Blog Archives
What’s Wrong With The Nostalgia Critic’s Recent ‘Reviews’?
So, I just got finished watching the most recent episode of the Nostalgia Critic, wherein he talked about Mad Max: Fury Road. For the most part, I really liked it. Sure, I find myself using the term ‘review’ somewhat loosely, but I still liked it. But, when I scrolled down to the comments section, I couldn’t help but see comment after comment talking about how much it sucked strictly because of that fact: That there’s no footage of the movie present, that it’s just Doug Walker and his friends acting out scenes, and that this is now the third time he’s done this instead of his usual style of reviewing movies. It just feels like a lot of people are reacting negatively to these kinds of videos, and want to see more of the kind they originally liked. And, after thinking about it for a bit, I think I know how best to respond to this.
…I don’t have a joke or reason for this, I just really like this picture. XD
Now, first off, I should admit that me and the people who dislike these videos are probably getting off on the wrong foot right away. Why? Because at least a few complaints I’ve seen about these videos compare them in a negative fashion to another show that Doug did for a while called Demo Reel. The problem is…I really liked Demo Reel. Like, a lot. I was really sad when I found out he was discontinuing the series, and more than a little concerned when I found out he was bringing back the Nostalgia Critic. But, after finding out that Malcolm and Rachel were gonna be sticking around, and after seeing a few episodes of the new Nostalgia Critic, I mellowed out a bit… … …Unfortunately, for the same reasons I calmed down, a lot of people seemingly lost their fucking minds, ranting about how different the show was now with them acting out skits and showing Critic on adventures. Hell, I remember one episode where he made a joke about fan comments and complaints regarding the fact that the wall behind him was a different colour. I don’t know if that was actually a thing or not, but it honest to God would not shock me in the slightest if it was. And as for the skits…do you even remember the pre-To Boldly Flee episodes of the Nostalgia Critic? He did skits all the time back then, too. The only differences are that, aside from Rob and the occasional fellow reviewer or friend he could get into the video, he did them by himself, and they were usually a little bit shorter. So really, the only reason people complain about them is because they’re more apparent to your eye and your mind.
With that said, it occurs to me that likely a big part of the reason people don’t like the episodes talking about Jurassic World, Pixels, and now Fury Road is simply because they’re different from what they’re used to. However, here’s where I think you’re being unfair: After so many years of doing the same thing over and over, where videos can be taken down for the slightest thing, what did you think was going to happen? Of course things changed. They had to in order for the show to survive. Really, think back to the first episode of the show. Not the Transformers one, mind you, since that was more him fangasming over the movie, but his review of Cartoon All-Stars. Imagine him in that room, in those clothes, on that camera, in that level of quality, and the exact tones of voice used for EIGHT YEARS. You’d probably be sick to death of it within four years. And even if you weren’t, there’s one other reason it wouldn’t continue to survive.
Look, let’s just call a spade a spade: YouTube’s copyright claim system is inherently broken and easily exploited, which you can learn more about HERE. This has been a problem practically since day one of the show, and is the reason why it and so many other internet reviewers moved their content to Blip. Unfortunately, Blip shut down this year, and it was something a lot of people knew was coming, so they had to either move to less user-friendly sites or back to YouTube. And even if YouTube’s system wasn’t the problem, let’s again be honest with ourselves: Hollywood, for the most part, does not give a damn about free use. They and others have pulled videos featuring content they created, regardless of if the video was bashing their work or praising it. Hell, it’s a known fact that videos by internet reviewers, even negative ones, have increased the rate in which certain movies, TV shows, video games, comics, and so on have been sought after and viewed/played/read/etc., but that has not been enough to convince some people. That’s why Jurassic World, Pixels, and Fury Road didn’t have any footage from the movies present, and why I wouldn’t be surprised if more of the Nostalgia Critic’s reviews might end up taking on this style.
