MOHAA>Omaha Beach

[E.T.]

Thinking I might retry MOHAA [never finished it], I began to recall the first time frustration of legendary Omaha Beach.
I failed on my first few attempts, often getting to beach, but failing to find cover in time [bleed out].

"Q" Was there any particular sequence of movement or timing to make success come sooner to this part of mission?

...now if I could remember why I didnt finish MOHAA....

[moya]

You only got to Omaha Beach?! Man, you weren't even a third of the way through the game. Though actually it gets pretty crappy from there on out (with only the occasional diamond in the rough to salvage the experience) so maybe you were better off stopping where you were!

Anyway, IIRC you need to dodge off to your left (or maybe right) behind the X-shaped tank barriers in the sand. Just dash for the nearest one you can see and duck for cover. You should be relatively safe from the MGs behind there. (But maybe not the shelling!) Plan your next move carefully - but don't dawdle - and make a dash for the next piece of cover. It's all about going from cover to cover as quickly as possible. If you can use other guys to shield yourself from incoming fire then do so. About halfway up you'll likely come across a medic handing out first aid: grab a med-kit and contine. I also seem to remember a section where you had to go one way to avoid being blown to smithereens by shell fire. This was around the halfway mark as well I think. In this case the only advice I can give is to keep quicksaving WHEN YOU'RE SAFE! It may take a few retries but you'll eventually crack it and get onto the shingle (more med-kits await)...

Then your commander orders you to go back out onto the beach! Bwahaha! But it's just a little way to retrieve the bangalores so don't worry. Dash back, get them, duck into the hole then make a run for it back to the shingle. There's really no strategy for that part. The final section involves you dodging over an annoying minefield and eventually reaching the bunkers but I'll leave you to discover the joys of that one for yourself.

However, if you thought that was frustrating, wait till you get to the level later on where the snipers blow your head off every other step! That's a barrel of laughs.

[Hieremias]

The enemy fire will find you if you're out from behind cover for more than about 3 seconds. Just run from cover to cover. When you duck behind one of those metal X's, you'll hear the gunfire <i>PANG!!</i> off the other side for a few seconds. When it goes away, run again.

The level has an amazing atmosphere but the gameplay is nothing more than a simple run-pause-run-pause.

[E.T.]

<div class=\"smallfont\">You only got to Omaha Beach?! Man, you weren't even a third of the way through the game. Though actually it gets pretty crappy from there on out (with only the occasional diamond in the rough to salvage the experience) so maybe you were better off stopping where you were!

Anyway, IIRC you need to dodge off to your left (or maybe right) behind the X-shaped tank barriers in the sand. Just dash for the nearest one you can see and duck for cover. You should be relatively safe from the MGs behind there. (But maybe not the shelling!) Plan your next move carefully - but don't dawdle - and make a dash for the next piece of cover. It's all about going from cover to cover as quickly as possible. If you can use other guys to shield yourself from incoming fire then do so. About halfway up you'll likely come across a medic handing out first aid: grab a med-kit and contine. I also seem to remember a section where you had to go one way to avoid being blown to smithereens by shell fire. This was around the halfway mark as well I think. In this case the only advice I can give is to keep quicksaving WHEN YOU'RE SAFE! It may take a few retries but you'll eventually crack it and get onto the shingle (more med-kits await)...

Then your commander orders you to go back out onto the beach! Bwahaha! But it's just a little way to retrieve the bangalores so don't worry. Dash back, get them, duck into the hole then make a run for it back to the shingle. There's really no strategy for that part. The final section involves you dodging over an annoying minefield and eventually reaching the bunkers but I'll leave you to discover the joys of that one for yourself.

However, if you thought that was frustrating, wait till you get to the level later on where the snipers blow your head off every other step! That's a barrel of laughs.</div>

Actually, I got much further than mission 3. While reloading game, I recalled the difficuties of Omaha Beach, hence the request for feedback.

I made it to a point [@ great expense] of a German held cathedral/church, which was surrounded by bunkers w/HMG's if I recall correctly.

Looking back, I think I was distracted from MOHAA by RTCW. [a game I did finish, lottsa FPS fun].

Thanks for the descriptive help moya. :)

[moya]

Hieremias also made a good point about waiting for the fire to stop. The cathedral level was not much further through IIRC. That wasn't a bad one. The really irritating levels are the one set in the bombed-out French suburbs and the one in the snow where there are snipers all over the place which you can't see. In fact, anywhere where there are a million snipers out of your view who can all see you is pretty annoying!

