Call to delete:
- Did Not Do The Research: His "Combat Evolved" discussion on Halo asserted that the game has racist subtext because the single-species humans are fighting the diverse Covenant. The Covenant are a caste-based empire who attempted genocide twice in the games, while the humans formed an alliance with one of their cast-off castes and later established peace between the species.
OK, the video is here, so you can watch it if you need to. Please note that Moviebob was specifically discussing the visual design motifs here; he acknowledges the story elements refuting this, but argues that they're overpowered by the visual iconography. You can question the analysis if you wish, but it's most definitely NOT Did Not Do The Research. Any disagreements before I cull that point?
Edit: Quote from the video. "Yeah yeah, I know. All these different species come from different worlds because they were conquered and converted by the Covenant, so it's mainly diverse because it's a slave army... But come on, how many actually play Halo for the context? Think about how this looks in the macro."
That's it. I'm just going to delete it now. If anyone can come up with a solid argument for why it should be back, they can revert it.
Edited by JackSlack Hide / Show RepliesMovie Bob does not mention the story elements of the humans teaming up with the Elites, at least, which is in huge contradiction to his point about "uniform humans". And no, it's not just a story element. In Halo 3, the visual motif is of humans fighting alongside gigantic monsters that resemble the enemies. Indeed, several scenes, including the last, show the humans being chummy with elites, or the Master Chief standing backtoback with the Arbiter. Not knowing about those visuals pretty much meant his point about uniformity was blatantly false.
Also, he says that the Covenant want to conquer the humans; they want to kill the humans. If he's going to ignore story, he shouldn't talk about it at all.
I will fix the entry so that it mentions only those elements.
Although story context IS important, and just blatantly ignoring it means that his argument is full of holes. Maybe not Did Not Do The Research, but certainly a case of misrepresentation not helping him. It's like saying that Mario games are racist based on the uniformity of the Toads and how Mario and Peach are normal humans, in comparison to the more monstrous and diverse enemies.
Here's a fixed version.
- Did Not Do The Research: His "Combat Evolved" discussion on Halo asserted that the human marines look uniform in comparison to the diverse Covenant; in Halo 3, the humans are teamed up with a species of bipedal 8 foot tall aliens with brightly colored armor. He also mentions that the Covenant want to conquer mankind; in reality, they want to kill all the humans.
Better?
Edited by Scardoll Fight. Struggle. Endure. Suffer. LIVE.I'll hold off from editing further; nothing you've said is strictly untrue and it can remain. I'd rather not wind up in an edit war.
But I do think you're missing Bob's point. He's not looking at it from canon or story; he's examining the visual design of the series as a whole. (Halo 3 is, granted, an exception.) He draws correctly on the space marine history to Heinlen, and discusses how it works usually, and why Halo is odd in this respect. He also notes that Halo is, ostensibly, arguing against the kind of thinking that informs its own visual design. It's a more macro level analysis, and I really do think it's not a case of Did Not Do The Research. I leave it to you, but I'd delete it.
Edited by JackSlackNot doing the research is not doing the research.
And if Bob couldn't have been bothered to play even the first level (Or cutscene) of Halo 3 for a critique on the series and racism, he should not have made a video in the first place.
Fight. Struggle. Endure. Suffer. LIVE.He did "reveiw" Halo Legends which a number of the shorts make it very clear that the Covenant leaders are a bunch of fanatical psychos who kill anyone who doesn't agree with them. So it's pretty clear he just wants to bitch about something he doesn't like.
A moderator deleted the entire Did Not Do The Research entry because of justifying edits.
I'll put the first part back up (Because it is a clear case of, if not Did Not Do The Research, at least a huge facts goof). The other two I'm taking down, because that's where the natter started. Kay?
EDIT: Actually, that last editor needs to be punched in the face. Violently.
His definition of conquer still means that they're "taking" humanity. You do not "conquer" a nation with a policy that is essentially "Kill every one of them as soon as you get the chance." Which still means that Moviebob did not do the research. So he's just being smug.
Edited by Scardoll Fight. Struggle. Endure. Suffer. LIVE.Oops, made this a reply to an old thread rather than a new post. Disregard.
Edited by ArcaneAzmadi Always expect the worst and you can only be pleasantly surprised.Okay, there is a YMMV for Moviebob, why isn't the link on his main page?
illegitematus non carborundum estIs there really a need to catalog the movies Bob reviewed? He's a regular contributor on the Escapist, and its main film critic, with a weekly episode guaranteed. I really don't see a point to listing the reviewed movies. If he discusses a trope, we can add it. If the movie in question is in one of his obvious, well-admitted disliked genres, we can put in under Bias Steamroller.
I propose we remove the whole "movies reviewed" section, move the relevant tropes discussed to their own sections on the main page, and keep the divisive stuff on YMMV where it belongs.
Hide / Show RepliesBut not all movies are easily accessible on the Escapist. Some of the reviews are at the end of other videos, and this is a good catalog for all his opinions. There is no other full, complete list out there.
Hang on, somehow Bob ended up with 2 Awesome pages, one at Movie Bob and one at Bob Chipman. How the hell did that happen (especially as his WebVideo/MovieBob entry is supposed to function as a secondary link to his Creator/BobChipman page)?
Always expect the worst and you can only be pleasantly surprised.