -- it's simply THAT professional looking. It's very subtle.
I have mixed feelings about the soundtrack -- the tracks are all very different. I like most of the music in the video but it is all very different -- from reggae to house to hiphop all interspersed.
Offline Video Reviews (no video)
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NotHisRealName
- Post Master General
- Posts: 2527
- Joined: 26 Oct 2002 03:43
- Location: Brisbane, Australia
- Contact:
Well, I'm not European, but for a brief review on 'The Move'.
To be honest, after being adicted to the 'The Move' preview, I was a little let down by the soundtrack. I found that it was lacking something, though I dont know what. I actually own an early version (without the chapter selection option), so I've had to watch the movie through each time or fast-forward to the bits I want to see. And the lack of chapter selection was a downer. But I've dealt with it.
The whole DVD is very artisticly done, and a pleasure to watch... but only if you're not in need of being 'pumped up' for a shred. From start to finish, the whole movie shows some awesome shred and trick combos, as well as an intermission of juggling.
Again, it's not a 'pump-me-up' video. It's one for those who appreciate the beauty of this sport.
To be honest, after being adicted to the 'The Move' preview, I was a little let down by the soundtrack. I found that it was lacking something, though I dont know what. I actually own an early version (without the chapter selection option), so I've had to watch the movie through each time or fast-forward to the bits I want to see. And the lack of chapter selection was a downer. But I've dealt with it.
The whole DVD is very artisticly done, and a pleasure to watch... but only if you're not in need of being 'pumped up' for a shred. From start to finish, the whole movie shows some awesome shred and trick combos, as well as an intermission of juggling.
Again, it's not a 'pump-me-up' video. It's one for those who appreciate the beauty of this sport.
The Move:
I found the intro a tad boring - I was glad I was watching it with someone who had already seen the vid and I actually asked if it was meant to be blank.
After that the whole thing blew my mind. The filming was excellent, all close and very well edited. All the people hitting insane shred. There is not one run that I didn't want to watch again in slow mo. It's all quick cuts and no replays so you miss a lot of the action the first time you watch it.
The player selection was excellent - all different styles and all amazing shredders. I hadn't seen much footage of Rippen, Yves or Ahren so that was good, the footage I'd seen of Yacine was from overground (2001) and his style is a lot different now and I had no idea how good Vasek was until I saw the video. Ales had stayed at my house for ten days, a couple of weeks before I saw the vid so I'd seen a lot of his game, although I think that made me enjoy his section even more. It was rare to see him bust out as much as he does in the video.
I loved the editing, things like Moglum saying "that's a blurry blurry blurry blur" when Ahren was trying blurry blur - and those quick cuts of him attempting that move. Also Ken's "commentary" on Vasek's big run at the end was cool! The cuts to facial expressions in Yves section and before Ahrens were good too, giving you a real feel of the atmosphere. And the "with these dirty fucking feet" section was
. The music was really cool too.
Overall it is easily the best footbag video I've seen (although there are a number I haven't seen) and definitly something everybody should own! I totally disagree with Gareth about it not being a "pump me up" video. When I watch it, I immediatly want to go kick.... but I guess when I watch or listen to anything it makes me want to go kick, even an N.E.R.D film clip
- but in that particular case it's just because I want to escape the music...
I found the intro a tad boring - I was glad I was watching it with someone who had already seen the vid and I actually asked if it was meant to be blank.
After that the whole thing blew my mind. The filming was excellent, all close and very well edited. All the people hitting insane shred. There is not one run that I didn't want to watch again in slow mo. It's all quick cuts and no replays so you miss a lot of the action the first time you watch it.
The player selection was excellent - all different styles and all amazing shredders. I hadn't seen much footage of Rippen, Yves or Ahren so that was good, the footage I'd seen of Yacine was from overground (2001) and his style is a lot different now and I had no idea how good Vasek was until I saw the video. Ales had stayed at my house for ten days, a couple of weeks before I saw the vid so I'd seen a lot of his game, although I think that made me enjoy his section even more. It was rare to see him bust out as much as he does in the video.
I loved the editing, things like Moglum saying "that's a blurry blurry blurry blur" when Ahren was trying blurry blur - and those quick cuts of him attempting that move. Also Ken's "commentary" on Vasek's big run at the end was cool! The cuts to facial expressions in Yves section and before Ahrens were good too, giving you a real feel of the atmosphere. And the "with these dirty fucking feet" section was
. The music was really cool too.Overall it is easily the best footbag video I've seen (although there are a number I haven't seen) and definitly something everybody should own! I totally disagree with Gareth about it not being a "pump me up" video. When I watch it, I immediatly want to go kick.... but I guess when I watch or listen to anything it makes me want to go kick, even an N.E.R.D film clip
- but in that particular case it's just because I want to escape the music...-
bigdirtyfoot
- Sloppy
- Posts: 3142
- Joined: 22 Apr 2002 12:30
- Location: NC
These are old reviews that I wrote for my website:
TRICKS OF THE TRADE
This is a good beginners video. My main complaint is the horrible repetitive 80's music. However, this video helped me learn many basic tricks such as pixie and mirage. I have heard good things of TOTT2, and I would advise that over this video, as some of the footage on this video is slightly outdated. The freestyle footbag world is better represented in TOTT2.
