God

Conveying drama and realistic emotion has never been an easy task as far as 3dmm is concerned, and as a director with experience in the field, I should know how impossibly difficult a job it is. The bottom line with trying to create a 3dmm movie that boasts a distinct sense of heightened drama is that ultimately, it's never going to be pulled off particularly well with a children's animation program that has extremely limited functions.
While a certain amount of control is harnassed over the aesthetics of a 3dmm film, and in the case of Arnøy's God, clearly a lot of control, it is still only a kids computer game, and so should really be analysed bearing that in mind.

In truth, the script was not sensationally written, but did the job in delivering a storyline which seemed only to match in quality. I can hear people screaming at their monitors demanding to know where I can possibly get such self-assured tenacity, being the creator of a movie so heavily slated for it's poor script and plot, and also being the originator of an old string of reviews equal in worth and relevance to a Paris Hilton album. However, after developing in the way that I view 3dmm movies over the past three years, and with this particular movie giving me the edge to try constructive criticism once more, I feel that I can simply take 3dmm movies to be what they are, and break down the cheesy Microsoft façade to expose the director's original concept, and hope that members of the community feel that I finally may have some worth in analysing the work of my peers.

The actual idea behind God is that a man taking charge of a hostage situation in a church, is demanding to talk to the eponymous higher power as the result of his wife's untimely demise. After standard police chatter witnessed outside, and several murders which significantly lower the amount of hostages on the inside of the church, the man gets his wish. Lo and behold, God appears. Arnøy's own personal battle with deciding to cast God as the same 3dmm actor as the main character is felt when watching this scene, because as the idea works in theory, it is sometimes confusing to understand what is happening. This is especially so, as both characters are voiced by the same person. Not at all badly though, as sound and voice are dealt with smartly in the film (even down to a regional Scottish accent) which tie in perfectly with the visuals to wrap up a succinct 8 minutes.

As God and his creation converse, throwing up feelings one may have had when watching similar 3dmm flicks like Devils + Angels, it is difficult to shake off the feeling that Arnøy gave in to some standard clichés involving religion and God's "great plan", but it hardly matters as we're all guilty of them somewhere along the line.

When God strikes a deal with the man to play a glamourised game of spoof in order to determine which being will win their desire, God to have the man erased and the man to discover what happened to his wife, a rather tedious few minutes arise. It is unfortunate in that the gameplay which the viewer witnesses, for a length of time which very much detracts from the mood of the film, is confusing and not entirely necessary. I guess God should have suggested playing a shorter game, because if you lose track of what's happening, you're screwed.

I suppose you could almost say that a small twist concludes the narrative of the movie, employing God's omnipotence and wisdom in a way that the audience aren't quite expecting. Unfortunately though, the finale wraps up what is wholly a very lukewarm experience. I felt as if I was fully submerged in the movie, but wasn't quite getting the thrill which I was anticipating throughout.

For a largely negative review thus far, it is unfair for me finish whilst ignoring the point I opened with in the initial paragraph. Drama is a very difficult genre to dabble in in 3dmm. Arnøy entirely has the potential to create 3dmm movies which reign high in every aspect of quality above other directors, however the aptly titled God, being a movie of spectacular visuals and a plot which strives to be greater than it ends up feeling, slightly misses the mark.

It is known in the community, that Frerick Arnøy is a connoisseur of the stunning visuals which have been referenced throughout this review, and God does not disappoint with regard to this, comprising the best aspect of the film overall. The movie seems to blend an old-school technique in scene structure with cutting-edge detail thanks in part to v3dmm as well as Arnøy's dramatic eye. Camera work only proves to help Fredrick's set construction; seemingly shifting the meticulously designed church and surrounding areas. Stunning aesthetics are what make this movie a definate must-see for 3dmmers, even if the story is a little stale. Arnøy should definately be commended for his work on this film and that isn't debatable, but it looks like someone is yet to make the perfect short movie surrounding a hostage situation, even if the scenery has been made to a high standard.

Again, I should know.

[Fredrick]

Haha wow, using a lot of fancy words there, mister! Had to look some of them up. Thanks for the review man, I realize now that the final sequence may not be as well executed as I had hoped.

(Just for the record, my two next movies won't be dramas)