We Are the Strange

Plot synopsis:
We Are the Strange focuses on "two diametrically opposed outcasts" as they "fight for survival in a sinister fantasy world." These two outcasts are an abused woman named Blue who has a mysterious degenerative disease and a living doll named eMMM.
The two meet in the Forest of Still Life, where Blue follows eMMM to Stopmo City on a search for his ideal ice cream parlor. Upon arriving in Stopmo City, they are caught in the middle of a fierce battle between bizarre monsters, making their progress difficult. Thankfully, a hero named Rain appears and easily destroys every monster that faces him. Blue meets Rain before he partakes in an "impossible battle against the source of all that is evil in Stopmo City." During the battle, Rain, along with Ori are crushed by Him after Rain states he wants to avenge his son. When the outlook seems grim, a fist made of aluminum foil breaks through the ground and starts the final showdown between good and evil. Six alternate soundtracks and author's commentary, including soundtrack by Noise Inc. are available on the DVD. The music used in We Are the Strange Trailer has been made by chiptune artist YERZMYEY/AY-RIDERS (a cover of t.A.T.u.'s "30 Minutes") using ZX Spectrum computer.

Tags: cult

Review:
When M dot Strange was told to think outside the box, he overshot a little.
At the screening at Sundance, M dot Strange said that he pretty much locked himself in his room with a bunch of broken toys, and nine computers.
He stayed there for more than a year with only his frighteningly twisted imagination, and came out with this animation that is a mix between Stop-motion, Computer animation, 8 bit video game animation, and Japanese Anime.
The imagination of M dot Strange is truly dark and wild.
This film is a brilliant combination of different forms of art and digital media.
I never play video games, do not like 8-bit music, do not particularly like any kind of animation, and have watched virtually no anime.
I actually walked into the movie at Sundance about 10 minutes late and had a hard time getting to my seat because of the visual and audio onslaught coming at me from the screen.
I was completely confused for about 3/4 of the movie yet I could not stop watching.
The plot was developed almost entirely outside the realm of dialog and I suggest you read about the story before you begin watching.What I love about this film is that it makes you think.
I HIGHLY recommend seeing this film if you want something different than anything you have ever seen.
Even if you hate the movie, it is still worth watching if you like to expand your perception of what film is.
I walked away from this movie with a much greater appreciation for different kinds of art and the amount of work that went into blending all the mediums used..
Dot Strange."That kind of gives you a hint of what you are going to see - something very "strange."Listen: you'll either think this is super cool and love this film, or you'll get so disgusted you'll yank it off your screen within minutes.
I really tried to like this.The good aspect of this film is the clever animation done on a low budget.
You also have the option of hearing various soundtracks - now that's unique!The bad part of the movie is that it's hard to watch much of it in one sitting.
After a while, I found myself not caring what was happening and just attempted to enjoy the strange visuals and sound- effects.
I'm just trying to give you an idea how different this film is from other animated movies you've seen.Also, it was first released on the Internet instead of movie theaters, I think, but did play in the Sundance Film Festival in 2006 and the following year put out on DVD.For the average movie viewer, this film would be torture to sit through.
For someone who enjoys something different visually, this is a unique film that deserves a look and might prove to be fascinating, especially for some young person interested in becoming a filmmaker.
The two main characters are a young girl with big blue eyes (visually reminiscent of anime) who escapes her pimp and a sad and scared little boy.
There are direct references to multiple things, most notable I would describe as hybrid the 8-bit era of video gaming, stop motion, anime and 3D with a David Lynch logic.
Yes there is a very simple story, but all that surrounds it, truly make the films.
Now when so many independent filmmakers view Quentin Tarantino, and Robert Rodriguez as their heroes, its is refreshing to see a filmmaker using the digital tools not to emulate formulas and trends created by others, but to experiment all the way and successfully create something new.Now the music is unlike anything I've heard on film.
Being a fan of unusual movies, I decided to go and watch We Are the Strange when it was shown at Leeds Film Festival.
Unfortunately, this movie is not strange in a good or interesting way.
The plot is pretty much non-existent and if it wasn't for the lengthly character description at the beginning of the movie, it would be nothing more than complete confusion in cinematic form.
Although the random mismatch of animation styles used in this movie creates a sense of chaos which is fitting to the world in which the film is based, this does not make for good watching and becomes repetitive very quickly.
Some people praise the mixture of animation styles and lack of a plot as 'thinking out of the box'.
This would be thinking out of the box, but would anyone want to eat it?All this movie achieves, is to portray its creator's (M dot Strange) self-indulgence.
M dot Strange would have saved a lot of time, both for himself and others, if he had simply made the visuals for a five minute music video.
We Are The Strange: A Movie Review..
