Score: 9
"Messages"
date: August 27, 2007
I like all of your flash because it has style, good sense of music and correlation, and an actual message/atmosphere, so not only is this just a flash work, it's an artwork.
Here's my small take:
On the last page, you mentioned you wanted to thank "God" for patience, which was in all blue. The name "Gordon", only 'g' 'o' and 'd' were in blue and the female protagonist is clearly not a Gordon and is, in fact, named Jenny.
This piece is about a race, an interesting twist with good vs evil (God vs evil), where the protagonist is you(??) or the reader/average joe, since his name has "God" imbedded in him, yet he's not completely "God".
The point is to "finish the race", which has many Christian implications - and as a Korean with international backgrounds, I know Christianity is a common culture background (though I guess it's the same for all races). After she ties the devil up, the devil somehow tricks the protagonist into making her not focus on the end but rather confuses her. Clearly, more subtle messages.
Other notable features include when the devil shows himself as stronger than he originally appeared.
Anyways...
That's just my humble take on your piece. It seems your other works are like this, too. Notably "Don't Trip", which I haven't reviewed.
As I mentioned before, I really appreciate how your works have "soul" and are really reflections and/or a part of yourself and you chose flash as an excellent medium. Your skills are uncanny and I'm positive that you will continue to thrive.
I hope you find my (and others') review encouraging and I hope you continue to make awesome, fully devoted, works.
August 28, 2007
Author's Response:
Thanks for really looking into this animation and finding a deeper meaning. That means a lot since it is my first work and not many would take the time to look past my mistakes in animating.
Your God angle is fun to read and certainly valid. It makes Jenny Gordon (Gordon's her last name, you see) appear like the ultimate good in this animation--and that she's struggling against evil, even though that evil can distract her from her goal from time to time.
There are a lot of Christian Koreans, it's a pretty significant religion to our group as a whole--especially for the immigrants.
Not that it's any less or more valid than yours, but I'd like to think of Gordon, not as a symbol of good, but a humanized version of "good," which ends up being less perfect than the actual thing. That's why she's the first to cheat, first to act violently towards Evil, etc. Blah blah blah.
I really appreciate this review! I'd love to hear more from you but I'd hate to take up your time. <3