Legends of Everfree Recap and Review · 11:56am Sep 25th, 2016
Yes, I found it in English.
Yes, I watched it.
And now my review. It should go without saying but:
We open on Sci-twi sleeping, having a nightmare, when the others barge in - the bus for Camp Everfree is here and she overslept! A note quickly, this implies this is taking place over summer vacation, which in tandem with the Fall Formal means we have an actual solid timeframe for the series. Anyway, they help Twi pack, and in a cute continuity nod Rarity has the Fall Formal dress Princess Twi wore all the way back in the first movie. Even if they were going to the moon, she'd insist on bringing a dress, you never know!
Twilight goes to the mirror to change and suddenly sees Midnight Sparkle behind her. She laughs she's not defeated, and in a cool sequence of animation the room around them crumbles and Twi's friends vanish. A giant Midnight looms over her and says she'll always be a part of her, lurking in her mind. Twi wakes up from her nightmare on the bus to Everfree, and a quick confirmation that Spike can still talk follows. Celestia mentions the class raised money for a class fieldtrip so maybe not summer? It must be spring at least, given the weather. Anyway, Luna also talks and sounds very weird here, maybe a different VA?
Opening sequence, a fun campfire song with guitars as the bus drives to the camp, complete with a clap-along chorus. Song is catchy but otherwise meh, it lacks the badassitude of Friendship Game and the rock of Rainbow Rocks. Also because I'm the guy who notices these things, the credits spell Applejack's name as two words, hn. Gloriosa Daisy is voiced by Enid-Raye Adams. Also because I checked her IMDB page, she appeared in Kinderkarten Cop 2. Really? That was a movie that demanded a sequel? In 2016 no less? Brian Doe voices Timber Spruce.
We arrive at camp and the seven discuss what they want to do. Pinkie quickly recaps the villains of the previous three films including two demon friends. All together now.
"No offense."
"None taken."
Sunset puts her arm around an awkward Twilight. "You'll get used to it." The girls of course laugh it'll be nice to get out somewhere where magical shenanigans aren't gonna happen, hahaha. Flash runs up and brings Twilight's bag to her, and of course awkwardly notes they don't really know each other. "Cool story, bro." Yes, Flash says that. Flash runs off and Sunset quickly explains Flash's deal with Princess Twilight. A loudspeaker blares for everyone to come to the courtyard. Gloriosa and Timber introduce themselves, they're siblings by the way. They ask the students what they want to do to have fun while they're at camp.
Rainbow shouts out a few obvious athletic suggestions. Bulk Biceps yells "arts and crafts!" He mom needs new potholders. Rarity wants to put on a fashion show. "A camp tradition!" Timber whispers they have "literally never done that," and Gloriosa just gives him a look. As she continues her speech, Timber makes eyes at a blushing Twilight. Celestia shouts out her favorite tradition, the camp gift. Timber and Gloriosa argue a little bit more with the mike covered, but Sunset picks up on it. The camp gift is a tradition where the campers work together to create something for the camp itself, for the next generation of campers. Celestia proudly points out the sundial was her year's gift, and Luna snarks "some of them" thought it was impractical since you can't use a sundial at night. I'll let that joke speak for itself because it's a good one.
Rarity and Pinkie are paired up for tents, then Applejack and Rainbow. Fluttershy gets Vinyl Scratch. Naturally Sunset is with Twilight. Twilight gives some trivia on sapphires because the cards to assign them use gemstones, and Timber shows off his (apparently flawed, if what I've read is right) knowledge of the subject as well. I have to say this is kind of awkward, I know the ages are ambiguous, but if Gloriosa and Timber run the camp director, I'd presume Timber is at least in his early 20s, allowing Gloriosa to be older by several years. And Twilight is definitely a teenager. Even at best reasonable estimates of age, we have a college guy hitting on a high school student probably several years younger than him. But I know nothing of relationships so maybe this isn't a big deal to anyone else. Twilight clues in to the obvious pick-up going on as Timber excuses himself. Naturally all the girls saw that.
