Reviews of Succumb 7

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  A New Scope
  A review of Succumb
  by Masked Mogul on 08/06/2012
  A familiar mix of Star Wars, Steampunk and maybe Firefly? The dialogue certainly came across as an homage to these nerd favourites, cemented by actually whipping the lightsabers out (thankfully not a euphemism). There were plenty of professional shots. The editing allowed for the mood of the piece to grow. Although much of the acting couldn't match it I thought the scope of... A familiar mix of Star Wars, Steampunk and maybe Firefly? The dialogue certainly came across as an homage to these nerd favourites, cemented by actually whipping the lightsabers out (thankfully not a euphemism). There were plenty of professional shots. The editing allowed for the mood of the piece to grow. Although much of the acting couldn't match it I thought the scope of the film was the most impressive. There was clearly no concern for aiming high, as can be seen in the grand use of location, costume and sets, and even a few SFX of largess. Well done. read
• 
  Cain and Abel in space... with lightsabers?
  A review of Succumb
  by Tesssa on 05/18/2012
  For me, this movie proved that high ressources and good technical capability don't necessarily make a good movie. I was very interested reading the synopsis and seeing the first shots of the garden. You showed incredible colors, beautiful settings, strange and interesting artisans at work, etc. The story intrigued me, because if you have the balls to chose such a classic... For me, this movie proved that high ressources and good technical capability don't necessarily make a good movie.
  
  I was very interested reading the synopsis and seeing the first shots of the garden. You showed incredible colors, beautiful settings, strange and interesting artisans at work, etc. The story intrigued me, because if you have the balls to chose such a classic story, you would probably give your own take on it.
  
  The story proved not much different from the very classic Cain and Abel story, with a twist of StarWars added. Lightsabers? With the ressources and people you mobilized, you could have invented a whole new weapon. Being a StarWars fan myself, I could even mark out the scenes in the movies you took the choreography for the swordfight from.
  
  The story also lacked continuity in some parts, which was done much better in other parts. For example, I thought the dialogue of the little kids in the monument gave a very nice sign of things to come. However, the ending took me completely by surprise: the main character and the reverend went from a relatively peaceful sect to village burning child killers. There seemed to be no apparent reason for the sudden change.
  
  Technically the movie was very nice There are only two small comments I would add here: the sound and the chroma key. The sound wasn't synchronized at all times, for example in the beginnning when the reverend talks. The chroma key characters always had a black line arround them, and there were some shots I believe could have been made without chroma key, namely the final shot and the shot in the spacecraft. It would have given both scenes more depth and impact to do them in real environments. One possibility for the spacecraft could have been the chroma key the windows only. However, the spacecraft flying through space was very well done.
  
  As a conclusion, I thought the movie started out very promising, but soon became a space opera solely based on one or two stories very known by the general public without anything novel or inspiring. Technically it was well done, with only a few minor flaws. I would suggest reading books and watching movie, to gain more inspiration and improve on the story. You seem to have all the ressources and skills at hand to make something truely superb. Good luck. read
• 
  Succumb
  A review of Succumb
  by sal333 on 03/26/2012
  This was a very ambitious project. the visuals are for the most part stunning. Very well shot and composed. But the story and the writing were the weak links. The dialogue was on the nose and the acting didn't help. Most of the story was told to us and not shown. The film makers should have spent more time rewriting the story. It made for a very slow and ponderous film... This was a very ambitious project. the visuals are for the most part stunning. Very well shot and composed.
  
  But the story and the writing were the weak links. The dialogue was on the nose and the acting didn't help. Most of the story was told to us and not shown.
  
  The film makers should have spent more time rewriting the story. It made for a very slow and ponderous film. read
• 
  An ambitious film that reaches for icons of the past with a view to the future.
  A review of Succumb
  by MTaylor on 03/09/2012
  Succumb is one of those true indie films that when the credits roll one finds themselves feeling more for the filmmakers than for the story or empathy for the characters within. This is an ambitious work, with sophisticated camera techniques, at times powerful music, sound effects and score, and the occasional sequences of surprising cinematic fluidity, and classic editing... Succumb is one of those true indie films that when the credits roll one finds themselves feeling more for the filmmakers than for the story or empathy for the characters within.
  
  This is an ambitious work, with sophisticated camera techniques, at times powerful music, sound effects and score, and the occasional sequences of surprising cinematic fluidity, and classic editing. Succumb is beautifully photographed and it's instantly apparent, the excitement for, and the care given to, certain locations by the director as when he effortlessly floats his camera in master shots and classic framing.
  
  There is a textuality, shout-outs to the steam punk sci-fi fridge of filmmakers that is, unmistakeable, and fairly well handled. It's an art-directed film that has indeed a vision. Unfortunately, where time, clear effort and skill has been put to good use in terms of 'genre', the film runs short of a greater impact with its story and acting.
  