So, where does that leave us? Well, unfortunately for the people who dislike recent Nostalgia Critic videos, I don’t think you’re gonna like what’s to come. I’m sorry, and I sincerely I wish there was a way to make this easier for you all, because of course many of us tend to react to change negatively. We all want things to stay the same, and oftentimes become nostalgic for how things were before. People can make arguments for how or why that is, but it’s pretty clear that most, if not all, of us tend to behave in such a manner, and nowhere is that more evident than on the internet. At the same time, though, you have to understand why these changes happen, and try to at least give things a chance to turn you around on how it is. And, if you’re not convinced by the end, then maybe it’s time for you to move on and find something else to be passionate about.
…Because CHANGE. lol
And yes, before anyone brings it up, of course I’ve complained about stuff changing before. There’s proof of that right here on my blog in my various rants about comics. However, I like to think that I at least TRY to give change a chance, and a lot of the changes I’ve done angry rants about were in regards to things that conflicted with my views of right and wrong, like the Amazons in Wonder Woman being changed into rapists and child traders. One example of a change I was unwilling to give much of a chance to, though, is the whole Jim Gordon-becoming-Batman scenario. And yeah, you can make the argument that doing so was a bit childish of me, but I at least gave my reasons for why I didn’t like the idea and moved on, rather than sticking with it and ranting about it 24/7. Really, the only time I got angry about the arrangement was when I uncovered a massive plot hole in the story, and found out about some of the stuff Alfred was doing, which FYI has actually gotten WORSE if you can believe it, but I digress. The point is, while this blog is called Jyger’s Rant, I don’t necessarily want to only bitch and complain about stuff I don’t like ALL THE TIME, and I understand that some people actually DO like this storyline. I may not understand how or why, but I don’t necessarily wanna rain on their parade either. So, in the end, all I can ask is that the people going through the same thing with the Nostalgia Critic keep that in mind, that even if you don’t like the recent episodes, others do. Also, for those on the opposite side of the fence, remember that not everybody voicing their negative opinions are necessarily doing it to troll you or anyone else, and try not to get into heated debates and arguments over it. It may be a fine line on the internet between voicing opinions and arguing, but it’s nonetheless a line we can all choose to cross or not cross.
Anyway, those are my thoughts on the matter. Have a counterpoint to all of this, or anything else you’d like to add? Lemme know in the comments below…just, try not to get too aggressive with one another. Ja né!
THE GLITCH LIVES – The Original Pokémon Glitch Is Back, WITH A VENGEANCE
Beneath the seas, beside the flames
Off the coast, where the lost beast came
To bring the world misery and shame
A piece of the world is Missing.
The path you should have never crossed,
The Beast exacts a heavy cost,
The number of the Beast is lost,
You will know it by its hissing.
The bones from hell you cannot tame,
Devour your life and all your fame,
That is the price to play its game,
And all while you’re reminiscing.
The poem you have just read was created for the popular web series and comic book review show (that I could not shut up about to save my life), Atop The Fourth Wall. In the series, the main character, Linkara, learns of an Outer God called The Entity that has infected the world, even making people disappear as they are absorbed into its being. What he later discovers is that The Entity is actually MissingNo., a glitch in the original Pokémon games, that became an Outer God in an alternate universe. In reality, MissingNo., or Missing Number, is just a glitch in the old games that was rumoured to be something of a game-breaker if encountered and captured. There’s conflicting information on just what it can and can’t do, and just how it works, but I suggest you look it up on Bulbapedia. It explains a lot better than I can.
Well, recently, there was a bug discovered in the Pokémon X & Y games, located in Lumiose City, also believed to be a game-breaker. It was apparently dealt with…However, recent images have revealed THIS!
MissingNo. in Lumiose City
…So yeah, MissingNo. is back, apparently with a vengeance…I can’t wait for Lewis Lovhaug to hear about this on Twitter. I know I’ve already tweeted him, but I’d be willing to bet he’s gotten at least a couple dozen others. Knowing my luck, he’ll integrate it into the story on his show to bring The Entity back…and I still haven’t gotten the horrifying scream The Entity let loose when it died the first time outta my head!