Dot Strange (His stage name from when he used to do music) came up with an independent masterpiece that appeared on Youtube, an animated film called "We Are The Strange", which was merely only a trailer, but an intriguing trailer, indeed.So, for almost a full year and a half, those that sat at their computers waited for the movie to go through Sundance.
Dot Strange, as he commented on those people who were looking at this movie, criticizing it good, criticizing it badly.
You missed an amazing piece of art.We Are The Strange is a movie with a very simple plot, but presents itself in such a dazzling way that you have to seek to finish it, just to see the art.
No matter how you criticize the film, you cannot deny that the art form, Str8nime, a new style of animation created by Strange himself, combines 8 bit animation (Like the old Mario Games on Nintendo) Anime (This stuff is nothing like what you see on TV.
It's human in it's animated style) and Strangeness, and this movie provides plenty of it.The story revolves around two main characters, Blue and Emm. Blue is an anime girl who worked, who lived in a bordello, whilst under the ownership of HIM (The voice of the Director), who tells her she is ugly, and will never be anything to him or anyone.
Blue, too, feels this way.As the two go to Stopmo City, they find that evil lurks everywhere, and only a strange fighter named Rain appears to fight the darkness around the city.This movie is brilliant.
The art is just dazzling, the visuals are what tell the story, and it's not just a fan's review that's saying this, as a movie goer, it's nothing Pixar has ever done.
Shrek cannot compete to what this movie tries to say.If you need to see a movie that is brimming with genius, has an intelligent way of story telling (This does not have much dialog, and that's good, because instead of clouding your mind with meaningless George Lucas-esquire lingo, you can focus on a bitter and at the same time, sweet movie.I give this movie a 9/10..
We Are The Strange's sub textual meaning coherent and easily identified through M Dot's use of archetypal characterization.M Dots use of mixed animation styles was perplexing and jaw dropping at the same time, all the while being strengthened by an exceptional soundtrack.I was thoroughly spellbound by the whole film from beginning to end.
It stimulated my own imagination so much that it inspired me to use the freedom of animation for telling stories from the deep recesses of my own brain.I raise my goblet to you M Dot Strange.
First off, orthodox people who follow mainstream trends in thinking and who digest politically correct thought with glee will most likely HATE this film.This is a film which is truly free in itself.
The connection the viewer has the potential to make with this film is so different that they may find themselves questioning many hidden assumptions about what they are looking for in a film, or even in life in general.The end result of the experience of viewing this film is truly unique.
Visually mind blowing, conceptually from another planet, with awesome (and often hilarious) sound and music this movie is simply on a different frequency from everything that has gone before it.I am certain this represents a milestone.
To me I see this movie as a rebellion against the aristocracy that exists in the movie business and indeed perhaps a rebellion against capitalism and conventional thought altogether.I know certain types of thinks will hate this, others won't get it at all, but this is without a doubt now one of my favorite films ever..
But the plot isn't the reason to watch this film.
I enjoyed We Are The Strange due to it's imaginative art, music and style, but I still felt lost quite a bit...too much so.
This is a movie for people who are artistic, imaginative and adventurous with their movie watching, everyone else should stay put..
Amazing and Incredible new way of telling a story and animation.
A blend of 3d, stop motion, and 8 bit (first type of video game).The art: The 8 bit clouds were beautiful, the dark colors, and the anime girl Blue were simply amazing.
Not only was it a well done independent animated film.
It was also fascinating on how the director throw in various parodies of video games & anime.
The main heroine Blue is one of the reasons I liked it a lot.This movie is really strange, and it was created by a independent filmmaker who likes to do movies his own way.
In my opinion it's highly watchable if you like movies that have a Gothic/anime/video game theme to them.You're able to watch the entire movie on Youtube, because the director wanted everyone to be able to watch the movie.
If you like the movie, then there's a 2-dsic DVD which includes deleted scenes, alternate soundtracks, making of feature, & a commentary where you get to learn at least one new thing about the movie from the director himself.It's not a well known movie to the public, but I'm sure within time, this movie will gain a large cult following like other movies do..
So at least when i left this film feeling angry and annoyed at how terrible it was, i could at least gain some satisfaction by knowing i hadn't wasted my money completely.This film lacks everything that makes a good film, it has no structure, no plot, no characterisation, no nothing.
The only good point i could give this film is the fact that it was done by one man, that is an achievement i'll admit, but still not worthy enough to make this film any better.
For it felt that M dot Strange had just tried to make as many cool animation scenes as he could, and thought i'll whack this in because it looks cool, when it was just painful.
For i couldn't care less whether any characters died in this film, because we never truly got to know them or really know what was going on, what were the rules to this world, why did this happen or anything else.
M dot Strange spent too much time on his animation and completely forgot everything that is needed to make a good film.Basically i say to anyone who wants to watch this film...don't!
Never have i seen so many people walk out a film than i did with this one.