  It's difficult to travel with the characters in the all important emotional arch since, for this reviewer, it was hard to follow the meaning, expository or otherwise, behind the dialog. Moreover, the acting was stretched (yet the actors clearly committed) so as to make the delivery less than compelling and therefore at times a hard narrative to follow.
  
  Putting aside the trope of a Jedi Knight's sabre battle (though wisely enough the filmmakers sensed a need to change the pace) the jumps in dramatic situation and action did have the sense of some larger story that may unfold. Unfortunately it never does.
  
  The techniques of good filmmaking are all there in Succumb however. And on this groups next endeavour one would hope for a story told that is more down to earth, clear, with boldly stated conflicts, and still strongly rooted in the sci-fi-fantasy genre that the filmmakers of Succumb so clearly enjoy.
  
  Matthew Taylor
  
  
  read
• 
  Looks good, tastes bad...
  A review of Succumb
  by zck2020 on 02/26/2012
  Truly a great deal of effort was put into the making of this film. It certainly shows in the amount of actors, the cool sets, wonderful props, cgi space ships, and the HD film quality. However I'm sad to say it all falls flat on it's face on just a few things: The script. Worst part of the whole thing. It's a shame that the visuals and scale of this film had what looked like... Truly a great deal of effort was put into the making of this film. It certainly shows in the amount of actors, the cool sets, wonderful props, cgi space ships, and the HD film quality. However I'm sad to say it all falls flat on it's face on just a few things:
  
  The script. Worst part of the whole thing. It's a shame that the visuals and scale of this film had what looked like a lot of blood, sweat, and tears poured into it...and none of this quality shows in the dialogue. If a proper script had been written for this, I would probably give it an 8.5/10, but the bad writing coupled with a lazy and formulaic story line drag it down to about a 5/10. It looks like you guys had all these great resources at your disposal and then just wanted to show off your steampunk gear rather than take the time to come up with a good story and plot to go with it. That is the biggest doozy for me, is the writing and plot.
  
  Now there are a few other things that bothered me such as the bad lip-syncing, steam-powered lightsabers (...really?), and the such. But that's just nit-picking at this point.
  
  There are quite a few things I liked about this though. As I said, great visuals, impressive cast size, the camera work wasn't too shabby, editing was okay, and steam punk is always a great theme. I also liked the second language they spoke, added a bit of depth.
  
  Overall I'd have to say I'm mainly just disappointed here in that it appears that you guys had a wonderful well of resources, but it all felt shallow and not used to it's full potential mainly due to the script. Good budget, mediocre output: 5.3/10 read
• 
  a cleric too far
  A review of Succumb
  by stoof on 01/25/2012
  THe cinematography was beautiful, you had some great set designs, from the luscious garden, to the gritty night club with the hard rock artist. The opening shot of the man in the shed working on the gears was incredible. I give you credit you for putting the effort into special effects, but in this situation focusing on a few crucial scenes to perfect the quality would take... THe cinematography was beautiful, you had some great set designs, from the luscious garden, to the gritty night club with the hard rock artist. The opening shot of the man in the shed working on the gears was incredible.
  I give you credit you for putting the effort into special effects, but in this situation focusing on a few crucial scenes to perfect the quality would take this film to new heights. As it is the green screen work was week, some foreground props could help hide some of the green screen issues.
  The "light saber" battle was so disappointing, when the cramera focused on the main character flip his jacket back to uncover his weapon, I was praying that it wasn't going to be a "light saber". It was unnecessary and gave this short a fan film feel.
  The script was decent, it wasn't clear that the two people fighting in the bar were the kids. Personally I felt like the film didn't adequately explain their reason for fighting. read
• 
  A tad delusional
  A review of Succumb
  by grimmfilmservices on 01/11/2012
  You took so much effort to create a new and unfamiliar environment, I couldn't believe it when the light sabres came out. (BTW your special effects person missed the bad guy's handle being lit up at the end of fight.) I'm pretty sure this film is going to be bounced from this site because it's too long, but the rest of my coments are what I wrote down as I watched. The dialogue... You took so much effort to create a new and unfamiliar environment, I couldn't believe it when the light sabres came out. (BTW your special effects person missed the bad guy's handle being lit up at the end of fight.)
  
  I'm pretty sure this film is going to be bounced from this site because it's too long, but the rest of my coments are what I wrote down as I watched.
  
  The dialogue seems cheesy and too on the nose. Clerics, passion, dark works? All too much to remember before I had a reason to care. The unfamiliar language needs subtitles. Six and a half minutes in and I have no idea what kind of danger these people are really in. The production value was surprisingly high. (the spaceships & green screen were pretty good) How are the dark works people bad? Because they listen to music in a bar? What's everybody fighting over? Resources? Relationships? The laser gun part was pretty weak.
  
  When I saw the word "steampunk" in the credits, I imagined a bunch of renaissance enthusiasts putting this piece together. I do like sci-fi, but I'm guessing this film might play better in those circles.
  
  Hopefully you can chock this up as a good learning experience as it seems you have access to above average filmmaking resources. I'd work more on character developmnet for the next one.
  
  Sincerely read