…Anyway, discuss, feel free to share your own MissingNo. stories. For now, I’m just gonna go hide under blankets with a Poké Ball in one hand and a Lightsaber in the other…Ja né!
Related articles
- How to avoid Pokemon X / Y’s save glitch in Lumiose City (joystiq.com)
- Holy Crap. Has The Famous Glitch, Missingno, Returned In Pokémon X & Y? (kotaku.com)
- MissingNo: The Most Influential Video Game Glitch (knowledgepod.wordpress.com)
- Pokemon: 5 nostalgic memories from Pokemon Red and Blue (o.canada.com)
- Thoughts on Pokémon X (chrisgeorgegamedesign.com)
- Pokemon X short game review (hjwbarberablogs.wordpress.com)
- Pokémon X and Y Review – Among the Very Best (technobuffalo.com)
- Pokemon X & Y Review (goodkindofgeek.com)
- Pokémon X & Y bug breaks saves, is triggered in Lumiose City – report (vg247.com)
- The Pokemon X and Y Lumiose glitch, and a potential fix (destructoid.com)
Lewis Lovhaug’s Funniest Moments Vol 2
Well, since we’re coming up on the 5 Year Anniversary of Atop The Fourth Wall, I thought I’d post some more of my favourite moments from the star himself. This is Lewis Lovhaug’s Funniest Moments Vol 2.
Footage belongs to AT4W and Channel Awesome. Music is The Ballad of Linkara by Vincent E.L.
Related articles
- The Dawn of the Funny Critics (twainstudios.com)
- Heroes and Villian (halftangible.wordpress.com)
- How I would have defeated the Entity (rtgomer.com)
- Here’s What Maker Studios Is Going To Do With Blip (tubefilter.com)
- News About Youtube. (luketheblog.wordpress.com)
- 3 Ways to Change a Bad Attitude on a Run (myownrunningstory.wordpress.com)
- My Top 5 Youtubers List (violetliicious.wordpress.com)
- “Andy’s Awesome Adventures” YouTube Travel Channel Celebrates One Year Anniversary with 100th Video-Seen in 130 Countries (prweb.com)
- Some People Are Good (inkends.wordpress.com)
- Internet Stars and Series to Watch 3: WeeklyTubeShow 2 and ¨Dub of the North Star¨ (streetwriteralfa2.wordpress.com)
Linkara Headed To Florida For Convention, This Will Not End Well (NOTE – CONTAINS A FICTIONALIZED NEWS ARTICLE)
So apparently, Linkara is headed to Orlando for a convention called Mythicon. This should prove to be quite the event, and as always, I look forward to seeing what comic he decided to review for the live show. But as we were reading this, PinkRangerWannabe and I decided “Wait, wait, there’s a joke to be made here”. And I tweeted most of what we came up with, but I realized a ways in that it was simply too much for a series of tweets to contain, so instead I decided to write it up here. So, while this is a parody of a news article, and therefore you do not have to do this for realsies, kindly imagine yourself downing headache medication, as we we open up the fictional file of…
So let’s get right to the headline that I would piss myself laughing if I found myself reading it…
Tourist Is Arrested After Punching Out Police Officer, Witnesses Claim He Said “You Might Be The Law…BUT I AM A MAN!”
“Orlando police responded to a disturbance at a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant located on Colonial Drive, apparently started by a tourist from Minnesota who had traveled down to Orlando for the upcoming Mythicon convention. The accused was said to have been demanding free chicken tenders after a teenager working in the kitchen got his order wrong. A yelling match and a fist fight lead to an employee calling the police. The man is said to have been threatening to unleash an army of Cybermats, a fictional insect-like cyborg from the popular British television series, Doctor Who. Said Cybermats turned out to be plushies, which the Minnesotan made himself, that several women on the force have decided to ‘confiscate’.”
