From YouTube.com user: t3htarik
Dr. Chee Soon Juan’s video was actually made before he went to prison, but it’s powerful nonetheless. Dr. Chee is a neuropsychologist and Secretary-General for the Singapore Democratic Party and he’s not just angry because his party lost the election. In Singapore, the People’s Action Party has been the only major party since 1963 when they arrested their only competition in a political witch hunt. Though Singapore is still considered a Democracy, people do not have the right to peacefully assemble, nor do they have freedom of the press.

The Singapore Democratic Party has been using the internet to get its message to people through blogging, forums, and internet videos. This is one of the better made political videos I’ve seen. Dr. Chee is extremely articulate in laying out his purpose and in convincing the viewer that his changes must occur. He uses powerful images, adopts “We Shall Overcome” for his cause, and even plays at your heart strings by showing numerous pictures of his children (basically all the stuff good political ads are made of).

I am not here to evangelize for Democracy, but I do believe that if a country is going to declare itself a Democracy they should at least offer the basic freedoms it necessitates. There can be no fair election when the opposition cannot be heard. There can be no free people when their voices are silenced. I wish Dr. Chee great success in his movement and hope that those in powerful positions will hear his cry.

Labels: chee soon juan, democracy, mischler, news and blogs, singapore, t3htarik

From YouTube.com user: Blame Society Films

Chad Vadar as a night manager? It can't be true. Oh, but it is. This short comic movie directed by Matt Sloan and Aaron Yanda chronicles the life of Chad Vadar, the night manager of a supermarket who inherently dresses like and acts like Darth Vadar. Weird? Yes. Funny? Absolutley and a perfect pitch for a side show between commercials for Comedy Central. Not only does this short film incorporate little inuendos from Darth such as the get-up, laser sword and of course his highly machine controled voice and breathing- but the movie also places such a character in contemporary times. Such an eerie situation leaves viewers to imagine, "what if my local supermarket night manager was in some way related to Darth Vadar?" A question that could clearly be answered by authorities from New York's Belvue Hospital but more so a question that is answered via viewing this film. Again, weird? yes. Funny? in a weird, i-can't-believe-someone-actually-came-up-with-this-idea-kind-of-way. It's borderline genius.

Labels: Aaron Yanda, Blame Society Films, Chad Vader: Episode 3, Matt Sloan, Shana L.

YouTube.com user: Vancouver Film School

Patience really is a virtue. In this Vancouver Film School movie by graduate Scott Campbell, Scott attempts to show us in this pixar-like movie that patience really is a virtue... well at least until you find out who's actually testing patience. We've all been through that mental anxiety race of getting somewhere on time while everything else seems to go against you on your time!

It's a great way to look at life through the eyes of a talented animator. After all, patience is being exerted right now if you are reading this review and have yet watched the movie. :-)

Labels: animated, comedy, Patience, Scott Campbell, Shana L., VancouverFilmSchool, VFS

From YouTube.com user: Vancouver Film School

After reviewing a few movies from the graduates of the Vancouver Film School, I stumbled across this animated video and found it to be completely hilarious.

In addition to its comic value, the animation is fantastic and well put together as there are very few words of the english language that are used. However with a comical animated student acting out his story, you totally get the point and can visualize the same imagined senario with one of our own teachers from our previous grade school life (maybe even high school or college).

Well worth a look for it's great visuals and plot line, this two-minute movie is a hit! Watch and imagine folks.

Labels: comedy, Director, Shana L., VancouverFilmSchool, VFS

From YouTube.com user: 3feetup
There's something "Summer of Love" about this sound.
I really like this music. I read some of the comments on this particular song, and I can certainly see the Elvis Costello influence. More than that, if I close my eyes I can see 3FeetUp on a stage in a huge field, playing to a crowd of mellow fans. It's a sound...it's a feeling....and hey--I can understand the lyrics. There is something there, and the sound will trigger different feelings for different listeners. Give it a shot.

Labels: acoustic, feet, live, lounge, music, original, T A Taylor, trash, up

From YouTube.com user: flickerpixanimations

Flickerpix’s Web site (www.flickerpix.com) states, “We place a particular emphasis on creating endearing and memorable characters with universal appeal.” After watching their many videos on YouTube, I would say they succeed.

While you don’t find over-the-top exciting action or intricate, dramatic plots, you can’t help but be amused and entertained by their eccentric characters and the quirky dialogue. And I always find it fascinating to watch popular shows from other countries — kind of a window into a different culture. Flickerpix's work is worth watching on many different levels.

Flickerpixanimations is a top-tier puppetry and animation studio started in 1999 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. These professionals produce high quality TV series and short animated films using clay models that are manipulated and meticulously photographed.

“On the Air” is a ten-part animated series that was done for the BBC. It recreates actual dialogue from callers to a BBC radio show. The host of “On the Air” is the dapper, irreverent, tippling Gerry Anderson. The callers tend to be salt-of-the-earth types with oddball problems for which they are seeking answers.

Episode 1 (above) features a “phone-in” from a farmer with two she-goats that he wants to breed. The caller’s Irish accent is so thick that some words go right past my American ears. The host advises him that you can tell when a she-goat is ready to mate because they “waggle their arse … not too different from a woman.” He then puts the caller in touch with a man who has a stud billy goat.

Episode 3 (below) features a woman calling to thank an earlier caller who had advised her that she could remedy a smelly septic tank by putting something dead in it. She says she got a dead fox by the side of the road, put it in the tank, and now “it smells like roses.”


Another series of clips, “The Hugo Mellon Show,” (below) features a TV talk show with celebrity guests, including Kelly Osbourne, Mick Jagger, and Marilyn Manson. “Watch Ireland's meanest chat show host mercilessly interrogating today’s rock gods and goddesses...” says the lead.

In one episode the host wants to argue with Marilyn Manson about what kind of hat he is wearing. Marilyn finally says, “It’s a bowler hat. Let’s move on.” Hugo replies indignantly, “So it’s Marilyn Manson moving the Hugo Mellon show on now, is it.… It’s no use grimacing at me and expecting me to be afeared, sonny. I’ve dealt with your kind before.”

The characters may be clay puppets but the tension is so real I felt myself tightening up and getting uncomfortable. The episode ends when Hugo mentions Marilyn’s sexuality; Marilyn says “I’ll answer you honestly,” whereupon Hugo abruptly ends the show, leaving the audience hanging.

From YouTube.com user: flickerpixanimations

Labels: flickerpixanimations, Gerry Anderson, Hugo Mellon, Jeff Van Pelt, Marilyn Manson, TV