Borderlands is a Shapeless, Formless Mess | The Backdrop
Added 2024-08-20 14:33:48 +0000 UTCA new episode of The Backdrop is now available!
Comments
That, and the fact Darren Mooney is hands down the best film critic in the Internet and everything he delivers is a gift bestowed upon us <3
David Lobez
2024-08-22 16:21:45 +0000 UTCThat all makes sense. Thanks for clarifying. Agreed in that I like the opportunity for you to explore different topics or just explore different aspects of the same idea with a video versus a written format. Also agreed that Borderlands probably didnt merit two full essays on different topics. Enjoying the quality and quantity of your work. Thanks!
William Alexander
2024-08-21 22:36:03 +0000 UTCYou'd have to find one who watched the movie!
Darren Mooney
2024-08-21 08:56:17 +0000 UTCI think it is!
Darren Mooney
2024-08-21 08:55:55 +0000 UTCIt's also worth noting that "Borderlands" is the kinda subject that I really only have *so much* of an opinion on, if that makes sense? I could probably write two separate pieces on, say, "Alien: Romulus" or "TRAP", but with "Borderlands" I come out and I don't really have a take beyond, "This is very bad, and it's very clear why it's very bad?" But, yeah, there are cases where the videos are transposed from the columns. It happened with "The Caped Crusader" - although I did work hard to expand that video to touch on things that weren't in the column, like the connection to Burton and German Expressionism. Which was, I think, a good use of the visual form - putting Caligari and the Penguin or Conrad Veidt and the Joker side-by-side, comparing the show to Burton to Welles in montage. But, in that case, the bulk of the episode came from a column, and it was a speed thing. The show came out on Thursday, and the video came out on Tuesday, so there wasn't a lot of time for me to contemplate a fresh angle. That said, there are episodes that are much more visual-oriented and completely different from the column - I'm thinking of the "Dune" episode or the Disney remakes episode. I have an idea about the sound design of "Dune: Part Two", and how the visual language of movies is shifting to embrace video game logic, that I'd love to work on when I get the chance. But those are both less timely and more specific. I'd kinda like to edit those personally. Not because I don't think Jesse and Omar couldn't do a bang-up job - I am always blown away by what their work adds to mine, and I think the episodes they work on are the strongest of the show - but because I have a very specific idea of what those videos should look and sound like down to the individual shots in a way that I would (selfishly) personally enjoy putting together myself. And the time I have to devote to editting is less than I would like.
Darren Mooney
2024-08-21 08:54:03 +0000 UTCSometimes we make a video version of one of his columns. This was one of those times.
Nick Calandra
2024-08-20 20:10:54 +0000 UTCWhat's the relationship between this series and Darren's column? Or what is the purpose of each? This felt like it was covering a lot of the same ground. In theory I could see this being in a complimentary way (if you had full access to the shots where just one actor is present, or if you were able to touch on different aspects or themes on the same topic). To me, it felt redundant. If they're supposed to be the same topics how do other people feel about that? Some people may have a preference for either topic. I'd prefer two different written/video essays but have no complaints about Darren's consistent output or the quality of it.
William Alexander
2024-08-20 17:29:07 +0000 UTC"digital necromancy" lol , still don't know what a 12 yo thinks about the movie though
Sven F.
2024-08-20 16:15:53 +0000 UTCThe best way I've heard it put is that it's "explicably bad"
Aaron Von Seggern
2024-08-20 15:13:15 +0000 UTC