[Suicides-by-Steve]

<div class=\"smallfont\">Hieremias also made a good point about waiting for the fire to stop. The cathedral level was not much further through IIRC. That wasn't a bad one. The really irritating levels are the one set in the bombed-out French suburbs and the one in the snow where there are snipers all over the place which you can't see. In fact, anywhere where there are a million snipers out of your view who can all see you is pretty annoying!</div>

I thought the whole game was pretty annoying. The only thing that game had going for it was the way the levels were built that lent it a really good feeling of atmosphere. The MP wasn't too bad either. However, the game once the AI is put into place was a pathetic. There's nothing more I hate than suicidal AI... It's such a turn off.

Not to mention you inability to go prone... very cheesy. What gets me is all these kids think it's the next best thing to sliced bread... Oh man... What's the world coming to?! LOL

[E.T.]

<div class=\"smallfont\">Hieremias also made a good point about waiting for the fire to stop. The cathedral level was not much further through IIRC. That wasn't a bad one. The really irritating levels are the one set in the bombed-out French suburbs and the one in the snow where there are snipers all over the place which you can't see. In fact, anywhere where there are a million snipers out of your view who can all see you is pretty annoying!</div>

Yes, thanks Hieremias, you were right about enemy fire being cyclic, I was so psyched in the moment I didnt realize the obvious.
Still, a challenge stay'n alive.

Those near invisible "million snipers" are a turn off. 'Cong [much more fun] had some sniper challenges in it, but going prone/crawl allowed you to get close enough to pick then off [enemy AI was quick to respond to team mates demise, very realisitic].

Ok, now I recall why I didnt finish MOHAA.

[Hieremias]

You're welcome. :)

Medal of Honor was fun because it let you act out the scenes in Saving Private Ryan. That's about the only reason I liked it. The beach assault, the bombed out french village, and a few other scenes were taken directly from Spielberg's movie.

But as a wartime shooter it doesn't hold a candle to Vietcong. The enemy AI is absymal, the gunfights are bland and repetitive, the snipers unrealistically accurate. Vietcong, on the other hand, has some truly intense firefights (the nighttime swamp mission was the one that got my adrenaline pumping the most). There aren't many things more exciting than charging a fallen log where two Charlies are hiding behind while your teammates provide a solid barrage of covering fire.

[E.T.]

<div class=\"smallfont\">You're welcome. :)

Medal of Honor was fun because it let you act out the scenes in Saving Private Ryan. That's about the only reason I liked it. The beach assault, the bombed out french village, and a few other scenes were taken directly from Spielberg's movie.

But as a wartime shooter it doesn't hold a candle to Vietcong. The enemy AI is absymal, the gunfights are bland and repetitive, the snipers unrealistically accurate. Vietcong, on the other hand, has some truly intense firefights (the nighttime swamp mission was the one that got my adrenaline pumping the most). There aren't many things more exciting than charging a fallen log where two Charlies are hiding behind while your teammates provide a solid barrage of covering fire.</div>

Im a "nodding head" on your view of 'Cong. I was of thought that AKU & I were of the few [here] that enjoyed it/played it.

Lol on the descriptive of "charging fallen log", cause after I got used to enemy AI, thats what I did with a vengence.
The swamp mission was immersing, sound effects I thought were very good. I played this one in the dark, home alone & surround sound turned up. It was @ times movie like.

Team response is some of the best I've experienced to date [the least suicidal].

Re: MOHAA, yes, it had its flaws/dissapointment, was common when release [as a FPS], but also as you say "was fun". I was distracted from finishing it as I picked up RTCW, which was compelling for me. MOHAA fell by the way side. [now Im wondering about the "bombed out French village"...].

[Hieremias]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>
Re: MOHAA, yes, it had its flaws/dissapointment, was common when release [as a FPS], but also as you say "was fun". I was distracted from finishing it as I picked up RTCW, which was compelling for me. MOHAA fell by the way side. [now Im wondering about the "bombed out French village"...].</div>

Yeah it was okay. Remember that at the time historical wartime shooters were rare (it was one of the first), now they're a dime-a-dozen. MOHAA obviously had really high production values, had great graphics and sound, good environments, and entertaining scripted sequences. It was fun to see all the Saving Private Ryan moments.

