Some Initial Notes On Rainbow Rocks (Spoiler-Free!) · 4:38am Oct 2nd, 2014
The most important thing to note is this; while I liked Equestria Girls, and don't think it's a bad movie, neither would I say it's really a good movie, strictly speaking.
But Rainbow Rocks? Rainbow Rocks is a good movie.
All these notes are spoiler-free.
-Sonata Dusk is Magic
-Sunset Shimmer and the Dazzlings were definitely the high points of the film, though the Mane Six were never underwritten or done a disservice as a result.
-I actually have a fair bit to say regarding Sunset Shimmer's development, but the short version is that while I would have done things a bit differently, it was still damn good.
-As for the Dazzlings... remember that list of villains I made a few blog posts back, where I gave them all rankings? Yeah, they've easily made not just my top five, but my top three favorites.
-Sonata Dusk is Magic
-Derpy's band was beautiful in a way words cannot describe.
-The bass canon is cannon. Who'da thunk it?
-I was surprised to hear some full-on heavy metal during one scene, and only slightly less so that it fit perfectly.
-Sonata Dusk is Magic
-There was one thing I expected them to do in this movie that they did not actually do; part of me is somewhat disappointed, but at the same time I'm kinda impressed that they didn't go the obvious route.
-The end credits song (Shine Like Rainbows) and the Dazzlings' third song (Welcome To The Show) are neck-and-neck for my favorite song of the movie, and definitely on my top five from the show altogether. Speaking of which, I need to find those prints used in said end credits...
-Dat post-credits scene. I'm actually looking forward to EQG3, and/or Equestria Academy
-But no, seriously, Sonata Dusk practically carried the whole film. (and the best part is that it didn't need her to; she just made it infinitely better!) Even if you're inherently opposed to the premise, it's still worth watching just for her.
Tomorrow, once I'm feeling more coherent, I'll post two more blog posts. First will be my full review of Rainbow Rocks, along with some amusing (and in one spot, heartwarming) anecdotes regarding my further shenanigans trying to see the movie, and an 'extended ending' scene I've thought up but that's too short to count as a full story. Actually, I may stick that in Coldy's Cutting Room Floor. Hmm.
The second is unrelated to Rainbow Rocks; basically, along with all the stuff going on today (and partially because of it) I've come to some important realizations regarding this whole 'homework and slow updates' thing; a lot of the more personal stuff won't be included, but as a lot of it is relevant to my future activity here, and I just need someplace to get this stuff down, that'll be a thing. It'll have some announcement stuff, but most of it will be for my own benefit and thus can be safely skipped if you so wish.
Anyway, g'night, y'all.
You did that on purpose...
Fixed that for ya.
Battle of the Bands would like a word with you.
If they join forces with Bulk Biceps, they will achieve musical domination.
2501981
Nope!
Totally accidental!
True enough.
Battle of the Bands and Under Our Spell are currently fighting over third-favorite.
2501993
Grumble grumble grumble...
Blasphemy!
2501999
I am a blasphemer...
2501981
She was absolutely beautifully written.
)
Hell yeah, Sunset carried the film!
(and also Sonata Dusk
2501993
They're easily in my top three villains, too.
"Under Our Spell" has me in a trance, man. I've been listening to it on repeat since Saturday. It's just . . . man. Man, it's so good. "Put your hands up to the sky" booms with such a devastating sound, and every time a losing band was blown away by the shockwave of that last note, I was just struck with horror at how brutal it seemed--really goes to show how scary the effects of the Dazzlings' manipulation and dark magic are.
2502682 Well, I took the bands blowing each other away as more of a figurative representation of the contest's progression rather than what actually happened... but I definitely see what you mean.
"Welcome To The Show" (Or at least, the Dazzlings' part in it) is still my favorite of the three, though, as it's a well-justified cry of victory that rings with menace - Even cut off as it was, it still drives home how far the Dazzlings got, and on top of that, those transformation sequences were a brilliantly dark version of the Humane Five's own changes.
What it comes down to is that both sides were very competent, undermined mainly by things they couldn't have known of or accounted for, (The Dazzlings by Vinyl Scratch, the Rainbooms by the Dazzlings already knowing of their magic) and yet the Dazzlings pulled off their plan perfectly, always remaining several steps ahead of the Rainbooms and turning their opponents' victories against them. In the end, while they were confident, it wasn't overconfidence and/or sudden stupidity that defeated them - they were overpowered, plain and simple. In my mind, at least, that puts them far above many of MLP's other villains.
But returning to the topic at hand, that's why I like "Welcome To The Show" so much - it's the culmination of their plans, and the culmination of everything that makes them so great as villains.