Look, Ma, More Vids! (Part Three)

[thefourthvine]

The sad part is, I'm still not done. But this is part three of the Insane Vid Recs Project (no, I did not pick January for this just because of all the Insane January Vidding Projects going around; it's just a happy, crazy coincidence). Feel free to truck on back to parts two and one. You will particularly want to read the explanation of why you should not be taking my vid advice, which is back in the first one. (Short answer: I have no idea what I'm talking about. But I'm enthusiastic. Which unfortunately doesn't really make up for my total lack of any kind of, you know, actual vidding knowledge.)

Before we begin, though, another community rec. You (and, yes, I do mean you specifically) should check out vidder_weekly, a new all-fandoms vidding newsletter that seems to be working like a combination of the standard fandom newsletter - all the vids your bandwidth can handle! - and metafandom, but with just vidding meta. (Yes, there is vidding meta, and the skilled LJer with pretty much infinite time and a mouse finger made of steel and coiled springs can find it on her own. For the rest of us, though, it's nice to have the summary.)

Lord of the Rings

The Vid I Love Even Though the First Time I Watched It I Managed to Screw up So Badly That the Audio and Video Tracks Weren't Synched. I Could Still Tell It Was Good - Seriously, That's How Good It Is. But I Really Loved It After I Fixed My Little Configuration Issue, Let Me Tell You. Desperation Song, by Wolfling, aka wolfling, and Magpie, aka mogigraphia.

Availability: All the time; scroll down until you see it. Also, that thing about emailing Wolfling for the better-quality version of the vid? Do that. The bigger one is gorgeous and wonderful and just so, so much better. Definitely worth the time to drop Wolfling a line. (There's no qualifying test or anything, either; she just emails you the link. I feared some kind of, I don't know, trivia question, or maybe a close examination on the condition of my soul. But, no, turns out not. Which, given my soul, is just as well.)

Sometimes I watch vids and think, "Oh, that song would work in any fandom." Sometimes I think, "Um, vidder? Why did you pick this song for this fandom?" (This is actually a fairly frequent occurrence in LotR vids; I tend to think of this as the Fandom of Inappropriate Song Choices.) But sometimes my thoughts are more along the lines of, "Oh my god so perfect." This is one of those cases; this vid inextricably welded Desperation Song to Lord of the Rings in my mind. (To the point where I have to make a serious mental adjustment when someone uses it in another fandom. I always spend the first thirty seconds going, "But, but, but! Where's Gandalf?") It's just - well, not to belabor a word or anything, but - perfect. If you're not familiar with the song, just consider the title alone. Desperation is pretty much the key note of the entire trilogy - well, that and friendship. (I know. I know. But we're just ignoring the slash for the moment. I realize this is a revolutionary concept coming from me, so feel free to take a moment to wrap your mind around it.) The strength of the trilogy really is the relationships between the characters, and that's what this is about. Plus, you know, havoc, destruction, swords, and rings. Which is also a big part of the trilogy. Look, this is pathetic; I'm on the verge of saying "general-interest vid," which is the lamest term ever, because I can't think of another way to say "like the movies, only shorter." Just - go. Watch. And I'll stay here and contemplate my inadequate vocabulary.

The Vid That Gives Me Extremely Unfortunate AU Ideas. I Mean, Ideas Even Worse Than the One Where Sheppard Is Aragorn and McKay Is Gandalf and Ford Is Frodo and There Is No Sex of Any Kind. I Alone, by Jenn Miller, aka zeromuchjenn.

Availability: All the time.

I have a confession. I love the One Ring. I mean, yes, I know it has, like, a seriously evil, soul-sucking, menacing menace of Menaceville thing going on, but that is why I love it. So small! So pretty! So round and helpless! Except for the way it is totally, totally not. It rises above its handicaps to achieve serious fucking scariness. You have to admire that. Or I do. (My unfortunate AU idea involves re-writing LotR as a tragedy: the plucky little ring overcoming long odds as it desperately works its way back to its one true love, only to have defeat snatched from the jaws of victory by various people who are either much too dirty or much too pretty to be at all trustworthy.) So I have a special folder of vids that pay tribute to the almighty One Ring (we will not at this time discuss the other folder, the one with Ring pairing vids, because really my Ring fixation is already shameful enough), and this is, I think, my favorite. I mean, seriously: who could hear the words "I alone love you, I alone tempt you, fear is not the end of this" and not think One Ring? Okay, possibly the songwriter had something else in mind. But I can't see what. It is the Ring! To the life! And its unhealthy relationships with a wide variety of people! Go watch. And admire the One Ring That Could.