The bombed out French village is the one where everyone complains about the snipers. I actually don't mind it so much. It looks very much like the village in Saving Private Ryan where Vin Diesel is killed (after trying to rescue the little girl). Unfortunately the inability to go prone kills the excitement in a sniper level, so that didn't work too well.

And MOHAA's multiplayer was really fun, though the level choices weren't very numerous. But as far as single-player games go, there are today a host of FPS's that are better than MOHAA--Vietcong being one of them.

[E.T.]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>

Yeah it was okay. Remember that at the time historical wartime shooters were rare (it was one of the first), now they're a dime-a-dozen. MOHAA obviously had really high production values, had great graphics and sound, good environments, and entertaining scripted sequences. It was fun to see all the Saving Private Ryan moments.

The bombed out French village is the one where everyone complains about the snipers. I actually don't mind it so much. It looks very much like the village in Saving Private Ryan where Vin Diesel is killed (after trying to rescue the little girl). </div>


OK, you just provided the best compromise for me regarding MOHAA:
instead of finishing game, Im gonna rent [again] Saving Private Ryan.
It was a great production, had family in tears when we first watched it.
How humbling it was.........
[then I'll wanna go back to MOHAA, lol :) ]

[moya]

The Thin Red Line was better and more thought-provoking (in my opinion).

I realise that the two are completely different films and it's probably not fair to compare them, but they often do get compared since they were released at roughly the same time and Thin Red Line was all but ignored in the wake of Speilberg's giant. It's definitely worth checking out though if you want an effortlessly graceful and poetic meditation on war and humanity.

[Hieremias]

Ugh, I thought the Thin Red Line was a pretentious piece of artsy crap. Twisted and surreal, full of weird poetry and bizarre voice-overs (one guy even narrates his own death).

Saving Private Ryan is a down-to-earth story with believable characters. Thin Red Line, well, isn't.

[E.T.]

<div class=\"smallfont\">(one guy even narrates his own death)</div>

ahhhhhhh, com'on Hieremias, doesnt everyone narrate their own death now & then through life? lol.

"....he was a great gamer, came into this world a noob, climb the slippery ladder of nay sayers, persevered through muck & mire to achieve gaming greatness..." :D

I recall the title [Thin Red Line], but never saw the movie. How'd it do @ the box office?

[Hieremias]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>
"....he was a great gamer, came into this world a noob, climb the slippery ladder of nay sayers, persevered through muck & mire to achieve gaming greatness..." :D
</div>

LOL You forgot "...neglected by his peers and misunderstood by his wife..."

It bombed at the box office. Cost $52 million to make, took in only $36 million. Now if a movie does well at the box office it does not mean it'll be good (a lot of really bad movies do quite well), but in my experience if a movie does very <i>poorly</i> then it's more often than not a pretty good indication that the movie is crap. I can't think of too many box-office bombs that were great movies. <i>Thin Red Line</i> certainly isn't one.

If you like unconventional, non-linear hazy movies then Thin Red Line is your thing. I'm more down-to-earth. I'm pretty sure I'd have to be doped up on something to understand the "logic" behind that movie.

[Suicides-by-Steve]

Okay... Round two! Ah this is a pleasant experience. I'm normally the guy getting into it with Jeremy... I'm jealous for ya Moya... Oh well, if I just mention zombies that outta get him started on me! LOL :p ;)

Personally I couldn't stand SPR... it was so directionless, and unrealistic. A whole squad sent to find someones brother? Get real. All those people would have been court-marsheled! Not to mention the fact that by watching the movie, you'd think the Americans were the only country involved in the war! Terrible flick if you were to ask me...

Oh yeah, nobody asked! Ha! :D

[E.T.]

<div class=\"smallfont\"> by watching the movie, you'd think the Americans were the only country involved in the war! :D</div>


Yes, that mindset is/was alive for many Americans. I recall listening to a Beatles tune [years ago] w/lyrics "..I read the news today, the English army had just won the war...".
I turned to Dad & asked "what war are these guys talking about"?
He replied "WWll".
I was momentarily stunned, my elementry education/media exposure had to that point not impressed on me that others countries were involved.

Hieremias, I guess its safe to say you never got into "Twin Peaks" then [Dune star Kyle McClaughlin [sp]]

Did someone mention there was an expansion/sequel to MOHAA?

