WoW Moviewatch: Restless by Neoz
by Michael Gray 
Jul 14th 2009 at 12:00PM
Restless is the first machinima effort by a new author named Neoz. It's a story-based music video, featuring a few of Wrath of the Lich King's general themes. An undead scourge kills some innocent bystanders in Dalaran, motivating a human warrior to give chase on a quest for vengeance. While the pair of fighters battle it out in Northrend's rocky terrain, the human realizes that the undead was actually once a friend.
While the story itself may be standard fare, I think Neoz gave the visual effects of Restless a lot of energy and power. For a new machinima author, especially, Restless is a fast-paced treat. I think Neoz did a great job keeping the action moving.
The music selection for Restless is obviously a remixed version of a Linkin Park song. I usually reserve Linkin Park lyrics for Livejournal and angsty blog posts, but I actually really liked what Neoz did with it in Restless. The music matches the action perfectly, and Neoz didn't drown his story in gothic tropes.
Overall, I really liked the video, and I can't wait to see what Neoz does next.
[Via WarCraftMovies.com]
Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an e-mail at machinima AT wow DOT com.Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, WoW Moviewatch
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
t0ddd Jul 14th 2009 12:16PM
Linkin Park? Really?
Kylenne Jul 14th 2009 12:25PM
My sentiments exactly. Seriously, machinima people? I would like your work a lot better if 90% of you didn't have terrible taste in music. There's a lot more music in the world than crappy house, crappy nu metal and crappy death metal. Expand your horizons a little, get off my lawn, etc.
Galaden Jul 14th 2009 12:29PM
Please learn to be open to other musical styles. I, personally, don't like Linkin Park much, and I don't mind when someone else decides to put the music they like in a vid. As long as it fits with the video, I'm fine.
Chris M Jul 14th 2009 12:41PM
As mentioned in the overview, Linkin Park isn't really the best taste in music, but the Remix here fits the action very well, and given my rather broad taste in music I can't think of a song to fit the action and theme so well.
That said, this is a great piece of machinima.
FeverRay Jul 14th 2009 1:01PM
My sentiments exactly. [2]
Whenever I watch a machinima video, I put the volume down just because of the poor soundtrack. Really, nu-metal? Here I thought geeks and nerds would be more "in sync" with current music genres (emo doesn't need to apply here). A look at last.fm's top lists would be nice, once in a while.
Exception made only to the awesome A.D.I.D.A.W. (or something like that), that used Korn's A.D.I.D.A.S.
PS: linkin park aside, the video is very good :)
t0ddd Jul 14th 2009 2:02PM
I'd say I have a very broad taste in music which is why I question the use of Linkin Park. We also seem to have a few "movie critics" here who applaud the choice of music. I suspect you enjoyed the new Transformers movie as well.
fish Jul 14th 2009 12:25PM
good stuff
fish Jul 14th 2009 12:44PM
Maybe his next one can be about a goblin peasant named Kylenne who gets brutally raped by 100 Blood Elf Paladins.
Agony Jul 14th 2009 1:44PM
That was so not cool, nor called for.
Stevee Vader Jul 15th 2009 1:03AM
I laughed at that I get yur angle of genericness lol blood elf paladins seriously though if I see another bloody death knight i might kill myself thank god my guild does not run with them lol
Drag Jul 14th 2009 12:46PM
Linkin Park? Goku hair?
In the words of my draenei toons, NO. DEFINITELY NOT.
Rexton Jul 14th 2009 1:11PM
I stopped once I recognized Linkin Park.
Deathomen Jul 14th 2009 12:52PM
Wow, a lot of haters on the music.
Anyway, from a movie critic standpoint, i'd have to say this is one of the best i've seen. At first i was thinking i would only be commenting on above average choreography in a story-less video. But the story line was very well done, and very well wrapped up. I give it 2 thumbs up! keep up the good work.
And as far as the music. Come on people really? You'll hate on Linkin park to the point it ruins the whole video for you? As if there have been more than 2 or 3 new bands since 2000 that are equally talented? (or even old bands new music for that matter)
babs Jul 14th 2009 1:16PM
Tuneless screaming isn't music.
xwxw Jul 14th 2009 12:57PM
Appears to be your standard lame, boring, dime-o-dozen wow videos. Yep, it is.
bingman Jul 14th 2009 1:11PM
if any of you watch naruto, this vid was a copy of the naruto vs sauske amv on youtube
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A--dqds7ZT8)
Catiya of Feathermoon Jul 14th 2009 1:33PM
How is using the same song "copying"? They're two different types of work with different overall plots that use the same song.
Tori Jul 14th 2009 1:24PM
Well, since I'm at work I watched this with no sound (which may be a good thing, can't say I'm a Linkin Park fan).
Anyways, I have to say the choreography is quite well done for using the standard WoW models and animations. Bit of a cliche plot, but nonetheless it's a good video. I enjoyed it just fine without any sound, but I might give it a second watch when I get home just to see it how it was originally meant to be.
Catiya of Feathermoon Jul 14th 2009 1:30PM
I felt that was absolutely fantastic. I loved the simple but effective storyline, I found the editing to be just enough and that the musical choice was perfect. I hate linkin park but it doesn't matter what my tastes are when something is done that well. That was an artistic use of a type of music I'm not fond of that managed to overall impress me by the end. Kudos to the artist for this very well done piece of work- keep it up!
Qot Jul 14th 2009 2:07PM
Not the best, not the worst. Music choice can be generously described as generic. Full disclosure: I'm a recovered Linkin Park fan (it was a stage! I was young and foolish!).
Personally, I think the conclusion could've used a "Rise my soldiers! Rise and fight once more!" but the story matched the ending: inoffensive, predictable, nothing ground-breaking. The pacing was forced to keep with the music. There wasn't a real crescendo, just sort of fast fast fast boom, done (inb4 "that's what she said"). This isn't a knock against the creator; it's extremely difficult to tell a rich story in a few minutes an d it's extremely common to tell a bad one. A decent story means that it was good, especially for a first effort.
For the second effort, I'd suggest trying something more difficult than generic high-energy fighting music with action.