If you ever want to see how Youtube might become one of the most promising doorways to small but talented amateur film makers. Then look no further than Red Letter Medias absolutely brilliant critiques cum deconstructions, cum ripping George Lucas a new one,- reviews of the Star Wars prequels. It is no exaggeration to say that these reviews are some of the most astounding bits of film making; from a layman in his home, to grace the youtube site. They combine top rate execution, with a brilliantly prepared and hugely insightful delivery, and have the added benefit of being ballachingly funny.
The reviews are presented as the musings of Harry Plinkett (the screen persona of Mike Stoklasa, a wedding video producer.) a sociopathic elderly pervert who murders prostitutes in his basement and ex wives, when he's not floridly critiquing three films that defiled a trilogy of great ones that came before;- on the alter of profit, and shitty special effects. Plinketts reviews will even be entertaining to a casual, or even a non-fan of Star Wars. They aren't the sort of nitpicky, fan boy review we might expect. The kind of thing where a wheezy looking American with spectacles and a beard point out that that droid standing around in the background in one tiny scene wasn't invented till after the death star blew up. No, this is a (70 and 90 minute respectively for the first two prequels) creative critique of where Plinkett / Stoklasa feels that Lucas sacrificed both story and characterisation, for special effects and shameless promotional merchandising, available in all good retailers. It is particularly telling when his friends can rattle off single word descriptions of the original trilogy characters, but can't describe the prequel characters at all. And when we see the reaction by the creators of "Phantom Menace" after the first rough cut screening at Lucases private cinema. Or when he shows us the contrasts between the cruder effects and choreography of the originals, in comparison to the flawless overkill to boringness we get in the prequels, and how less turned out out be more. I could almost hear Han Solo saying "Hokey FX, and a crappy script, are no match fort a good story at your side kid!" The critiquing of the (many) plot oversights is kept to the major ones, and not bogged down in pedantry. (unless used for comic effect.) This is a game for the fans of the genre, and the Confused Matthew reviews are tailored for a more fan friendly review.
The reviews are presented as the musings of Harry Plinkett (the screen persona of Mike Stoklasa, a wedding video producer.) a sociopathic elderly pervert who murders prostitutes in his basement and ex wives, when he's not floridly critiquing three films that defiled a trilogy of great ones that came before;- on the alter of profit, and shitty special effects. Plinketts reviews will even be entertaining to a casual, or even a non-fan of Star Wars. They aren't the sort of nitpicky, fan boy review we might expect. The kind of thing where a wheezy looking American with spectacles and a beard point out that that droid standing around in the background in one tiny scene wasn't invented till after the death star blew up. No, this is a (70 and 90 minute respectively for the first two prequels) creative critique of where Plinkett / Stoklasa feels that Lucas sacrificed both story and characterisation, for special effects and shameless promotional merchandising, available in all good retailers. It is particularly telling when his friends can rattle off single word descriptions of the original trilogy characters, but can't describe the prequel characters at all. And when we see the reaction by the creators of "Phantom Menace" after the first rough cut screening at Lucases private cinema. Or when he shows us the contrasts between the cruder effects and choreography of the originals, in comparison to the flawless overkill to boringness we get in the prequels, and how less turned out out be more. I could almost hear Han Solo saying "Hokey FX, and a crappy script, are no match fort a good story at your side kid!" The critiquing of the (many) plot oversights is kept to the major ones, and not bogged down in pedantry. (unless used for comic effect.) This is a game for the fans of the genre, and the Confused Matthew reviews are tailored for a more fan friendly review.
My only criticism about the review is the interludes in Plinketts dingy flat, where we see he has prostitutes tied up in the basement. They seem like filler (I'm not sure what they are really for. Harry is self evidently a dirty old man.), and the (fake) misanthropy clashes with the reviews themselves. We sympathise with Harrys anger toward the way the films came out, with being repelled by graphically seeing what sort of man he is. So they can feel uneven at times.
Mike is obviously well read in the art of film making (he is after all, one himself.), and this is the key to the quality of his work. Besides the fact that he is full of the insider knowledge of a business most people know zip about, - his genuine anger about how three great movies have been harmed by three ill founded ventures; is contagious. With all the resources that these films had thrown at them, we can say along with Harry. "This is the Result???"
And that is the key to the success of the reviews. That is why we don't think that Mike has nothing better to do than bitch about some movie for over an hour. The prequels were; - on one level, a form of vandalism on a cultural icon. This review articulates precisely how personally some fans felt disappointed by these films, in a way that outsiders may think is strange. We saw how (I'll give George credit. HUGE) anticipation, and opportunity to build upon a well loved trilogy - was squandered by a bad script, and FX being used as the end, not the means to the end. Again as Harry once said in a review; "Gee! How uplifting."
Red Letter Medias site is here. http://www.blancscreencinema.com/redlettermedia/index.html
That's a superb review Northern Bloke. I think you've earned your blog subtitle. I think Plinkett makes some damn good points, and not just about the SW prequels - his aim was just as true when it came to pulling apart the Star Trek TNG movies, too.
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