[Hieremias]

<div class=\"smallfont\">Okay... Round two! Ah this is a pleasant experience. I'm normally the guy getting into it with Jeremy... I'm jealous for ya Moya... Oh well, if I just mention zombies that outta get him started on me! LOL :p ;)
</div>

SHUT UP ABOUT THE ZOMBIES!!!! I wasn't afraid of them!! I just didn't like them! AAAAAHHH!!! If I could pick up my chair and throw it at you, <i>I would!</i>

Anyway, moya never takes the bait on my movie arguments. Last time he slammed <i>Equilibrium</i> really hard, I said it was a great movie, and he compromised (something about it being "pretty good but it's been done before"). WTF is that?? I guess I shouldn't assume that everyone is like Sarenthalanos, though he was pretty fun.

<div class=\"smallfont\">Personally I couldn't stand SPR... it was so directionless, and unrealistic. A whole squad sent to find someones brother? Get real. All those people would have been court-marsheled!</div>

I thought it had great direction and was very realistic--at least in its portrayal of war. The reason for the mission was kinda silly, I agree.

<div class=\"smallfont\">Not to mention the fact that by watching the movie, you'd think the Americans were the only country involved in the war!</div>

Yeah this is the part I didn't like, but I've pretty much gotten used to it. I would <i>love</i> to see a movie based on the Regina Rifle Regiment. On D+1 about 1000 farmers' kids from Saskatchewan and Manitoba faced a counter-attack from the German 12th SS Hitler Youth Panzer Division (about 12,000 men). The German general Kurt Meyer called the Canadians "little fish". Not only did the Regina Rifles defeat the Germans while outnumbered 12-to-1, they went on to capture Abbaye D'Ardenne, participate in capturing Caen, and captured the Leopold Canal.

I read once that a filmmaker was trying to get funding to make a big-budget movie about this, but no American studio would bankroll it. And you know you just don't want the CBC to bankroll anything of the sort, or the movie will be doomed to mediocrity and a lifetime of broadcast on Sunday-night TV.

[Hieremias]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>
Hieremias, I guess its safe to say you never got into "Twin Peaks" then [Dune star Kyle McClaughlin [sp]]</div>

I've never watched it, don't have an opinion on it.

There are two expansions to Medal of Honor: <i>Spearhead</i> and <i>Breakthrough</i>. I've played neither but they didn't get great reviews.

[Suicides-by-Steve]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>

SHUT UP ABOUT THE ZOMBIES!!!! I wasn't afraid of them!! I just didn't like them! AAAAAHHH!!! If I could pick up my chair and throw it at you, <i>I would!</i>

</div>

ROFL!! 'Atta boy! That's the type of response I want to see! LOL Oh man, if you're serious that would make it even funnier!!! Sigh... Alas, I think you're having fun with me now! :( Well you'll be pleased to hear that once Thief III hit the shelves... Renzatic and I will be building a mod with undead... Oh yeah, theyyy're baccckkk... Thief III has the undead in full glory once again... No stupid walking metal robots. I would prefer it to get back to its' classic roots actually. Undead and Mages go hand in hand as opposed to robots and spy cameras... blah!

[Hieremias]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>

ROFL!! 'Atta boy! That's the type of response I want to see! LOL Oh man, if you're serious that would make it even funnier!!! Sigh... Alas, I think you're having fun with me now! :( Well you'll be pleased to hear that once Thief III hit the shelves... Renzatic and I will be building a mod with undead... Oh yeah, theyyy're baccckkk... Thief III has the undead in full glory once again... No stupid walking metal robots. I would prefer it to get back to its' classic roots actually. Undead and Mages go hand in hand as opposed to robots and spy cameras... blah!</div>

The chair threat wasn't so much a joke. I WAS NOT SCARED OF THE ZOMBIES!!

But your mod sounds cool. If I can help let me know, I'd like to do some mod programming but I don't know how to get started. I'm not much of a graphic artist but I am a programmer by trade.

<i>(Note: When I first typed that last paragraph I made a typo and said "your bod sounds cool". I fixed it when I re-read it, and man, glad I did.)</i>

[Renzatic Gear]

But your mod sounds cool. If I can help let me know, I'd like to do some mod programming but I don't know how to get started. I'm not much of a graphic artist but I am a programmer by trade.

Hieremias, if you're willing to lend a hand then you're more than welcome to come and help.

Get ahold of me or Teh Steeb on ICQ or AIM.

ICQ#:86662860
AIM: Renzatic

I'm a fairly good mapper, Steve is helping me out with ideas, and a programmer is always a welcome addition. If you wanna jump on then gimme a ring.