Oh wait, people, it gets better. “The man was apprehended and taken into custody, but became violent again after kicking over a lamp at the OPD. When asked why he did this, he proceeded to simply grumble to himself about the shape and colouring of said lamp, and refused to comment further. After failed attempts at questioning him, the Minnesotan was placed in a jail cell, following a phone call and a request for reading material. 4 hours later, a man who looked surprisingly similar to the arrested man arrived to provide bail, but had to be detained as well because he had brought a tommy gun into the police department. Both men were forced to remain at the OPD until the next morning, when they were bailed out by the first man’s mother and what appeared to be a blue robot made out of cardboard.”
…Yeah, Lewis is gonna murder me for this one. XD Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this first ever fictionalized Tale of Dumbassery, and lemme know if this is something I should ever try again. Ja né!
Some Channel Awesome Related News – Linkara Says “Please Let Ads Play”, Welshy Leaves Internet
So there’s been some news related to TGWTG and Channel Awesome, so I thought I’d give my two cents on them both. First up, let’s talk about an issue that’s come up with Lewis Lovhaug, AKA Linkara, and a number of people who post on Blip. If any of these people mean anything to you, PLEASE watch the video.
…Yeah, first off, I’d just like to thank Lewis for basically saying the same thing I’ve been saying to people who complain about ads in videos. Guys, most ads are what, 30 seconds? Sure, maybe you’ll come across one of those really obnoxious ones that’s like three minutes long, but seriously, you could just mute it and read a comic or something. It’s still LEAGUES better than what we have to deal with on TV. Deal with it. Second, as I brought up on Tumblr, was definitely a good idea of Lewis to post this video on YouTube. While I get that he has his reasons for not posting his videos on YouTube and respect his decision to not do so, messages like this definitely work well by being posted there. They reach a wider audience. The other thing I’d like to note is that, while I don’t have a PayPal account, you can be sure that when I get one, the DVD will likely be among the first things I use it for, and I encourage others to do the same.
The second thing I’d like to talk about is that Welshy recently noted on his Tumblr that he will be leaving TGWTG, as well as the entire flipping internet entirely. He didn’t really wanna talk about why, but some of us already know and understand why it would be necessary for him. Now, this is admittedly kind of awkward for me to comment on as I was never really a big fan of Welshy’s work. However, I do understand his contributions to the site, and I most certainly understand why this is a big loss for them, especially considering that a number of people have left within the past few months (Spoony, Iron Liz, PushingUpRoses, and JewWario). I will say though that this could be an opportunity for other internet reviewers to possibly get in, like SF Debris or Confused Matthew. Still, big shoes to fill.
Anyway, that’s all I really wanted to talk about. Leave your comments below, and I’ll see y’all later. Ja né!
Vlog – I Have Enhanced Status…WTF?!?!
…I think I’m gonna faint. O_O
Okay, so to everybody that made this possible, I cannot express my thanks enough. I am COMPLETELY overwhelmed by all of this, it’s INSANE. I have so many people to thank, and I know I thanked you already on Twitter, but I’m going through it again. lol I want to thank Lewis Lovhaug for being such a HUGE inspiration to me. I want to thank the greatest woman in the world, my beautiful new girlfriend Teagan, for being such a positive influence on me this past month, I love you so much. I wanna thank PinkRangerWannabe, so-shipsahoy, GracefulWitch, and so many more for helping me with this however I needed it, you guys rock. I of course have to thank N.Harmonik for being a great co-star wherever possible and putting up with my bullshit off-screen, and I gotta thank my Mom for filming that bit where I had the Turbo cassette “run over”. I also gotta thank Annetto for letting me be a co-host on her show, however brief I lasted, and giving me some much-needed confidence AND for introducing me to Teagan.
So in short, to EVERYBODY that watched my show, helped get it going, whatever, I owe this ALL to you, thank you all very much, but I’ll tell ya this: My name is Jyger85, and you ain’t seen nothin’ yet, baby! Ja né!