TIME 2 JAM
I love this video. This video alone made me fall in love with Brian Parson's style. My friends quote "I'm going to hit a montage... a montage" quite often. This video is full of awesome style and is definitely one of my favorites. There is a great James Risden section where he is shredding near the beach and some jugglers are doing their freestyle routines. There is Jim Penske shredding on a cellular phone, which makes me laugh nearly everytime... "No... southside? Southside." And to top it all off, there are singing fish at the end of the video.
JUST SHRED II: LIKE WHOA
Whoa. I just got my copy of Just Shred II: Like Whoa. It was really pretty good. Let's see... there's a really funny and cool interview with Travis Strickland (up and coming footbagger I guess... I wasn't too sure... maybe a pal of Wicked's?)... I liked that. It's near the end. The whole video is around 42 minutes long. Allan hits a PS Whirl off of a wall and that was PHAT. Haha... let's see... other highlights include a tetris remix which was cool... the first 2 or 3 songs are rap, which I like, but not everyone digs, but whatever. The big three's were SO COOL and so were the sick tricks... some dude (forgot who...) hits a Marius... I hadn't seen one yet it was PHAT... and I have no idea what the trick he hits afterwards is... sounded like someone said "Tricerotops" but I'm probably wrong. Let's see... phat shred 30's with Penske and Smith... I loved those. And Peter Irish did a really interesting juggling thing... there's no way in hell I could do that, haha. I think it was 5 balls and he used his feet too. Cool stuff. There were times when I said "Oh my god"... or laughed at the impossibilities these guys were pulling off. There's like a semi-promo for Fo Shizzle... someone throws a stuffed animal at the screen and Wicked flashes the words "Fo Shizzle"... holy crap it was just a good video. I suggest it to anyone interested in what's going on now in shred. Peace.
TRICKS OF THE TRADE
This is a good beginners video. My main complaint is the horrible repetitive 80's music. However, this video helped me learn many basic tricks such as pixie and mirage. I have heard good things of TOTT2, and I would advise that over this video, as some of the footage on this video is slightly outdated. The freestyle footbag world is better represented in TOTT2.
TIME 2 JAM
I love this video. This video alone made me fall in love with Brian Parson's style. My friends quote "I'm going to hit a montage... a montage" quite often. This video is full of awesome style and is definitely one of my favorites. There is a great James Risden section where he is shredding near the beach and some jugglers are doing their freestyle routines. There is Jim Penske shredding on a cellular phone, which makes me laugh nearly everytime... "No... southside? Southside." And to top it all off, there are singing fish at the end of the video.
JUST SHRED II: LIKE WHOA
Whoa. I just got my copy of Just Shred II: Like Whoa. It was really pretty good. Let's see... there's a really funny and cool interview with Travis Strickland (up and coming footbagger I guess... I wasn't too sure... maybe a pal of Wicked's?)... I liked that. It's near the end. The whole video is around 42 minutes long. Allan hits a PS Whirl off of a wall and that was PHAT. Haha... let's see... other highlights include a tetris remix which was cool... the first 2 or 3 songs are rap, which I like, but not everyone digs, but whatever. The big three's were SO COOL and so were the sick tricks... some dude (forgot who...) hits a Marius... I hadn't seen one yet it was PHAT... and I have no idea what the trick he hits afterwards is... sounded like someone said "Tricerotops" but I'm probably wrong. Let's see... phat shred 30's with Penske and Smith... I loved those. And Peter Irish did a really interesting juggling thing... there's no way in hell I could do that, haha. I think it was 5 balls and he used his feet too. Cool stuff. There were times when I said "Oh my god"... or laughed at the impossibilities these guys were pulling off. There's like a semi-promo for Fo Shizzle... someone throws a stuffed animal at the screen and Wicked flashes the words "Fo Shizzle"... holy crap it was just a good video. I suggest it to anyone interested in what's going on now in shred. Peace.
I saw champions league for the first time, and was pretty much blown away. It has, by far, the sickest footage ive seen so far. It makes even the stuff on "The Move" seem weak by comparison. Vasek is absolutely incredible on the video, it really is mind blowing watching him play. Also there is some nice Ahren footage, as well as a few other players. It was fun seeing some of the other chzeck players too, apart fromt vasek/ales/honza. Dexter really impressed me alot, i didnt know he was so good now, i was used to the stuff on budas best. Some cool Moglum shots as well, he has this crazy, i dunno, almost demonic style, and his ankles bend so much, it makes me jealous.
The whole video is pretty much just shred, though there are different sections, like san fransico 2002, todexon 2002-2004, sometimes mixed up, so its fun to see. there is also 2 parts on drills and 7 add moves which are cool. Lots of different kinds of music, i remember punk music mainly though.
Hmm, im not quite sure what else to add, i like the shots alot, they are very clear and you can see the bag easily. There is a VERY slight frame-rate problem, so its not as smooth as i was expecting. Maybe it was because it was a PAL dvd playing on my xbox.. I dont know.
Overall, awesome video, my favorite so far just for the sheer length and sickness of it. Its over an hour.
The whole video is pretty much just shred, though there are different sections, like san fransico 2002, todexon 2002-2004, sometimes mixed up, so its fun to see. there is also 2 parts on drills and 7 add moves which are cool. Lots of different kinds of music, i remember punk music mainly though.
Hmm, im not quite sure what else to add, i like the shots alot, they are very clear and you can see the bag easily. There is a VERY slight frame-rate problem, so its not as smooth as i was expecting. Maybe it was because it was a PAL dvd playing on my xbox.. I dont know.
Overall, awesome video, my favorite so far just for the sheer length and sickness of it. Its over an hour.
Nicholas Laroche