Gloriosa calls for them to get ready for the first activity, when Filthy Rich arrives. He does and says nothing of importance, by his own admission he's just there to look around but Gloriosa convinces him to leave. She explains he's an alumni of the camp and tells the group to go put their bags away. The next scene serves no purpose but to remind us that Rarity has hips, and they don't lie. Like, really, this front-on shot as they walk serves no purpose but to let Rarity swing her hips around. In the background I notice Lyra and Bon Bon are in the same tent, of course, and Vinyl is talking to Fluttershy, so she's not a mute, in this world anyway.
In Sunset and Twi's tent Sunset brings up the odd meeting with Filthy Rich and how it seems Gloriosa is hiding something. I guess Sunset will be taking on a new superheroine role this movie, Captain Obvious. Sunset teases Twilight about Timber Spruce, doing that combination of sexy and adorable that only she can pull off. Sunset asks if Twilight is okay with what happened on the bus, and Spike brings up her nightmares. Twilight mentions how friendly everyone is to her in spite of what happened at the Friendship Games, and Sunset reminds her it was Cinch that drove her to it and tells her to trust her friends to forgive her.
Sunset looks for her sunscreen and Twilight finds and points to it, when suddenly it levitates into the air. Around them other objects are floating, in auras of purple magic no less. Twilight is freaked out but Sunset is amazed, and the objects fall around them. Sunset starts getting excited, since they've all ponied up before (the words "magical rainbow lasers" are used), but none of them had magic like that. Twilight wonders if it was Midnight Sparkle but brushes it off and asks Sunset to not tell anyone what happened. Twilight leaves and Sunset tries her own hand at levitating the sunscreen to her. Spike snarks she's just gonna have to pick it up. Sunset walks outside putting on sunscreen and bumps into Gloriosa. Gloriosa snaps at her but says she didn't say anything when Sunset questions what she said. Also a note, Gloriosa is obviously up to something, she is far too nice and happy and it's obviously forced.
At the lake the girls are enjoying the sight and we get a funny joke where a bird lands on Fluttershy's finger, and Rainbow quips that only happens to her. Twilight walks across the dock when a plank snaps, giving her a convenient excuse to trip into Timber's arms. Flash is watching them when Sunset approaches him, and they have a talk. Sunset gives him the obvious heads up that the other Twilight is a princess back in Equestria, that's her home, so it never would have worked out anyway. Flash is not amused by her bluntness. Luna and Celestia are at the docks now and mention the dock should be closed due to the safety hazard, but Gloriosa assures them she'll fix it when the students are bummed out. Applejack brings up the idea that their camp gift could be a new dock, but while the others like the idea, Timber thinks it'll be a diversion from actual camp activities. He and Gloriosa glare some more but Rainbow intervenes and declares Applejack is right.
I'll note at this point the tension between Gloriosa and Timber is completely manufactured, even if she's obviously up to something she just makes suggestions to keep the campers happy and encourage them to have fun, and then Timber protests. He's apparently the fun and cool sibling, but it's Gloriosa that's making the fun suggestions and Timber rejects them for no real reason. There's no consistency in their chararacterization as far as their conflict goes. They just disagree on things because the script says so.
The art student designs a dock based on the suggestions of the Mane Seven and the camp gets to work. Timber and Twilight flirt some more, and Celestia calls the work to an end for the night. We cut to the campfire as Rarity tells what, for her, is a scary story - a fashion faux pas. Timber takes his turn and begins the legend of Gaia Everfree. Years ago his great-grandparents decided to build their home on the lake grounds and then build a camp, but the construction was plagued by mysterious happenings. On a stormy night the couple are attacked by the nature spirit, Gaia Everfree, who slithers on the ground leaving a trail of gemdust. The spirit identifies herself to them, and says she is the guardian spirit of the forest and they are trespassers. They plead for Gaia to let them build the camp to share its beauty with others. Gaia relents, but warns one day she will return and reclaim the land for the forest.
Timber ends his story telling them to beware of Gaia Everfree, as Gloriosa approaches the fire and ends the campfire. The Mane Seven discuss the legend, and Rainbow brings up the idea that Gaia Everfree may be real, a being from Equestria that was sent to this world. Another note, Sunset's secondary purpose in this movie besides stating the obvious is to have half-lidded eyes in every single scene so we can play "Make This Look Suggestive" with the screencaps. Applejack and Rarity again mention they're tired of dealing with magical chaos and bring up the Friendship Games, and Twilight is put out and heads to her tent. The next morning Twilight has another nightmare of Midnight Sparkle and wakes up screaming. Sunset jumps up striking karate poses, and we see Twilight's bed and belongings levitating again. They fall to the ground and Sunset says they have to discuss her magic, but Twilight refuses.
