Random Aeon Rant

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Today, while recommending Aeon in a chat room, I went off on the following Random Tangent. Mind you, this isn't word for word, but you get the idea: "Go out and get the first video, the one with the silent shorts. The long episodes are really good, but these shorts are cinematic near-perfection. They pack more into two wordless minutes than most TV shows can do in a half-hour, yet never feel rushed, only beautifully fast-paced The shorts are to the long episodes as poetry is to prose, much the same, but more concentrated and powerful." Thoughts?

-- Frostbite (mbkrooks@bellsouth.net), July 19, 2000

Answers

As long as it's random: today I spoke with a young guy at work, who seemed a cool type, he was talking about his favorite show, which was on MTV,so I asked him if he ever saw Aeon Flux, His answer, "Oh man,I used to love that show, that show rocked, it was the coolest show, man, you liked that show too?" It made me think, how many others love this show, and don't come to this site and say so. Many is my guess, and you know, I always loved the long eps, but the thoughts about the shorts have made me look at them differently, they not only pack a lot into a small space, without the 'jammed' feeling, but to me they are mysterious and intriguing.

-- Barb e. (Suesuesbeo@aol.com), July 20, 2000.

Yes and no. I love Tide, Gravity and War, but Leisure, Night, and all of Season 1 (even as a continuous episode) doesn't hold a candle to the long eps (IMHO). Not that the shorts weren't great.

-- Paul (gilbreathfamily@worldnet.att.net), July 20, 2000.

I'm definitely biased towards the shorts, mainly because of Chung's more direct involvement with them. His hand can definitely be seen in all aspects of the shorts. The only third season episodes I consider as good as the shorts are "The Purge" (visually, it's so much like the shorts), and Thanatophobia, for its writing quality and direction (though the actual visual quality could use some work in areas). I agree that first season's visual quality is questionable at times, but the writing and direction more than make up for it. I must say I like Chung's "mini-films" much better, generally. I suppose it's because he puts so much more into each moment of a short film with a very limited timeframe than he does with a longer piece, in which such things can be drawn out. I'd much rather watch a 30-second commercial of his than some of the poorer-quality Aeon Flux episodes.

-- Matthew Rebholz (matrebholz@yahoo.com), July 20, 2000.

I also really like the LTV shorts (War in particular) but I can't see how knowing who had the major influence in their creation changes their quality? who was the driving/creative force seems inconsequential to me. I still like many of the full length episodes (that Peter had less influence on) over some of his work. Like everything it comes down to personal taste. You can't like something just because of the person who created it, or can you?

-- William (stateofflux@yahoo.com), July 20, 2000.

Though I'm not as obsessed with it as Barb is, I must say that A Last Time For Everything is cinematic perfection. How can you fault it? Zero wasted space, and a complex story to boot. To me it's even better than the shorts, along with several other episodes. BTW, another one that duplicates the feel of the shorts, visually, is Ether Drift Theory. Not much has been said about that ep, but I thought it was a great parody of underwater action films, with some of the weirdest visuals, and the best one-liners ("your mind has a gutter all it's own").

-- Paul (gilbreathfamily@worldnet.att.net), July 21, 2000.


Oh, is it 10:32 already?

-- Barbei (Suesuesbeo@aol.com), July 21, 2000.

Is it possible that Chung could create something I don't like? Sure, probably. It just happens that his visual style is enough to keep me interested, not to mention his writing. I can't imagine not liking something he created, but I'm sure it's still possible. I do like all of the longer episodes for various reasons, but there are some I'd rather watch than others, namely those that Chung had a lot to do with. The others almost seem like they are trying to imitate wierdness for wierdness' sake at times, though I think this is just a superficial issue that keeps popping into my head, I try not to listen to it. Every episode can be dissected for meaning, but I find those by Peter seem to be "deeper" and more meaningful than the others.

-- Matthew Rebholz (matrebholz@yahoo.com), July 21, 2000.

You know where I saw a LOT of wierdness for wierdness' sake? The Herodotus File.

-- Frostbite (mbkrooks@bellsouth.net), July 21, 2000.

I agree completely.

-- Matthew Rebholz (matrebholz@yahoo.com), July 21, 2000.

Yeah, me too. Herodotus was too jokey for my taste, almost like a "Monty Python" episode. Still, it had it's moments.

-- Paul (gilbreathfamily@worldnet.att.net), July 23, 2000.