The Vid That Starts with Elvish Titles. It Is the Coolest Thing Ever, and, Um. Did I Just Make My Total Pathetic Geekhood Irrevocably Obvious There? Disappearing Man, by Melina, aka melina123, and Jo, aka feochadn. (Sorry, Jo!)

Availability: All the time - scroll down to the LotR section. And if you're going to download all the vids in this post, which I obviously recommend, then keep this page open.

Melina makes gorgeous Lord of the Rings vids. I don't want to devolve into third-rate movie reviewer language here, but, seriously, lyrical is one of the few words I can think of that really describes them. She has a wonderful way of matching movement to music, and of making seamless clips and edits - I can't describe it (well, obviously), and I sure don't know what she's doing, but her vids give me a palpable sensation of being moved through a story the same way I am when read: I don't notice my eyes moving, I don't notice the physical progression, but the movement is there, and the story just flows along with it. For someone as non-visual as I am, that is a rare and wonderful thing. And although I adore every one of her vids and fully intend to rec them all (if you're going to be downloading them now, let me warn you that I cannot even stand to watch "When I Go" right now, because it is somehow even sadder than the Boromir portions of the actual movies), I think this one may be my favorite of hers. I love the way it focuses on just one piece of the trilogy; it's the story of Aragorn, Arwen, Eowyn, and Faramir, and somehow it's a much more moving, coherent tale when it's presented on its own like this. The vid acts as, like, a magnifying glass, turning these three romance arcs into one complete, full story. And in that, Melina does one better than either Tolkien or Peter Jackson, and I love her for it.

(Side note: does anyone have a copy of this song? It's Disappearing Man, by Dave Carter and Tracey Grammer. Please?) Got it, thanks!

Highlander

The Vid That Probably Makes Best Beloved Somewhat Nervous These Days. Don't Mind Me, by Killa, aka killabeez.

Availability: All the time. Scroll down to the Highlander section. And don't close the page yet. We're not finished.

Killa has a gift, and she uses it for evil. Specifically, she uses it for bending people to her every whim. I just - seriously. Watch her vids and you will develop an interest in her fandoms totally against your will. All her Highlander vids are excellent, but this one is a special favorite of mine, because it is the archetypal slash vid. This - this is how vidders force us to switch our stance on a given pairing from "really, really not interested" to "OTP of great and lasting permanentness, and death to she who violates it in any way." Although, in all honesty, I should warn you that I am perhaps not 100% normal on these things, because, okay, see. I was discussing with Best Beloved which HL vid I'd be recommending, and we had the following conversation:

Me: Oh, Don't Mind Me! That's such a fabulous vid! And it has the best clipping and song lyric choice ever for my favorite Methos/Duncan slashy moment. [Note: Going, um. Solely on vids, of course. There may be better slash moments in the actual canon.]
BB: Oh, the thing where Methos looks like he's going to come from having Duncan's [hee!] sword at his throat?
Me: That's a great moment, but no.
BB: The nose-painting thing? Is that in there?
Me: Partly, and no. Although, again, fine and excellent bit.
BB, making a face of thoughtfulness: One of the [nine million] times Methos obviously checks Duncan out? [Best Beloved is not kidding, here. There are many, many shots in which Methos might just as well be saying, "Oh, to hell with this whole swordfighting thing. Let's spend the rest of eternity fucking. Starting right now, you big lug, you." Often there is a pause in the middle while he inspects something roughly at the level of Duncan's waist. His sword, probably.]
Me, in a tone of voice that may have been, in retrospect, perhaps just the teeniest bit too sincere: No! It's the scene where Methos shoots Duncan.
BB: *surprised face*
Me: It's just very...see, and then he shoots him, and it's just...okay. I think it's a sign of true love.
BB: *look of transfixed horror combined with a kind of "How did I get myself hooked up with this person?" expression*
Me, muttering defiantly: I don't care. It is a wonderful and slashy scene. It is.
BB: *departs, presumably to search the house for guns*

So, you know, obviously I'm not right in the head. But I love the way Killa uses that bit in this one. I also love her other editorial choices, here. Truly, this should be required viewing for all aspiring slash vidders. And Highlander deniers. And also everyone else. (And don't miss the shooting scene, people! It's very romantic! Really!)