At the lake Derpy is rather literally trying to blow her own sail to no success. Sunset and Twilight walk towards the lake, and while Sunset thinks the idea of Twilight controlling her magic is great, Twilight is unsure. Derpy's boat suddenly crashes into the docks and the group runs up to investigate. The eco-kid that was with Derpy mentions the wind suddenly picking up and blowing them into the dock. Twilight walks off mumbling she thinks it was her. Trixie then does what she does best - be a funny ham and steal the show with her own scene with dialogue. Rarity sees a trail of gemdust in the lake leading to the boat, getting everyone talking. They discuss repairing the dock while Twilight runs into the woods.
We now get out first song, "The Midnight in Me." And it's pretty epic. There's some really powerful piano work at play here and it feels dramatic and tense as Twilight sings about her worries with Midnight Sparkle. However, it's far too short, barely a minute. Lame, it ends when it's just getting going.
Back at camp Sunset is looking for Twilight and asks Spike for help. In the woods Twilight bumps into Timber Spruce and he volunteers to lead her back to camp. He explains he was raised on the camp grounds but always wished they'd sell the place and move into town, but he was a kid. He admits he's never told that to anyone, too. Sunset and Spike are listening from the bushes and decide to leave them alone.
At the rock climbing wall, Applejack is holding the rope for Rarity. Twilight and Timber arrive and Rainbow asks for Twilight to spot for her, and goes to get a harness. Timber walks off when suddenly there's an earthquake, and a trail of gem dust appears in the grass. Rarity asks to come down and Applejack pulls on the rope, when her hands glow and she suddenly yanks Rarity to the top of the wall. She lets go and catches the rope before Rarity hits bottom. Rarity screams at her and holds up her hands, projecting a gem-shaped shield that pushes Applejack away into the lake. Twilight again blames herself and runs to get Applejack a towel. Sunset runs after her and thinks the girl getting powers is great, but again Twilight protests it and points out the two could have hurt each other.
Gloriosa is here to remind us she exists before she runs off at Twilight's mention of Applejack falling into lake to get her supplies. The two hear a scream and run to the mess hall where they find a mess of baking dough. Fluttershy and Pinkie show off the latter's new power, making candy sparkles explode. Fluttershy goes to get paper towels and subconsciously commands a bird to retrieve them for her. As she thanks it she realizes she can understand its chirps. The bird calls it friends when Fluttershy innocently comments she doesn't know if she can understand other animals, and a flock of birds including two owls land on her arms.
Rarity and Applejack burst in to tell the group about their experience, and Applejack gives the obvious cue for Rainbow to burst into the room in a rainbow-streaked flash of super speed, slamming into the wall. She explains she ran all the way back to town, but the power began to fade when she got there, then returned as she turned around. Pinkie deduces that being at the camp is affecting their powers. Sunset says she hasn't gotten new powers, but begins to bring up Twilight's but says she hasn't either when Twilight shakes her head. The group wonders if Gaia Everfree is the cause when Gloriosa comes in with towels.
By the way, I'll note I spoiled myself on this seeing excerpts of the novelization on derpibooru, and I'll spoiler tag it here because it spoils later events in the film. It is so friggin' obvious that Gloriosa is Gaia Everfree. Twice now she's miraculously appeared as someone else prompts the spirit by name - the first time was Timber's story at the campfire - and she's obviously putting on a fake nice act. This isn't foreshadowing, a little kid could pick up on the hints. Anyway, back to the review.
The eco-kid and Derpy rush in with problems, and to the elation of the fandom, Derpy speaks - it's her Slice of Life-style voice, if you're curious. Gloriosa is obviously trying to keep it together but smiles and promises to help them. Timber runs in and whispers Filthy Rich is back, but Gloriosa refuses to let him handle it and goes out herself. We get another hint to Sunset's budding power when Celestia calls for the group to go to the next activity. The group agrees to put the magic stuff aside and have fun at camp, as once again they're kinda tired of dealing with magical chaos at home.
