LordLothlorien's movie Reviews on Newgrounds

[Salad Fingers Episode 6]

A Long-Awaited Return

After 8 months, David Firth finally returned to the series that made him one of the most popular Flash artists on Newgrounds.

One would think to expect some drastic changes over that period of time, but as far as content and plot art concerned, this is a classic Salad Fingers animation. If anything, the animation and style have only increased in quality. If there is any detraction that needs to be mentioned, it's the lack of humour. This installment is much more dark and disturbing than amusing. It picks up where the conclusion of Episode 5 left off as far as mood and tone. Episode 5 proves to be as disturbing as any other Salad Fingers episode.

[B/W Cartoon About Berries]

The "Scary Man" is Back

David Firth continues his story of Jonathan, the extremely disturbed and pitiful psychotic whose degredation has been opened up for us all. The sequel to A Black and White Cartoon About Roof Tiling explains a bit more of the delusional nature of Jonathan and what culminated into his downward spiral.

Furthermore, the plot develops a new intrigue which is Jonathan's wife (or mother?). It is hard to tell if she genuinely notices Jonathan's sorry state - perhaps she is ignoring his raving hate towards her and life in general, or perhaps what we hear him say is more dream than truth. The artist of this animation gives us few clues.

[Burnt Face Man 4]

Burnt Face Man Returns

A month after Episode 3, Firth put out the fourth installment of his comedic series known as Burnt Face Man. Firth proves himself to be Jesus Christ to Burnt Face Man's Lazurus, as he revitalized the series with some new spunk.

While most cartoons that introduce a new character late in the game usually spiral into nothingness (see "The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show" episode from The Simpsons), the entry of Slightly Bruised Man does the opposite. And with the addition of the "Crime Monitor" and a special clip at the end, Episode 4 is deliciously funny.

[Burnt Face Man 3]

The Series Continues

While this series has gone on for another three episodes, by the second, it seemed as though Firth had nowhere else to go with Burnt Face Man before it would become stale. Episode 3, however, proves that Burnt Face Man still has some staying power, though it is wearing a little thin.

Nevertheless, the quality of the animations as far as graphics and sound go are top notch, as usual. In fact, Episode 3 clearly demonsrates Firth's development as a Flash artist. Even watching the backgrounds, you can see that everything moves. Even with a humourous plotline to keep one's brain at attention, there is contant movement and animation. The viewer can never be completely bored - even one things that BFM is getting old.

[The Child That Smelt Odd]

Firth's Magnum Opus

The Child that Smelt Funny is Firth's best work, hands down. It is a culmination of all the things that have made his animations some of the most popular works on Newgrounds and the web in general. It is both quintessentially Firth - disturbing and unconventional animation style mixed with a sick, sarcastic sense of humour - all the while being different than any Flash he has submitted thus far.

The Child that Smelt Funny, unlike many of Firth's animations, borders on political - mainly regarding free speech and media influence. Of course, with having animations like Milkman and Valentine's Day Special under one's belt, it is likely a touchy subject for Firth.

Firth has always had a penchant for the unconventional and the deconstructive. Perhaps, some people just aren't ready for his style of brash and unwielding style of animation.

[Roof Tiling]

Haunting

Part of the fun of a David Firth animation is trying to dissect it. Firth's serious cartoons are rarely linear and it is difficult to tell what is "real" and what is dream, and A Black and White Cartoon About Roof Tiling is no different.

Roof Tiling follows Firth's most disturbing character, Jonathan. From his paranoid delusions, he seems to be suffering some sort of schizophrenia. It is therfore impossible to tell whether the images we see that are his mind are real events or part of some psychotic nightmare that has merely festered in his brain.

Roof Tiling proves to be one of Firth's most ambitious animations to date.

[Valentine's Day Special]

Firth Proves Himself a Romantic

Valentine's Day Special once again proves David Firth to be one of the most dark Flash artists on Newgrounds. Firth deconstructs the the celebration of love and flowers and all that nonsense to create something that is, once again, sick, twisted, and degenerate. Not since Milkman has Firth gone down such a disturbing road. Luckily, the violence is swift and almost painless - one of Firth's shorter animations - so, there's no need to reach for a barf bag. However, if one were to describe this animation, one would have to say that it's just like "hot sick".

[Burnt Face Man 2]

The Funniest of the Series

By far, Episode 2 of Burnt Face Man is the funniest. We see the return of the "crime..inal" from the first episode, whom we now know is named Bastard Man, as well as the introduction of the Russian-accented villain known as Man Spider.

Like the previous and later installments in the series, Firth relies on absurdism and irony, most revealed in the opening Falling Baby scene. Burnt Face Man continues to prove himself to be a "shit superhero", based on cliches and archetypes. It's parodic goodness.