|
Post by GRWelsh on Nov 12, 2013 18:16:58 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by geneweigel on Nov 12, 2013 18:49:15 GMT -5
Well, it could be looked at as a slice of life drama... <<cough>> They're playing Palladium Fantasy <<cough>> Just kidding! Seriously, I remember a lot of far gone guys like that but I mostly associate them with the second edition era getting obsessed with weak material like PLANESCAPE, FORGOTTEN REALMS or SARGENTHAWK. Regardless, its not helping anything. They need a positive non-dweeby "crossover into fantasy" movie. I've seen too many of these LARP nerd movies.
|
|
|
Post by GRWelsh on Nov 13, 2013 8:42:43 GMT -5
On the other hand, maybe you will like it -- because after watching the trailer again the basic plot seems to be: "nerd gamer" DM has a "cool gamer" join his group, and from that point on his life begins to fall apart as he delusionally associates it with being the new guy's fault.
|
|
|
Post by geneweigel on Nov 13, 2013 9:26:29 GMT -5
I think one major factor that separates my POV from that is I've never had parental support of any kind... OUCH! On one hand, I sympathize with that awkward DM but honestly? I'd rather just leave.
|
|
|
Post by GRWelsh on Nov 13, 2013 13:19:34 GMT -5
I don't mind the particular brand of humor that is making fun of gamers. I guess for me the difference is whether it is coming from an outsider who doesn't get it and then it just looks ignorant or to pursue an agenda (like "Mazes and Monsters"), compared to someone who actually plays the games and is part of the culture (like "Knights of the Dinner Table" or "Gamers" and "Dorkness Rising"). After all, gamers often do ridiculous and humorous things, so why not laugh at it... But the really weird thing to me is how mainstream some of these things have become. SF and Fantasy used to be considered kid stuff back in the pulp era of the 20's and 30's, and it was embarrassing to be caught reading it back then. Like you were maladjusted if you did. Then it was comics that got that treatment in the 1950's, accused of corrupting the youth. RPGs got the treatment in the 1980s, accused of being Satanic and unhealthy. It was like society tried to "embarrass" people out of liking these things by linking them to "being a loser." And yet now SF and Fantasy are completely mainstream, even for girls (Twilight, Hunger Games, etc.). The biggest movies right now are superhero movies. Though people might still make fun of gamers in movies like ZERO CHARISMA, the truth is nearly everyone is a gamer of some kind at this point (Farmville, Diablo, World of WarCraft, etc.). Corporations have seminars where consultants talk about "Gamification" and how the principles of gaming can be incorporated into getting clients and customers more engaged. Sales Executives have to participate in "role play" break out sessions at their National Sales Meetings! Gaming has completely permeated our culture. So the stereotype of "gamer as loser" is kind of diluted anymore. Hunger Games! A girl-friendly Dystopia! Not even Aldous Huxley saw that one coming!
|
|
|
Post by geneweigel on Nov 13, 2013 15:09:06 GMT -5
There is some syndicated show called BIG BANG THEORY where they wear comic t-shirts and make ultra-light references to sci-fi fantasy. Some family turd made a remark "HEY, WHO'S THAT? YOU? HEH-HEH!" so thats about as thrilled as I'm going to get with all this mainstreaming methinks!
|
|
|
Post by GRWelsh on Nov 13, 2013 17:33:34 GMT -5
BIG BANG THEORY walks that fine line between "let's make fun of these nerds" and let's empathize with them and I think that's why it works.
If the show came across too strongly as "let's make fun the autistic kid" then I think people would see it as cruel and hate it.
Yet somehow they pull it off and the autistic guy is the star of the show.
|
|
|
Post by GRWelsh on Mar 5, 2018 8:31:35 GMT -5
I finally saw this yesterday and it wasn't bad. It wasn't really about making fun of gamers, but more of a character study of that sort of person who sees fault in everyone but himself, never apologizes (unless it is for insincere reasons), and therefore never self-improves. The theme might be "If no one likes you and you're a failure in life (i.e. you have Zero Charisma), have you ever considered that it's your own fault and maybe you should change?" It's kind of hard to watch, because the tension is between "is this guy ever going to 'get it'?" or "is he just going to continue in a downward spiral until he implodes?" There are a few flashes of humor but not enough to call it a comedy... It's more like a dark comedy/drama with a lot of cringe humor.
|
|
|
Post by GRWelsh on Mar 8, 2018 12:15:13 GMT -5
There should be a heavy metal song to go along with this movie. Maybe there already is... a song about being angry at the world for being against you, but with the subtext that you're blaming everyone else for your problems.
Actually, the main character has a low charisma, but I wouldn't say it is zero. He has a good speaking voice and his game sounds fairly immersive and creative, but the main problem is he's a control freak who railroads the players.
|
|