At lantern-making for the new dock, Twilight is sitting by herself and confides in Spike she thinks Midnight Sparkle is to blame for the new magic stuff happening. Timber comes over to flirt some more but Twilight is still hesitant with what they were talking about. At the lake the group lets their lanterns fly - except Pinkie who put too many marshmallows on hers so it can't float. She shrugs and eats it. As the campers sleep, Sunset wakes up and sees Twilight gone, and goes outside to see her running into the woods. Sunset catches up to her and demands an explanation. She's living, and Sunset says she can't and puts a hand on Twilight's arm. Suddenly Sunset has a vision of Twilight blaming herself for the magical stuff going on, and consoles Twilight. Like the rest of us, Sunset realizes her new power is telepathy, and touching Twilight let her see her thoughts.
Sunset is once again happy but Twilight points out the magic turned Sunset into something beautiful, but it turned Twilight into a monster. I dunno Twilight, a lot of fans including me would chime in you were pretty hot as Midnight Sparkle. Sunset reminds her she was a demon once too, and she understands. Her friends will help her, but they can't if she runs away. The two reconcile when Timber Spruce appears with an axe. Sunset is rightfully skeptical. Timber says he was cutting firewood and produces a cart of it to prove it - he's doing it out here at night so Gloriosa won't insist on doing it herself. Timber offers to lead them back and protest them from Gaia Everfree. Also random note, TV Tropes enlightened me that the novels use "Gaea." Well I spell it Gaia, too bad.
Sunset says it was a story he made up, but Timber says it's true and brings up the weird stuff happening as proof. He takes Twilight's hand to lead her back to town, and Sunset sees gemdust leaking from his pocket. Spike questions why Timber would create a hoax, and Sunset speculates it's because he wants to drive the camp to ruin so his family will sell it and he can move to the city. Spike says they should tell Twilight but Sunset is hesitant to when she and Timber are hitting it off so well.
At the docks the Mane Five are working, and Rainbow is taking slow steps for obvious reasons. The group begins to argue and Applejack brings up it's rather impossible to avoid talking about their powers. Pinkie tosses her some nails and the group dives for cover while Rarity projects a shield to deflect them - fortunately they don't explode. Sunset approaches them and tells them they need to figure out how to control their powers, and also tells them about her powers to see the minds of others. Pinkie is excited and tells Sunset to do her, and grabs her hand and slaps it on her head. Sunset is granted a vision of Pinkie's mind.
I will not describe what follows. It is everything you think it is.
Sunset stares ahead. "That explains so much."
She comes to her senses and says the group's powers are a wonderful thing. So begins our next song, "Embrace the Magic," led by Sunset who has once again shifted singing voice since Friendship Games. In a montage the group practice using their power as they build the dock, and use those powers to help along the construction. The song itself is nothing special, there's a neat animation with Sunset and the camera spinning around her, but the melody itself is entirely forgettable. The dock is complete and the group is won over by the idea of their new powers. Sunset runs off to find Twilight to do the same for her.
Sunset passes by the office and overhears Gloriosa and Timber talking, and thinks she was right about Timber wanting Gloriosa to sell the camp. Sunset walks away and bumps into Flash. Flash thanks her for the tough love talk about Twilight, and picks up something is bugging her because they used to date, remember? I'd say anyone could pick up on that since she's obviously nervous and looking around for something but okay. Sunset does the "a friend of mine is having a problem" thing that Flash is somehow clueless about even though he saw Twilight with Timber earlier. Flash notes how much Sunset has changed and suggests they start over as friends, when Sunset sees Timber running into the woods and goes to look. And just in case we didn't pick up on the obvious plot parallels yet, Derpy comes out of nowhere to give Flash a comforting pat on the back.
Sunset pursues Timber to a cave blocked by boulders deep in the woods, and takes out her phone and backs off. Twilight gets a text from her telling her to meet up, and they do. The cave is glowing and Sunset and Twilight head inside. Inside they find a large cavern full of glowing pink gemstones, and Sunset senses Equestrian magic here. She wonders what Timber is up to, and to the surprise of no one by this point, Gloriosa steps from the shadows. She insists she would never try to scare anyway from the camp, and as she walks by Sunset grabs her arm to see her thoughts.