This is unequivocally the biggest POS I have ever seen (and I've seen some really terrible movies, "the saddest music in the world" was my previous #1) This film defies description, but in a bad way.
If true, I guess I won't be watching any movies in the future.There is absolutely no story.
It evokes no emotion except rage at having wasted over an hour watching the film.M. Strange was at the screening and he has this whole act about how he is different and interesting.
I am appalled anyone wasted all that time making it.More irritating than the visuals is the music and soundtrack.
We Are The Strange.What can I say about this movie.
I can almost guarantee you that within the first ten minutes of the movie your first comment will be "What the ****?!" Looking at the title you'd think this movie was, well, strange.
You just can't.More than anything else, this movie is a statement in visual art.
The fight scenes (if you can call them that) which were most definitely inspired by old school anime, is like watching a kid play with action figures.
Actually the whole movie feels like it come from the deep dark recesses of some ten-year-old's abandoned toy chest.The character designs are...innovative.
The first Characters we meet Blue and HIM are probably the closest to normal anybody's gonna get in this film but that's not saying much.
You take one look and you can easily say "Oh, this is the bad guy" or "Oh, definitely a tragic heroine" and so on.The dialog (there's dialog in this movie?!) is few and far between.
There's probably less than five minutes of speech throughout the entire movie...for all characters combined.
Each sentence spoken has heavy significance to the plot so when someone talks you'll know you should listen.As for the plot (yes, boys and girls, there is a plot in here somewhere) it's hard to find at first, mainly because of the movie trying to visually rape your mind.
But if you concentrate really hard (I mean reeeeeeally hard) there is a coherent plot about two lost tragic characters trying to find their way.eMMM and Blue are the classic tragic heroes, both starting out at the bottom of the dumps then slowly but surely finding their courage within each other.
HIM is the stereotypical villain of the piece who thinks of only himself and thinks nothing of plunging the city into darkness if for nothing more than his own pleasure.All of these character elements come together in a straight-forward plot line typical of most epic stories.
The characters and their motivations are easy to understand once you get into the movie and it's easy cheer for the good guys and hate the bad guys (though HIM's low droning voice make it kinda hard to take him seriously) Watch this movie once to get a hang of the visuals.
Watch it again to truly appreciate the story.In conclusion, I loved this movie.
Sure you'll feel like a weirdo for appreciating it, but maybe that's a good thing.Just for chuckles, you should also watch the 1337 version..
We are the Strange is a unique piece of animated art.
The visuals are very strange but sometimes breathtakingly beautiful.
Everything but the last 20 minutes is too slow and too strange for most people i guess.
Also a lot of scenes in the movie seem to be completely random.
though not an avid follower of the film, i saw the trailer a year or so back and was looking forward to it, i do feel quite let down i must admit, production value is top notch.
i couldn't have expected anything better; the mixture of animation styles and unusual soundtrack create a very original and unique experience.Despite this, every film needs a plot and this film was in serious lacking.
Dialogue was almost non-existent and some parts are very hard to understand.Nevertheless if you watch this with an open mind i think you'll enjoy it.
It's quite amazing for a film made by one man..
as you can no doubt tell by looking at the rating and comments on "we are the strange", the film has a distinctly polarizing effect about it.
these are all fair criticisms.though, to look at a film such as "we are the strange" in terms like this is a disservice.
it is not so much a movie as much as it is an abstract painting or a collage and should be watched thusly.
in fact, the inclusion of typical movie structuring is almost to the detriment of the work - though, the plot is simple, to the point of it being unnecessary.
the room for interpretation is endless."we are the strange" is a vibrant piece of art, but it's not for everyone.
Someone here said not to watch this movie for the plot, but to watch it for the visuals.
This movie is is an amazing, beautiful, stunning, _painting with audio_.
This is an amazing piece of art, but this is far from a "movie".
This is a series of beautiful paintings set to great video game style audio and sound effects.
The movie lacks a plot (at least one I could detect), and between the visuals I was left wondering "is this what people see when they're on acid?".
Most audiences simply could not sit through something like this in a dark room with a big screen.As art, I'd say this film is a success.
I have never seen a film before this that combines such diverse graphic art into a visual whole.
The visual and audio effects are rather hypnotizing, though not in a good way."We Are the Strange" is aptly named, and very hard to like.
I appreciate this as a unique and powerful art film, but I don't find it entertaining..
...unless you are happy with a severely lacking plot and are a big fan of different types of animation being randomly merged together.
I couldn't even watch it the whole way through and had to walk out of the cinema.I imagine it would appeal to nobody but a small minority of film students who might appreciate Mr Strange's use of different media in a 'unique' way.
However, I would like to point out that just because it has never been done before, it doesn't make it creative in the good sense of the word.in conclusion: it is the worst movie i have seen and I disliked it soo much that when i saw its ridiculously inflated rating on this site, I had to join up especially to save people from wasting their time.