(Side note: I also would be delighted if anyone had a copy of this one. Don't Mind Me, by Lucy Kaplansky.) Thanks!

Star Trek

The Vid That Is So Wrong It's Right. Seriously. If You Came up with This Vid, You'd Sedate Yourself, and You Would Be Right to Do So. But Somehow It Works As Few Things Have Ever Worked. It Is One of the Great Mysteries of Vidkind. Closer, by Killa, aka killabeez, and T. Jonesy. Does anyone know if she has a LiveJournal or something?

Availability: All the time. As you might expect, you can find this one in the Star Trek section. And that's it for that page, so you can close it now. Although there are many other excellent vids there. For the record.

I'm hoping every single person out there has already seen this. If you have not, do not read further. Go download and watch this right now. Go. The link is up there, and you will not regret it, and do not give me any crap about how you don't like Star Trek, or you don't know Star Trek, or you can't tell a Klingon from a...whatever the other thing is. (No, really. Don't even try. I had to look up how to spell Klingon and I love this vid.) Spock's the taller, slightly slumpy one who wears too much eyeshadow, and Kirk is the shorter, yellower one, and that's all you need to know. Go on. You will enjoy this even more if you are unspoiled; I was, and I can still taste the shock and joy.

Okay. So now everyone has seen this, yes? So I am spoiling nothing when I say that this is an example of two of my favorite vid genres. First, we have the "There's no rational way that could work in this fandom, and yet somehow..." genre, which applies to everything in this vid, from song choice to concept to the sepia tone. Sepia! In science fiction! No. Except, oh my god yes. And then we have the "changing the meaning and tone of the canon completely" thing, which, again, yes. I just - I really like that, okay? I love that someone can take source that is (Am I allowed to say this? Will it instigate a riot?) a wee bit cheesy (And, look. If you are going for the pitchforks and torches right now, keep in mind that I've just seen the one episode, and it was from early in the first season, so maybe later on they got a production budget. Also, I'm entirely willing to grant that that woman's hair probably looked cooler in the 1960s. And, you know, the writing - which was basically fan fiction, minus the actual sex-orgy-angst - made it well worth the overexposure to aluminum foil.) and turn it into - well, this. I mean, Jesus Christ. Spock does things to Kirk that I am quite certain he never did in the canon, and yet I could almost swear they show it in the vid. (I know they didn't. But I still think of this vid as the one with the non-con buttsex, which shows how suggestive really effective cutting and song choice can be.)

Ocean's 11

The Vid That Makes It Very Clear That Rusty Needs Only One Thing, by Which I Mean Only One Person, and No, That Is Not Just My Personal Bias Speaking. Or It Might Be, but If It Is, Don't Tell Me. Let Me Stay in My Happy Place, Okay? Tumbling Dice, by Gwyneth, aka gwyn_r.

Availability: All the time. You will need to email Gwyn for a password. It's worth it, I promise. And she has many excellent vids, including one I hope to be recommending very soon, so, really, you might as well get the password now.

