You know, I think maybe the detailed discussion should exist in the dedicated thread, not just in the general action figure in action thread.
This amazing work deserves nothing less! So I'm re-printing my earlier comments (typos and all!)
This is absolutely delightful!! Well worth the wait.
I really do hope that the Raven community takes the time to watch and comment on this lovely film. It shows tremendous talent, creativity and enthusiasm.
On a technical level, there is so much to be admired here. The lighting, cinematography and dioramas are really terrific. The lighting is wonderfully evocative and adds a beautiful sense of atmosphere.
I was skeptical of the concept of making a film using action figures that wasn't stop motion. Given that you are literally holding the figures just out of camera range. Well, I think the effect COULD have been rather silly.
But you pull off a tricky technique. A few really cool shots like the gun going into the holster add quite a lot. Sure, some of the movements are a bit limited - the only one that really felt even slightly "off" was Sallah crawling out from the rubble. I think if you had cut that shot shorter by a hair it would have been better. A very minor quibble, though.
The direction is really great, again, especially given the limitations. I was delighted to see the green-screened close-ups in the car chase!! The first few shots of the chase were good, but I worried you wouldn't be able to get in too close to the action. And the - wow - suddenly we got the wonderful green screen work. Well done!
The voice work is generally very good. Indy's tone and inflections feel very Ford-esque to me. One minor complaint - there is a moment where Indy and Sallah are talking over each other and, for a few seconds, it seems as if Sallah has lost his British accent and sounds too much like Indy. It was hard to tell who was who - but that only lasted for a moment or two.
I do hope you can try to introduce some custom figures into the story later. The difference in scale between Indy and the Russian baddie character weren't too noticeable, given that the Ruskie was seated in the jeep, but it could be a minor issue down the line.
In terms of story and writing - it's a little early to tell too much. I'm wondering if this sequence is going to be a "stand alone" prologue segment like in the classic films or if you're just diving into the main story due to time considerations. Russians and Nazis working together in 1936? An intriguing idea, I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes. The dialogue is all fine, though I had to smile at the "you've seen too much" bit. It may be a cliche, but it's a fun cliche and it adds just the right dose of old fashioned camp to the proceedings.
Anyway, thanks so much for posting this. I know you said it might be a "while" before you finished the first chapter, but this was worth the way. I anxiously await the next installment!
In the meantime, I encourage all Raveners to check out and leave some feedback for what must have been a major undertaking! Thanks for sharing, Gonzo!!!