[Suicides-by-Steve]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>

The chair threat wasn't so much a joke. I WAS NOT SCARED OF THE ZOMBIES!!

But your mod sounds cool. If I can help let me know, I'd like to do some mod programming but I don't know how to get started. I'm not much of a graphic artist but I am a programmer by trade.

<i>(Note: When I first typed that last paragraph I made a typo and said "your bod sounds cool". I fixed it when I re-read it, and man, glad I did.)</i></div>

LOL exceeeeellent. If you run past them quick enough, you'll never even have to view their ghastly visage... I suggest doing that. Anyway, you're more than welcome, and RG is gonna ask you to get ahold of him, so we can arrange where you can send your cheque.

The programming aspect is not so much top-priority (C++ I take it?), but having one around would be handy if we can figure out anyways to implement scripting. Basically now it's simple manpower and a famaliarity with the editor and/or sound mixing/recording. Textures we can find online, or eventually get our own desgner onboard after we get sick of the default textures.

Right now we're still ironing out the details of the plot, but it's beginning to come together.

""and said "your bod sounds cool". "

Aw, you changed it? Uh oh... I think it moved... lol ;) :p

[Renzatic Gear]

""and said "your bod sounds cool". "

Aw, you changed it? Uh oh... I think it moved... lol ;) :p

You're.....man, I don't even know what to say in reply to that. For once in my life I'm speechless.

Good way to scare off the potential help, dumbass. :eek:

[Hieremias]

It was quite possibly the most disturbing thing I'd ever heard. Last time I admit to a Freudian slip on this forum!

[Hieremias]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>
The programming aspect is not so much top-priority (C++ I take it?), but having one around would be handy if we can figure out anyways to implement scripting. Basically now it's simple manpower and a famaliarity with the editor and/or sound mixing/recording. Textures we can find online, or eventually get our own desgner onboard after we get sick of the default textures.

Right now we're still ironing out the details of the plot, but it's beginning to come together.

C++, sure, or whatever scripting language the SDK uses. I can pick up on it fairly quickly. I'll be less useful on the sound recording front--basically I know nothing about it.

Do we have to use AIM or ICQ? I hate them. I have MSN (more out of necessity than anything), and email of course. I gave both to RG.

[moya]

Right then, *crack crack* if this was meant as bait, you succeeded! Now, where do I start? ;)

First of all, this:

"Last time he slammed <i>Equilibrium</i> really hard, I said it was a great movie, and he compromised (something about it being "pretty good but it's been done before"). WTF is that??"

is a woefully inaccurate summary of our Equilibrium "tiff".

First, I didn't slam it "really hard". The thread is
here (http://forums.videogamereview.com/showthread.php?threadid=342&highlight=equilibrium) if you need to refresh your memory.

Second, my "compromise" was actually a clarification of my position which did not change between my first and second postings on that thread. In the first post I merely implied dislike for the movie, in the second I expanded upon that, saying I thought it was fun but utterly unoriginal and devoid of humour or any other spark of life that could make it a great movie. I stand by that. I then compared it to a slew of other (mostly far superior) movies made in some cases decades ago which had already gone over the same ground as Equilibrium and dealt with the same issues more satisfactorily in my opinion.

In any case, an argument about movies is pointless. I coul bang on and on about how Equilibrium is an unoriginal turd, but you're still going to say you enjoyed it and there's not a thing I can do to change that.

So, on to The Thin Red Line. First a more general point. There have been a load of great films which did not get the recognition they deserve at the box office either because they could not be widely distributed or the public simply did not take any notice. The Thin Red Line was an example of the latter in my opinion. Probably due to the fact that Saving Private Ryan was released at the same time. SPR was a big name (even bigger budget than TRL) movie that the public flocked to. Who wants to go and see two war movies in one summer? Thin Red Line was (despite the admittedly rather large budget) an art house movie. The public don't generally like art house flicks.

Second, given your comments:

"Twisted and surreal, full of weird poetry and bizarre voice-overs (one guy even narrates his own death).
Saving Private Ryan is a down-to-earth story with believable characters. Thin Red Line, well, isn't.
If you like unconventional, non-linear hazy movies then Thin Red Line is your thing. I'm more down-to-earth. I'm pretty sure I'd have to be doped up on something to understand the "logic" behind that movie."