The thing about Ocean's 11 that is very hard to address in fan fiction is the, um, feel of the movie. I don't really know how else to describe it. (Actually, this is something that's true in lots of fandoms; the vids convey the feel of the canon better than the FF can. It's one of the many reasons why I strongly advocate vid watching for those of us who may never see the canon even though we read a lot of the FF.) And for me, Ocean's 11 feels - retro. Not, like, old-fashioned, but deliberately, intensely retro. (It could just be Rusty's shirts, which are an education in the shinier periods in the history of men's fashion, but I don't think so. It's the lighting. And, um, stuff.) And I really like it when vids acknowledge that or play with it, which is exactly what this one does, from the font of the credits through the nifty sliding-screen thingy (um, I don't know the term for it, but when the screen slides to change clips, that's what I'm talking about) to the music. (And oh my god. I just watched this vid for the nth time to find out what the music was, and it's the Rolling Stones. Thank god I checked that before I used the phrase "vaguely country, vaguely funky music," as I am pretty sure that's not an appropriate way to describe, you know, these guys. Who I have nearly forgiven for being my mother's favorite band. I'm working on it, anyway.) And this vid focuses on my own personal favorite aspect of Ocean's 11, which, um - did I need to tell anyone that that was the pairing? No. Okay. I love the way Gwyn captures just about every eyefuck and do-me-do-me-now look between Danny and Rusty and then backs them up with the music in such a way that, to me, Rusty seems to be asking Danny to roll him. And I could give you other reasons for watching this vid, but after that, do you need them? I mean, loads of retro + scads of sexual tension = Ocean's 11 to the life + very compelling reason to watch this vid. An equation of sheer sexy joy!

The Vid That Will Remind You of That One Time (Surely It Was Just the One Time, Right?) When You Took Some Moderately Illicit Chemicals. Do Not Adjust Your Monitor. It's the Vidder Who Is on Speed, Not You. Would You?, by Shalott, aka astolat.

Availability: All the time. Scroll on down.

Okay, let's get the disclaimer portion of this out of the first, shall we? See, I have, um, beliefs about Ocean's 11. The movie, I mean. Like, to me the whole caper seems basically like Danny's sorry-gift to Rusty. Sort of like flowers, except instead it's the vault of three casinos. And because of the way this vid starts out and the song it uses, I tend to see it as supporting my point of view. Extensively. But I am not, you know, totally biased; I can also see the vid Shalott actually did make in here. It's a general interest vid! (Yes, my vocabulary is still inadequate. Someone want to give me a Vidding Word a Day desk calendar?) And shiny! And it uses a song that is just perfectly suited to the source, what with the retro and sort of, um, brassy sound. (Seriously. I need that calendar.) And also there's the whacked-out thing with speed (not the drug, the, um, passage of time thing) that Shalott did. I mean, who makes a vid where most of the shots are speeded way, way up? Well, Shalott, apparently. And it works; this is another one that feels just like the movie. The pacing matches, somehow. That's pretty much what Ocean's 11 was - a lot of shiny stuff going by really really fast so that no one would, um, think about it too closely, and then everything slowing way, way down when two people looked at each other. (Like, for example, Danny and Rusty. Not that it was only them! No! I understand that it was everyone, that the glory of a movie like this isn't the plot but the people and how they work and play together. All the people. Not just, you know, two guys who happened to have enough sexual chemistry that they required their own OSHA regulations.) So this is one of those vidding concepts that would never work on paper but that works wonderfully in practice. You want this vid. Almost as much as Danny and Rusty want each other.

Comments

[runpunkrun]

Me: It's just very...see, and then he shoots him, and it's just...okay. I think it's a sign of true love.

See, the Best Beloveds of the world can listen to us talk about fanfic and fandom until our tape runs out, but they will never truly understand just how twisted up we are over these tiny people who live in our TVs. Now, I've never seen a shred of Highlander, but I still count the bit where Scully shoots Mulder in order to keep him from killing Krycek in a drug-fueled rage to be one of the shippiest moments in The X-Files. It IS a sign of true love.

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

Yes! Because, see, Methos looks at Duncan like he's thinking, "Oh, you idiot" - but fondly! fondly, mind you! - and then shoots him. It's very, very wonderful. Shooting someone for the right reason is clearly a sign of true love, and I am extremely glad I am not alone in seeing this.

I've never seen a shred of Highlander...

Me neither, if you mean the real show. But download the vid! You will see the love inherent in the shooting! Also the swordfighting (which might as well be labeled: "Hello, my name is EXTENDED METAPHOR FOR SEX") and stuff.

...but I still count the bit where Scully shoots Mulder in order to keep him from killing Krycek in a drug-fueled rage to be one of the shippiest moments in The X-Files. It IS a sign of true love.

I find myself strangely interested in The X-Files now. For some reason.

Hmmm.

[tangleofthorns.livejournal.com]

*refrains from writing you a short essay on the subject of "Tumbling Dice" in particular and the Stones' musical influences in general.*

[runpunkrun]

You know, I think I have seen some HL vids. But it's possible they were all centered around Amanda.