MY 100th POST! Lewis Lovhaug’s Funniest Moments
Yay! 100 posts on my blog! And to commemorate the occasion, here is a compilation of some of my favourite funny moments of Lewis J. Lovhaug’s, AKA Linkara…….What, you were expecting something else? C’mon, you know how much of a cheap plug whore I am. XD
Footage of course belongs to AT4W, The Spoony Experiment, and Cinema Snob. Music is the Gunslinger theme by Vincent E.L.
Thank you all for joining me on this. Hopefully in the future there’ll be more TGWTG related goodness, more comic book, video game, and anime rants, and with any luck, I should be getting by show back on its feet one of these days. Ja ne!
I Don’t Believe There’s Such A Thing As A Bad Story Concept In Comics
You know, after having watched Atop The Fourth Wall for as long as I have and having read a few bad comics myself, I wanna share some insight that I’ve developed: For all the REALLY bad comics out there, I truly believe the concepts behind the stories they are trying to tell could still work if handled CORRECTLY. I really don’t think that I could ever truly say that a story concept is bad. Weird, bizarre, out there, difficult to convey, dark, grim, sad, sure I’d say those, but none of those make a concept bad, because while they can be one of or even several of those things, if the concept still has the potential to WORK, if isn’t BAD.
Amazons Attack
I’ll avoid going into too much detail about this, since the worst comics in the world have already been touched on by Linkara, and he has already gone into detail about how most of the concepts could have been done right and in much better fashion than I probably would be capable of doing. However, I will say that the reason they fail almost always has to do with one thing: the execution. The means by which the concept was conveyed. And the reason the execution fails is usually different. Sometimes the writer’s a hack, sometimes the editors get too involved and mess it all up, and sometimes the concept is simply misinterpreted and shit happens. But I don’t think that’s the fault of the concept.
Red Hood and the Outlaws
I will give one example: The one comic I tend to bitch and moan the most about is Red Hood and the Outlaws. I’ve already said this before, but having Starfire lose her memories of her time on Earth and of her time with the Titans and then teaming up with Jason Todd and Roy Harper does make for an intriguing story. Also, having Jason trying to put his past with Batman and Joker behind him and move on with his new life could potentially work. Having Roy Harper, AKA Speedy, AKA Red Arrow, AKA Arsenal, joining a new group and finding himself genuinely caring for his new comrades and accepting them as his friends and having some happiness after the crap he’s endured makes for a good concept. Where it got screwed up is that Kori was made an uninterested-in-humanity whore, Jason was made part of a super secret organization (which is really only bad because there’s like a dozen of them in the New 52) and most of Roy’s history (the loss of his arm and the existence of his daughter Lian) were wiped away. If they had just stuck with those first three concepts, we would’ve had a much better comic. Maybe not one everyone would love, but still way better than what we got.
Countdown
But anyway, that’s my take on comic book concepts. Comment as you like, and feel free to disagree with me if you want. Just don’t make it an argument, and please give facts to your case. That’s all I ask. Ja ne!
Related articles
- 90th Blog Post! More Roster Contemplations for JLA Fanfic + Red Hood and the Outlaws Rant (jygersrant.wordpress.com)
Jyger's Rant 
The Semi-Final Frontier Commentary + Thanks Doug Vlog
Sep 22
Posted by Jyger85
My first review commentary as I talk about the behind-the-scenes crap that went down in the making of this review and some additional thoughts I had on the episode itself and just why it angered me so.
Also, and I don’t know how I forgot to post this here, but here is a vlog containing my immediate thoughts following the official statement regarding the Nostalgia Critic and the future of TGWTG. I apologise if I come off as a bit over-dramatic here. lol
Posted in Jyger's Rant - The Series, Vlogs
Leave a comment
Tags: Commentary, Doug Walker, nostalgia, Nostalgia Critic, Pokémon, TGWTG, Thanks Doug, That Guy with the Glasses, The Semi-Final Frontier, Video blogging, Vlog