In the vision Gloriosa is meeting with Filthy Rich - the camp has fallen behind in payments and he's bought the land from under them, and intends to turn it into a spa resort, but he agrees to give her to the end of the month to come up with the money. As she sits out crying by the lake, she sees a burst of magic head into the caves and follows it. She finds a cluster of colored gemstones on a stone outcropping, but when she touches them she's blown away. Vines burst from the earth and catch her, and she looks at five of the gems she grabbed - orange, white, blue, pink, and yellow.
In the next vision, Gloriosa is wearing them as a necklace and shows off her powers to make plants grow, and tells Timber she intends to use this power to make the camp's last year the best one ever. The story of Gaia Everfree was made up by Timber on the spot to cover for the strange events happening, which was Gloriosa using her powers to enhance the experience of the campers, like helping Derpy sail or moving rocks to divert a river for them to fish in (that would be the earthquakes). I really like this revelation because now their conflict makes sense - Timber wants to have fun, but Gloriosa is using her magic for that and he recognizes how dangerous it is.
Back in the present Sunset realizes what's really been going on, a convenient shot showing us two more crystals on the rock formation where Gloriosa got the first five - no prizes for guessing what colors they are. Gloriosa questions how Sunset knows what's going on, and Sunset reveals the powers of herself and her friends. Twilight tries to talk her down and it doesn't go so well. Gloriosa grabs the last two crystals and creates a new necklace of vines to hold all seven. In a cool transformation sequence her vines encompass her and she turns into Gaia Everfree. Gloriosa binds the two and leaves, closing the cave entrance with boulders.
At the camp Rarity is putting on her fashion show on the docks. Gloriosa floats by Snips and Snails, and in a hilarious scene they muse she looks different. "She looks taller." Gloriosa approaches the docks and announces to them that Filthy Rich wants to shut down the camp, but don't worry. "I'VE GOT THIS!" (which has been her catchphrase I've forgotten to mention). She slams her hands into the ground and a massive wall of vines erupts surround the campgrounds.
And now song time, "Stand for Everfree." This is simply awesome, it's got a great beat going on and Gloriosa is belting out the lyrics, rising to a crescendo of visual and audio sensation. This rivals Under Our Spell as one of the best villain songs the show has ever given us, I wouldn't say it's better but it's definitely worth mentioning alongside it. Gloriosa continues to cover the camp with vines, telling the campers not to be afraid, she's here to let them enjoy nature, and she won't let the camp ever go away.
Fluttershy gives a great deadpan quip, "why do these things kinds of things always happen to us?" The cast agree it's time to save the day. They use their new powers to clear out the vines and in the process pony up. Gloriosa turns her powers on them and though they fight back they're overwhelmed. Back in the cave Twilight and Sunset are freed, and Sunset convinces Twilight to use her powers to levitate the boulders blocking them in. As she does a spot on her forehead glows, but she doesn't pony up.
At camp Gloriosa protests the Mane Five fighting her, declaring she's doing it for them, to save the camp. Rarity tries to talk her down and reason with her, but she brings up the spa and Gloriosa is not amused. Timber also tries. "I appreciate your concern, Timber, BUT I GOT THIS!" If nothing else props to the writers for making her catchphrase joke work twice. Gloriosa rises up on a pillar of vines as the wall begins to grow into a complete dome. Sunset and Twilight reach the vines and Sunset ponies up as she encourages Twilight to use her magic - sadly, no wings this time, fiery or otherwise. Twilight uses her magic to push open the vines and get them inside.
The recording I'm viewing has technical difficulties, but it's easy to intuit what happens. Gloriosa springs an enclosure of vines around the Mane Seven, and Rarity projects a shield to hold them off. Sunset again talks Twilight into embracing her magic to fight back. Twilight is terrified of turning into Midnight Sparkle again, but the group promises not to let that happen. Twilight begins to exert her powers, and Midnight's glowing horn and eyeglass-shapes form over her face. In a vision Midnight mocks Twilight and is absorbed into her, causing her to transform, but the Mane Six appear around her and tell her she's in control, and she's good. "You are not Midnight Sparkle!"