I am, tragically, on dialup, but I've bookmarked these vid recs of yours for the day me and my wireless card venture out into the world of free broadband.

Scully isn't looking at Mulder fondly so much as you are deeply fucked and this is for your own good. And then she NURSES him back to HEALTH. Sort of. In reality she shoves him in a car and drives him to New Mexico, but SAME THING.

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

*refrains from writing you a short essay on the subject of "Tumbling Dice" in particular and the Stones' musical influences in general.*

...But why did you refrain? I would love that so much. Although it would be kind of time consuming, I see that.

[clare-san.livejournal.com]

heh, see, I was sortofmaybealittle laughing about the shooting thing, and then I watched it and you are Totally Right. the aind.

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

But it's possible they were all centered around Amanda.

Ooo, Killa has some excellent Amanda ones, too. (Which was confusing for me when I started watching vids. I only knew what I remembered from confused viewings of the movie, which was back when I did not really understand movies. Unsurprisingly, it turns out I was mostly wrong about what I did remember. So I was all - who is this? I ended up liking her, though, because she does not seem to be all emo about immortality.)

I am, tragically, on dialup

*installs broadband in your house using only the power of her mind*

Scully isn't looking at Mulder fondly so much as you are deeply fucked and this is for your own good. And then she NURSES him back to HEALTH. Sort of. In reality she shoves him in a car and drives him to New Mexico, but SAME THING.

Oh my god. I now have an OTP in a fandom I have never read and likely will never read. You are so evil. But...but...she shoots him (And, I mean, it's the girl who uses a gun like that - how cool is that? How much does it totally make her the take-charge, level-playing-field kind of woman I want in my het? Or maybe that's just my imagination.) and then drives him to NM. I just - I. Oh. Oh.

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Yes. I even forgive you for laughing, because you have seen the love, and how it is totally there in the shooting.

*is very happy now*

[runpunkrun]

All I knew about Amanda came from what little HL fic I'd read, and all of it seemed to involve her in threesomes with Duncan and Methos, so...I was totally lost while watching the vids. She's apparently a master of disguise?

Scully and Mulder were my first OTP -- back in the dark ages before "OTP" even existed -- and they had a very slashy dynamic, lots of yearning, lots of soulful looks, but they couldn't! because they worked together! they were partners! also Mulder was prone to doing stupid shit like drilling a hole in his head in order to access the lost memories of his missing sister! and Scully was too reasonable to put up with that kind of insanity! Even though she totally did because Mulder might have been an idiot, but he was her *partner* and she'd do anything for him.

They were equals. Scully was totally kick ass. She had to rescue Mulder just as often as he had to rescue her...if not more. Once a season they'd touch hands and we'd all go nuts because it was proof of their Deep Abiding Love. Oh, good times, good times.

[delurker.livejournal.com]

I have download limits staring me in the face (return of dial-up speeds oh noes!) but I cannot help but download vids, because you are an enabler. I went to check out Killa's HL vid, which I haven't watched yet, but - she's vidded to Alasdair Mhic Cholla Chasda! Which is one of my favourite songs! So I had to download that too. (Am I the only one who would like the ability to search for vids by song? Because I'd love to see what people would do with, say, a Creedence Clearwater Revival song, or countless others which won't come to mind at the moment.)

[delurker.livejournal.com]

Oh, and also? I agree with you entirely wrt the shooting. It was a very affectionate shooting.

[rydra_wong]

And, I mean, it's the girl who uses a gun like that - how cool is that? How much does it totally make her the take-charge, level-playing-field kind of woman I want in my het? Or maybe that's just my imagination.

This is another reason why you have to watch Farscape. Because Aeryn, at a similar moment, smashes John across the jaw with her gun and knocks him out cold.

[marycrawford.livejournal.com]

Bwaa. Your vid recs are hilarious and enthusiastic and I love them. More please! And I agree about Killa. And especially about Closer. Also, I can't really imagine any ST:TOS fan not agreeing with you that the series is cheesy. As a longtime fan of both TOS and Hercules, I know the power of good cheese when I see it. *g*

Don't apologize for not having tech terms in there, please - I don't give a hoot about precise terminology, it's the way you describe your own reaction that makes these recs work.

