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Score: 9

"Great style."

by: McfLy-0

date: March 23, 2005

Nice translation of the poem. Love that rotoscoping, at least I think parts of it are. Overall a great flick, extra points for including Sigur Ros' track as the audio. I was saving them for my first flick since not many people have heard their beautiful music. Now I gotta find another fantastic group that not many people know about.

Score: 9

"I liked it"

by: IcarusJG

date: March 23, 2005

The biggest thing that's shocked be about this submission is some of the bullshit reviews people have been giving...

Certainly racism isn't as bad as it used to be prior to the past few decades, but its still alive and present. I'm reminded of that every time I see a Confederate flag flying high somewhere. And I've heard stories from minority students on my campus about how they were verbally abused, and sometimes brutally beaten because of the fact that they aren't white.
Unfortunately, racism isn't dead, yet. It's still alive, pretending to yourself that "OMGWTF RACISM IS DED FUKTARD RACSST!" isn't helping the situation any.

As for the flash, I loved the art. Very good. I also liked how it came full circle at the end.
I didn't mind the Jamaican accent. Some of the bullshit complaining that Jamaicans shouldn't represent all blacks just makes my brain hurt.... So only blacks from a specific region of America or Africa are allowed to speak out against racism? Bullshit, I say.
But the audio did crack a little bit when the reading became very empowered.

Good job overall, though.

Score: 8

"Hmmm..."

by: Soul-Survivor

date: March 23, 2005

Well I guess you were trying to send out the message that "back in the day" black people were killed by police. Ummm I may need to check the newspapers, or watch a little TV because last I heard balck people are doing alright. If a police officer were to say, kill a black man, BECAUSE HE WAS BLACK, he would be jailed for life or even killed. Really a powerful message, but out of place in today's society. I liked the poem, really, pretty good, though kinda not my style, and although the voice left a bit to be desired, not to mention that he could get pretty loud, I pretty good flash over all. I don't know what you really expected to send out with this message, because it dosn't apply to the here and now, but for history purposes, I suppose you dredged up some powerful stuff. Anyway, nice flash, just a little to touchy for my taste, but you got your message out, so congratulations.

Score: 5

"..."

by: AngryAnarch

date: March 23, 2005

That was some profound poetry, I liked it.. Good work Mrs.Cleo.. Can you tell me future now?!

Score: 3

"This made me feel sick to my stomach."

by: rage172

date: March 23, 2005

I'm black ,yes,but I'd rather not be reminded of those ...times.
I wasn't alive then(of course), but anything having to do with those times pisses me off.

I don't want to be angry at those around me because of who their ancestors are and what they did to my ancestors.

This just isn't realistic in the times that we live in.

Score: 7

"Cool"

by: TheoriginalBW

date: March 23, 2005

The poem was kinda repetative and typical. The voice at some points was really annoying, over played, too loud, just annoying. BUT THE ANIMATION, was awesome, nice style, went great with the poem even though i didn't like the poem. Keep it up!

Score: 8

"looking at it from just an aesthetic standpoint..."

by: the-beav

date: March 23, 2005

I liked it pretty well. I think the only things that hurt it visually were the times the eyes were visible, and when the man in the suit was more detailed than the rest of the information. The white of the eyes was a bit too glaring, and didn't really read to me like the way eyes should (maybe it was the form, kind of rounded..) and the man in the tux just didn't fit in either. It would've flowed better had he also been in the silhouette form. You could add some defining details to give a little extra attention to him without going full out and detailing his whole form. Besides that though it was enjoyable to look at. However...I’m not entirely sure of the message behind it, and it's really not as clear cut as some reviewers would like to have you believe. I know there are prejudices in the world, past and present. And I know that blacks still have struggles that I won't be able to understand because I am white. But the thing I’m getting hooked up on is why it was law enforcement that constantly was referred to as the villain. Yes, law enforcement has a history of exercising racism, and still does today. But you make a blanket statement through showing vague events perpetrated by faceless men who are all grouped under the obvious law enforcement/white racist category. The thing that bothers me about this is in that by making this statement (which, yes, is based in truth) you now make a stereotype and a vague generalized statement against law enforcement on the whole. This is also a form of bigotry, whether intended or not. Because of that, the powerful message that you are working with is a bit tainted and loses some edge. If you were to point to a certain point in history when such things where basically commonplace, or use an actual event to use as the basis of the animation, then I would feel the movie to be more correct in it's assessment. Also this would take away from the generalization of the "law enforcement" villain. It’s just something that needs to be considered when handling a loaded subject such as this. Beyond that though, it still holds power in the message in some aspects, and it is done well in its artistic points.

Score: 7

"Different..."

by: Chris-Aldin

date: March 23, 2005

I agree partially with the last review. The accent was cool at first but got old fairly quickly. And the audio could use improvement. I dont think it was very overly dramatic, just a little. But the last review didnt comment on your great style and great graphics, congrats on those aspects.

I really dont how you personally can improve but just try a fix up the audio quality next time. Nice job though! 4/5

Score: 10

"racist, annoying and retarded,but powerful message"

by: LP-DeathByLings

date: March 23, 2005

uncool just to treat people differently just because they arent the same

Score: 5

"Unfortunate."

by: Raventail

date: March 23, 2005

Good poem, decent concept, ruined horribly by a bad Jamaican accent and crackly audio quality. My God; why the accent, why? Because only Jamaicans can speak against the establishment because of one performer? What does Jamaica have anything to do with a poem that essentially concerns the racism and violence of a Jim Crow United States? Jamaica represents all blacks now? This isn't the slightest bit demeaning to anyone? And dear Lord, not only was the accent bad, but the speaker was extremely overdramatic; the tone, the pacing; it just didn't fit. It didn't help that whenever he started screaming, the audio would erupt in static.