Twilight's eyes snap open and the colored magic around them disperses.
"I am Twilight Sparkle, and the magic I carry inside me is the magic of friendship!"
The transformation reverts and we're back to the real world. The vines burst apart as we see Twilight ponied up with pony wings but no horn, and she flies up to Gloriosa. Her magic tears the gems from around her neck. The gems float to one each of the Mane Seven and they transform again, Rarity's dresses for them becoming magical girl costumes. In an explosion of seven-colored light the dome of vines is destroyed. As the campers look around, Timber finds Gloriosa turned back to normal and hugs her, assuring her it'll be okay. The transformed Seven find the gemstones have turned into amulets around their necks, and wonder what they are. Rarity, ever fashion-conscious, hangs the lampshade that they're color-coordinated with their outfits. Because of course they are.
The campers fix up the camp, and Gloriosa approaches Luna and Celestia to apologize for what she's done. With how she ruined this last year maybe it's for the best the camp close, but Celestia refuses to let that happen. Everyone else agrees, but Gloriosa isn't sure how they can help. They decide to hold a fundraiser, of course. We get our last song, "Be The Legend You Were Meant to Be" as the group uses their power to send out invitations to the fundraiser and set up the cavern for a concert where the Rainbooms play, and I guess Twilight is a member now. Song is rather meh, though. Don't get why Daniel said this soundtrack is his favorite, it's not that impressive really. Naturally they raise the money to save the camp and Gloriosa thanks them. Rainbow: "Don't sweat it, it's kinda what we do."
At the concert Timber and Twilight flirt some more and he directly asks her out. She takes his hand and they lean in to kiss when Gloriosa breaks it up and asks him away. Sunset realizes the crystals they wear are allowing them to use their powers away from the camp, and thinks they were meant to have them. Outside, Sunset tells Twilight there's one thing she doesn't get - where did this magic come from? Back at CHS, we see a crack in the pedestal where the Wondercolt Statue used to stand, and the gemstones fly out of it.
We end the film with a post-credits scene. At Crystal Prep, Cinch is welcoming a group of new students to the school. She mentions her hope to regain her school's dignity in the next Friendship Games against Canterlot in spite of their magical students - and in the crowd we see a back view of a girl with a familiar mane of red and yellow hair...
....NAAAAAAAH just kidding. The post-credits scene has the group looking over the dock, rebuilt for the umpteenth time. Pinkie throws confetti to celebrate, blowing it up.
So, summed up thoughts. Probably my third-favorite movie, still blows the first out of the water but it's not as good as Friendship Games or Rainbow Rocks. The plot is rather disconnected, a lot of scenes don't flow into each other well, things kinda just happen as they happen, and there isn't a lot of tension or build-up for the climax. We don't get the legend of Gaia Everfree until the 20 minute mark, and aside from Sunset and Twilight, no hints of the new powers of the group until the 30 minute mark. In a 1:10:00 movie. Thus until the second half when their magic begins to manifest, things move rather slowly.
But that said, once it does pick up, it gets really good. I like the new powers of the group, they make thematic sense, and their magic manifesting in new ways is something I've wanted ever since the first one. The crystals they get are obviously stand-ins for the Elements of Harmony, which combined with the "leaking" portal is obviously meant to be explored in a sequel, which I'm cool with. As I've said elsewhere I enjoy the ongoing plot of these films, each film continues story and character arcs from the last while setting up stuff for the next one. It creates a sense of serialized storytelling the main series lacks.
Speaking of, let's talk characters. Twilight and Sunset are the focus here and are good, Sunset's excitement at getting magic makes perfect sense, given she's a unicorn used to magic for most of her life, and Twilight's dilemna is handled well. She doesn't angst over it too much and her fears don't cripple her, she comes through when she's needed and her fear is not annoying. The other Mane Six are fine, they don't get much individual focus but shine well as a group.
Timber Spruce is okay, a far better love interest than Flash Sentry. The reason is that, while he and Twilight are obviously attracted to each other on first meeting, the writers give them time to talk and bond and develop feelings. I would love to see Timber come back, he's a cool guy. Speaking of Flash, he gets a couple of scenes to have some long-needed development. I have mixed feelings on him and Sunset being teased as hooking up again, but am ultimately not opposed to it.