I guess the Thin Red Line just isn't for you. You don't have to be doped up to understand it, it just requires an appreciation of film as art and poetry. I'll admit the first time I perhaps didn't "get" it, but subsequent viewings revealed it as the masterpiece it is. I'll always remember the moment where they're leading an assault on a Japanese bunker up a grassy hill. The Sergeant gives the order to advance, two guys at the front get up and are promptly shot dead. Their bodies fall to the ground in silence. Nobody moves or speaks as the wind blows over the grass and the sun momentarily dips behind a cloud causing a shadow to pass over the hill... It's beautiful man. ;)

"What is this great evil? How did it steal into the world? From what seed, what root did it spring? Who's doing this? Who's killing us? Robbing us of light and life. Mocking us with the sight of what we might have known."

[Hieremias]

<div class=\"smallfont\">Right then, *crack crack* if this was meant as bait, you succeeded!</div>

Yeah!!!! That's more like it!

Okay so my summary was a little exaggerated. :)

<div class=\"smallfont\">In any case, an argument about movies is pointless. I coul bang on and on about how Equilibrium is an unoriginal turd, but you're still going to say you enjoyed it and there's not a thing I can do to change that.</div>

True but the argument can still be fun. :)

<div class=\"smallfont\">Thin Red Line was (despite the admittedly rather large budget) an art house movie. The public don't generally like art house flicks.</div>

You hit it on the nose. I hate art house flicks, absolutely can't stand them.

<div class=\"smallfont\">I guess the Thin Red Line just isn't for you. You don't have to be doped up to understand it, it just requires an appreciation of film as art and poetry.</div>

Blah, more "art and poetry" stuff. The movie was just twisted, with a barely coherrent plot and no characters to speak of. It just had a bunch of disjointed voice-over musings about war. If I want that stuff, I'll recite <i>In Flander's Fields</i>.

<div class=\"smallfont\">"What is this great evil? How did it steal into the world? From what seed, what root did it spring? Who's doing this? Who's killing us? Robbing us of light and life. Mocking us with the sight of what we might have known."</div>

I don't know where to start on this, but this is certainly not my idea of a good script or intelligent poetry. I've heard better voiceover musings on the X-Files than this!

[Suicides-by-Steve]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\">

C++, sure, or whatever scripting language the SDK uses. I can pick up on it fairly quickly. I'll be less useful on the sound recording front--basically I know nothing about it.

Do we have to use AIM or ICQ? I hate them. I have MSN (more out of necessity than anything), and email of course. I gave both to RG.</div>

If it's using the Unreal Warfare engine, it'll be C++. Again though, the manpower is more important right now than the skills of any individual... but I'm sure we could use the programming skills for certain. It'd be nice to throw in a scripted moment or two, or add an effect that isn't available by default. Myself, I'll be screwing around with the editing and map-making level designs, but again this is subject to review. Renzatic and I have a brief overview of the plot, so we still have time to learn a few things and iron out the details.

For music Cool Edit Pro and Total Recorder does the tricks in that department, but again, converting the files that the SDK uses is unknown by me. It most likely uses Ogg Vorbis though.

I use ICQ primarily... since it allows messages to be sent without the need of the user being online. Because of Renzatic though, I do have AIM, and I have MSM loaded, but use it primarily to let me know when I have Hotmail. Whatever though... My name on MSM is Tinman... though I don't know if that helps you out at all. I suppose if you search by name and location you can locate me and send me a message. Right now though, it's still in development, but it sounds like we have a modeller aboard now as well.. . Things are coming together nicely, considering we just came up with the idea a couple weeks back! I'll chat with you in the future about this though for certain.

[moya]

<div class=\"smallfont\">
I don't know where to start on this, but this is certainly not my idea of a good script or intelligent poetry. I've heard better voiceover musings on the X-Files than this!</div>

But that's the point! This is a common "everyman" soldier musing on the nature of well, nature! He's trying his best to understand the insanity going on around him, and I think it is beautiful and profound in a way.

By the way, the "barely coherent plot" and "no characters" thing was obviously intentional. It's not a straightforward movie with a beginning, a middle and an end (like Ryan). It's challenging because it's not conventional and it's certainly not easy to watch. I like conventional films as well (since unconventional can only be understood in relation to the conventional), but I think TRL is a good example of an unconventional one. It's better than SPR in my opinion because it does a better job of tying together epic themes such as war and nature and our place in it all. Despite SPR's admittedly impressive and harrowing first 20 minutes, by the end it basically turns into a boy's own woohoo! war adventure which is a bit of a waste. Not to mention the cloying, sentimental start and end flashforward sequences...