[aukestrel.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the Ocean's 11 rec... I do SO love that movie and Rusty and Danny were just... SO doing it.

[the-star-fish.livejournal.com]

Spock's the taller, slightly slumpy one who wears too much eyeshadow, and Kirk is the shorter, yellower one

Just when I think I couldn't love you more ...

heeheeheeheeheeheeheehee



(ST:TOS was My First Fandom, btw. Behold the power of cheese.)

[killabeez.livejournal.com]

So, you would love to know then (in case it isn't clear) that it's Duncan driving the red car and he tries on purpose to run Methos over, right? Because it is just as much the lurv, I promise. :D

Thank you so much for this. The timing was kindness itself, as I was sort of fiddling around with a vid project (unsuccessfully) last night, and the words "I guess it's official, I am the suck when it comes to vids," had just gone through my head not one minute before I scrolled down and saw this entry. Of course, this does not make my WIP suck less, but it did make me feel better. *hugs*

OMG, I love "Would You?" so much. The LOVE. The Sex. Eeee.

Kirk is the shorter, yellower one

*laughs and laughs and laughs*

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

The first vid I knew to "Closer" was a Spike/Angel vid, which premiered at Escapade a few years ago, and which was very impressive at the time because Marsters wasn't yet on Angel and yet the genius who made the vid managed to cut footage together as though they had been onscreen together in that show. I apologize to whoever made it for the fact that I can't remember who you are; it was awesome.

So the following year, when I heard the strains of "Closer" coming from this room at Escapade, I thought, "oh, yeah, that Spike/Angel vid, I liked that," and went in to watch. And then my head exploded because it was the ST:TOS one instead! *g*

I adore that Trek vid. Absolutely, positively adore it. :-)

[bluemeridian]

Scully is awesome. She had the best "What the fuck are you thinking?!" looks on tv, I swear. And she never, ever screams like a girl. That's Mulder's job.

I'm also among the poor, dialup users but am chipperly crippling the hell out of it to download some of these. Gah. Can't.. resist...

(Thank god for download managers. *g*)

[qe2.livejournal.com]

My love for you and your vidrecs cannot be textually rendered.

That Carbon Leaf vid has been haunting my dreams since ConneXions 2005, but I couldn't remember who'd made it. I could kiss you just for THAT.

[katie-m.livejournal.com]

Me, in a tone of voice that may have been, in retrospect, perhaps just the teeniest bit too sincere: No! It's the scene where Methos shoots Duncan.
BB: *surprised face*
Me: It's just very...see, and then he shoots him, and it's just...okay. I think it's a sign of true love.


It is! It is true love. Methos is SAVING DUNCAN'S SOUL. But then my first slash fandom was B7, so I, um, kind of imprinted on intra-pairing gunfire.

[lucia-tanaka.livejournal.com]

Um, since you like vids so much, I wanted to reccommend one that makes mego all fannish and drooling I really liked. Assuming you saw the movie 'Serenity'.

Best synched/edited vid I ever saw (http://www.livejournal.com/community/vidding/460482.html)

*goes back to lurking*

[tangleofthorns.livejournal.com]

REALLY? 'Cause I would also greatly enjoy it (I'm seeing them TONIGHT, you see). Okay. You're getting an essay now. E-mail, comment, where would you like it?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_medley_/]

The most amazing thing about Killa and T. Jonsey, to my mind, is that they can make a vid like Closer, *and* a really funny one like Momma Told Me Not to Come in the same fandom. Momma really gives you a clear idea of what kind of drugs the Star Trek writers were on at the time, let me tell you.

(And no worries, I can't imagine that anyone would argue about ST:TOS being super-cheesy. It's fun, though. :))

[bitter-crimson.livejournal.com]

That ST vid was just amazing. Ack. It makes me want to go back and rewatch old episodes... *wibbles*

[polaris-starz.livejournal.com]

Could I have a copy of that Dave Carter and Tracy Grammar song? I love their stuff

I love you forever for linking wolfling's page, because now I have vids with DOYLE in and finding anything fandom with Doyle in has been impossible so far. *squee*