Gloriosa is a very good villain because she isn't evil. When she unleashes her powers on the camp she pointedly does not hurt anyone, at least until the Mane Seven start fighting her and she retaliates. She's just devoted to her camp and her campers. All the stuff happening throughout the film was just her using her magic to help them have a good time and she messed it up or else caused other inadvertent effects. The wall of vines is obviously going too far but then these films have a recurring trend of folks being overwhelmed by magic and going off the deep end. I'd say Gloriosa is rather easily the best developed and explored villain of the films so far, not counting Sunset since her development came after she was reformed.
A couple minor nitpicks. There's some odd facial animation popping up, nothing too bad but some of the faces look off. Also, Filthy Rich is completely tacked on. Not only is this role entirely unfitting for him given that he's a nice guy in Equestria, but he wasn't needed. He appeared in one scene, not counting Gloriosa's flashbacks, and that scene only served to establish he existed. If the plot was rewritten to just being the camp couldn't afford to stay open anymore and there was no mention of Filthy Rich trying to buy it, nothing in the story would have to be changed. But again, these are minor.
Overall this is a perfectly good movie, it wasn't the predictable Scooby-Doo plot I feared, it had more twists and turns with a good villain, good worldbuilding (until the end we never even saw CHS, we spent the entire film in other places), and good character development for the two main heroines. I would have just liked the story to be tightened up more so it flows more naturally, if it did I'd rank it above Friendship Games as the second-best movie. But for now it's a proud and worthy third.
Dude you just made this the best fucking sunday ever! Word of advice download Realplayer and use the video downloader to capture the movie in case the link dies...that's how I've managed to get all the movies thus far with the exception of Rainbow Rocks lol I actually went and bought that one
I'm seven minutes into the damn thing, and I can't decide wether I wanna slap Gloriosa or fuck her . . . probably both, if she's into slapping.
4226054 EqD has the link now. The movie has reached the masses. There is no stopping it.
4226060 Boss! xD Btw big fan of your stories
Best. Sunday. EVER!!!
Everyone better watch it before the law (Hasbro) finds out about this.
I loved the story. Plus, it's pretty just made a lot of headcanons canon now. So... double yay.
I'm gonna have to watch this again!
Now, let the week (month) of Sunset Shimmer continue!
How much you wanna bet those "geodes" arent really geodes as the human world knows them, but shards from the Elements of Harmony/Rainbow Powers that defeated Tirek, and now have started leaking through the crack in portal at the top of the Wondercolts Statue. One nit pick was them not following through with the ending from Friendship Games. What was the point of that if they weren't gonna use it in the next movie? Makes the ending of FG pointless now.
Personally, I don't know what to feel about this Twilight having wings. I mean it's cool and all but she hasn't really done anything to earn alicorn status, so it kind of feels like the writers just gave her wings in order to match up to pony Twilight's transformation. I'm also a bit dissapointed that they didn't bring up Sunset missing equestria in this movie, with all the ambient magic, I felt that it would have been a good place to tackle it and I believe it would also help the first half of the movie feel less slow.
On a side note the first half of "A Midnight In Me" reminded me a LOT of "Luna's Future"
Loved it, it's just below Rainbow Rocks only because Rainbow Rocks in my opinion had better songs however this movie did so much right even though the constant timberlight shit pissed me off and made me facepalm every single time. Though I wanna say I fucking called it with Glori and the gems as well as all of the girls super powers(except for Sunset)
Also at the very end? That green color magic...CALLING IT RIGHT NOW that's going to human world Starlight Glimmer and those other colors of magic seemed to be 'rouge' so they might go out and infect others maybe the Dazzlings?
I rank this movie at a 8.5/10. Good plot, good character interaction, decent 'villain' good songs, amazing character designs, theories confirmed out the anus etc etc. Can't wait for the next one cause you KNOW they are making another one
See you in EG5...I predict a school talent show! Not a musical showcase but a TALENT SHOW where everyone showcases their own special talent and I see the return of the Dazzlings!
