Immediately following the massacre at V-Tech, I knew it was only a matter of time before some self-loving "freedom musketeer" made a game in an attempt to prove some sort of point. Sure enough, you stepped in and delivered a bland and tasteless game riddled with spelling mistakes and racial slurs.

Now, the game itself wasn't entertaining, as if the simplistic controls of "S = talk, A = shoot" weren't a big enough clue to its shallow gameplay. Perhaps the only decent aspect of the game was that you had to follow the storyline, and the combination of "stealth" with the rampage made it a tad more challenging. The sound was one-dimensional, and the choice of music seemed completely puzzling. As for the violence, well, there certainly was some. Yet somehow you managed to make a violent massacre look and feel boring.

As for your message of "freedom of speech", I really don't think that is what you're concerned about. Clearly, the only purpose of this game was for you to get news coverage so you could pretend to be some sort of "super-hero" for freedom. Obviously I don't feel that the game should be taken down, but it certainly shouldn't receive any press coverage, nor should you think of yourself as anything more than an attention whore. I'm quite sure any remotely talented author on Newgrounds could make a movie about car bombings or Muhammed, yet I always figured that these movies weren't created because the authors had a little more self-respect. I'm certainly not saying that these issues should never be discussed, nor am I saying that tragedies should be off-limts for this sort of thing. Yet you managed to camouflage a pathetic ploy for attention it to some sort of "freedom of speech" issue. I do hope you realize that not everybody fell for your shallow excuse, and many do see that underlying immaturity behind it all. One could argue that this isn't the first time a sensitive issue has been glorified in this way, as the Columbine massacre game garnered a dick-load of controversy after it was created. But I imagine that it was your intention to do exactly the same, and perhaps a few well-known constitution-spinning douchebags would come to your defense on the news, thus labeling you as some sort of freedom fighter.

Unfortunately, it seems your fifteen minutes of fame have passed, and by the end of the day you won't be know as "Ryan Lambourn, the 21-year-old activist", rather "that douchebag kid who made the game about V-Tech just to get on the news".

Your work is almost invariably entertaining, and you don't fail to disappoint with this piece. I am usually quite picky with the movies I review, but I felt compelled to write one for this particular movie.

As far as aesthetics go, the graphics were quite well drawn. Although there seemed to be a few frame-rate issues, most of it was probably due to my lackluster computer. The faces of the characters were visually haunting, and the feeling of utter dismay was conveyed through the art.

The sound seemed to be a page right out of Firth's book, which is certainly something you've been compared to quite often if my memory serves me. The dull sound effect made when the "father" is punching the baby was accurate enough to make me cringe, or at least that's what I could imagine the sound to be like. The violence, although it was a short flick, was certainly graphic and somewhat disturbing. And unlike a vast majority of your films, there seemed to be a complete lack of humor. But the lack was well suited to the atmosphere of the film, I must admit.

As for the movie as a whole, it was done quite well. The sound and imagery tied in perfectly to create a dreary and hopeless ambience within my mind. The message of the film seemed to put the moral of the old children's book to rest, as the "ugly" duckling did not grow in to a beautiful swan, rather a tormented and depressed hollow shell of a being. The idea that somebody could emerge from a terrible childhood into a blissful adulthood, although an inspiring tale, would certainly only be believable by children. And as frightening as it may be, this was a much more accurate account of what life may turn out to be for someone as unfortunate as the main character. Such a story has been told countless times on the more disturbing Oprah shows, and A&E murder documentaries.

The film kept me captivated and mystified for the few moments that it lasted, and I certainly regret that most movies that pass through the portal are not as... engaging. It's always a refreshing change to watch a film that actually motivates one to continue contemplating and wondering, even after the movie has ended. And I am glad to say that this is one of the few movies I've viewed this month that actually made me do so. I always look forward to your work Jeremy, and I can't wait for another one of your films. Although next time, i'd prefer it be a more humorous story, rather than this dark tale of anguish and sorrow.

-Canas-

First off, let me say that i've always been a fan of your work. Your flash movies are one of the few reasons I still remain even bothering to go to the portal. This flash, was certainly no exception to your past brilliance.

The graphics, although not the best on the site, were done flawlessly in accordance with your style. The atmosphere generated from the cartoonish feel was palpable, and I can't imagine having it being any more perfect. The style, as I stated before, was unique to you. And for some reason it triggered a nostalgia of older flash movies, a feeling I haven't felt in a long while.

As for the sound, it was absolutely perfect. The music accented the entire movie, and high-low pitches were used to a brilliant extent, as the sounds really seemed to fit the movie. The violence gave it a darker feel, as it certainly wasn't a movie for children. And once again it fit in perfectly with the rest of the movie. There were slight tidbits of humor, yet most of it was dark. Overall, you really made managed to blow me away by uniting all my sense possible in perfect harmony with eachother.

The political undertones of the movie are most certainly notable. The chess players, who could represent government, could really care less whether or not their pawns (soldiers) die, as it is only a game to them. Eventually, as a result of one act (black soldier beheading the white soldier), the entire kingdoms break out in war, including the chess players themselves. Although the movie is more artistic as opposed to preachy, there certainly are a few little messages within the film that can be interpreted in many different ways. One of the things that makes this movie so good, is that everybody will view it differently, and gauge their own reaction as a result of what they are seeing and hearing.

Overall, this was one of the greatest and most brilliant flash movies I have ever viewed. The animation and audio worked together flawlessly, and the violence contributed to the dark atmosphere and the true message of the film. Many play little metaphorical games of chess throughout their lives, oblivious to the effects they are having on others. Governments fool around with pawns when simple negotiation would be more effective, and less fatal. And many do not realize who the true enemy is, as stated in your author's message. My words can hardly describe how well-done this flash was in whole, but obviously i've tried to make an attempt at doing so. All in all, you did a fantastic job, and you managed to capture my thoughts and imagination for far longer than anything else has in the past few months.

That was horrible. Further proving that white people have no beat whatsoever. The rhymes were middle-school esque and childish. Might want to rerecord the whole, voice cracking thing too.

Please, please just stop

I died a little inside.

Thought it was one of the better versions of this song, and it was worth listening to.