I'm a bit annoyed that Sci-Twi got wings already. I was expecting her to pony-up of course (and maybe her, Sunset and Rarity would get horns, as a clear visual difference from Applejack and Pinkie, finally), but figures she would instantly get wings while Sunset is demoted to... supporting protagonist? Still a lot of screentime, but they spent too much time on Twilight' s angst for me. At least her new boyfriend (age thing aside) is better developed. Heck, scenes are starting to lean towards Sunset and Flash again, which I don't mind. Oh well, outside of the Friendship Games finale, not like we would ever get an alicorn Sunset, all the merchandise is always about Twilight.
Still better movie than EQ1, but the plot feels weaker than RR or FG. Sci-Twi is a fun character, but she doesn't compare to Sunset's redemption arc (she has far less to make up for than Sunset ever did, but she's still a weaker, less confident character too). Not to mention that big loose thread at the end (which hopefully means there will be another EQ movie, though this one has gone the farthest in establishing magic in the human world). And Sunset better be careful with that telepathy power, peeking into Pinkie's mind probably falls under "things that should not be known".
I wouldn't say Filthy Rich'a role was unfitting, definitely tacked on, but not unfitting. Sci-Twi is already proof that human counterparts aren't exactly like their euqestrian counterparts.
Once he came in as the evil moneymaker I was like " yeah he's the human Filthy Rich and humans suck."
And there's no version of Ponyville that we know of where he would've lived and Turned out more of a friendly person.
Also....DON'T DO THAT WITH THE POST CREDIT FAKE OUT!!!
I was thinking the video I watched had it cut out!!!
Did feel that the ending was REALLY rushed. Not forced mind you, but rushed. And the ending song repeated some animation so.... yeah. Have a feeling they lsot a bit of the budget when they were animating the vines. XD
Also i have this gut feeling that maybe its gonna turn out the tree of harmony was involved in all of this. The pedestal had its aesthetic, and we had gems, albeit we had a seventh one rather than just sixth. And its not like this is the first time it has given people something to give them a magical girl transformation XD
Would definitely be the explanation we would need.
4226208
This may or may not be true. Of all the girls, including Twilight, the replacement elements only gave Sunset a crown, though her crown was not her element, similar to how the originals only gave one to Twilight. That in itself is a clear hint to where she is heading if a further one was needed. The only real question is how many movies will it take for her to get to that potential, (and how much more of a single school year there can possibly be left.)
4226507 It could well be that pony Filthy Rich is also a jerk. I mean, fanon thinks he's a nice guy, but he married Spoiled Rich, he only punishes his daughter when she upsets key business associates of his, and we're clearly shown in her song that Diamond Tiara feels as terrified at upsetting her father as her mother.
4227270 True. We only saw him be nice with an established business associate. We never got any explicit jerkishness so a lot of people (me included) went with the nice angle
4227320 It's like Fancy Pants. We've seen him be nice and polite to someone he knows is a friend of Princess Celestia, so lots of people assumed he was just a nice guy. Then in season 5 we see him trying to trade on his friendship with the Mane 6 to gain preferential treatment from a princess. Fancy Pants is the closest thing there is in the show to a classic "scheming noble," but fanon thinks he is a nice guy because he is nice to the Mane 6.
4227325 True
So Sunset Shimmer basically is like Mai-Ti from the Captain Planet series, where she basically has the power of "heart" and can unite her friends together telepathically. Oh man, I can't wait for the next movie where they are still superheroes and need to let their powers combine.
Finally saw the movie myself not too long ago. I'm probably the only one who isn't onboard the "Rainbow Rocks" hypetrain, it just felt rushed beyond all belief for me and tried way too hard in my book to ride the coattails of its parent franchise. "Friendship Games" was when the series grew the beard and stopping trying to depend on ponies to be good, and this is the completion of that growing of the beard. The only things I have a problem with are them not doing anything with Sunset Shimmer's homesickness that they dropped from the previous film (this was the perfect time to bring it back up), and Gloriosa as a villain despite having a commanding personality doesn't match with what her motivation is. So if she's mad that Filthy Rich is trying to buy out the camp, why doesn't she use her powers when he shows up to scare him into backing off, or even go after him? It makes no sense for her to target the campers, even when she claims to be protecting them, she's taking her anger out on innocent people who've done nothing to her. Even EQG1 Sunset Shimmer at least had her actions match her motives as terribly shown as they were.