I loved the shorts War, and Night...those were my faves....But A Last Time For Everythings still remains the best!!!!!! And i Absolutely loved the Herodotus Files....very confusing but very good! i loved it!!!!! humm

-- Lady Morgan (Aeonfluxfan1@aol.com), July 23, 2000.

PERSONAL DICTATION: (transcript) DATE: 34.14.04AG It's funny how things seem to matter so much, and then, when they are over, even when they have gone terribly awry, they matter not at all. This whole horrible fearful construct to humiliate me, which caused me so much anguish and pain, in the end changed nothing. And yet everything is different. Not for the events which have taken place but for one simple feeling. Inside her I was, and insider her I shall remain...TREVOR GOODCHILD

-- Barbei (Suesuesbeo@aol.com), July 23, 2000.

Just wanted to put up an example of the 'jokey' Herodotus file.

-- Barbei (Suesuesbeo@aol.com), July 23, 2000.

That little personal dictation, is my fave by trevor. His thoughts seem random and confused. It's great how he says so much in so little! And i liked The Herodotus Files not just because of the fabulous art work, but how it was written. It seems to me that the book can come out in differents ways to different people! And that's what i love about the book! There is no right way to perceive the book it is how you want it to be! It is a true wonder, and it still contiues to bewilder me every time that i read it!

-- Lady Morgan (aeonfluxfan1@aol.com), July 23, 2000.

OK, so I don't like the Herodotus File as much as you do, nor the shorts... it doesn't mean that I can't appreciate them for what they are. I'd say the book was about 60 percent satire, as opposed to the perfectly balanced comic relief of the show. But to each his own, one man's treasure n all that.

-- Paul (gilbreathfamily@worldnet.att.net), July 24, 2000.


To me, Chronophasia and End Sinister had lots of deep meaning, despite not being written or directed by Chung. Chronophasia in particular, although it's not as aesthetically pleasing (that rendered water is a big turn-off)

-- Paul (gilbreathfamily@worldnet.att.net), July 24, 2000.

Yes, I really go for the aesthetic. If it looks good I like it. I might not like a whole episode just because they did'nt like the way they drew/animated Aeon's face.

-- William (stateofflux@yahoo.com), July 24, 2000.

That they should have been I.

Yes, I really go for the aesthetic. If it looks good I like it. I might not like a whole episode just because I did'nt like the way they drew/animated Aeon's face.

-- William (stateofflux@yahoo.com), July 24, 2000.


You know that little speech made by Trevor is pretty interesting, there have really been dictators that are paranoid, imagining everyone is out to get them, Tiberius, Castro, Stalin. A girl like Aeon would be a real disaster to that sort of guy, because she IS out to get him. But also it reflects on a smaller scale just men in general, and their need to look good to other men, and if a woman takes that away, well, finito is pretty much the word.

-- Barb e (Suesuesbeo@aol.com), July 24, 2000.

William, I agree with you about how much the character design of a particular episode will affect my opinion of it. I know, it's not relevant to the actual quality or effectiveness of an episode, but I've always been a man of appearances myself (though somewhat regrettably). My favorite character designs: "The Purge", all of season 2, "Isthmus Crypticus", "Chronophasia" (They actually draw Aeon really well, and it's nice to see her in another look). My least favorite: "Reraizure" (Aeon looks horrible here). "Thanatophobia" did have some nice moments, although Aeon looks excessively distorted at times, and it bothers me a little. "A Last Time for Everything" Has some nice looks as well. "Ether Drift Theory" is wierd; the first five minutes or so have some of the best animation and character design I've seen, but after that it turns into some of the worst.

-- Matthew Rebholz (matrebholz@yahoo.com), July 24, 2000.

Ah, the purge. Hostess Judy (mmmmm) Yes, you have picked all of my favourite MTV episodes as well. The purge is great from start to finish. Isthmus Crypticus is mine at the moment (Seraph-Trevs, Una etc...) but a last time is always great to watch.

The aliens in the canteen and the agent (damn I have forgotten the number) with the extra limbs are really cool, and the first 5 minutes does have the best animation of Lindze (in some shots she looks good) before she and Bargeld get sick (or dead). My least liked ep. is Chronophasia just because the fat baby is so disturbing, if that and the faces on the dead were replaced it would be much more appealing (to me anyway). Although you are right about the different look. Sure, with her hair up she is Aeon but with it down, and drawn right (in 'a last time' as well) she is dead sexy.

End Sinister has never really done it for me and as much as I dislike Reraizure as well, I still like the narghiles.

Peter's interview and the article in Cinefantastique was the best article that explained everything (studio production etc...) basically he said that he knew much of the actual drawing/visual work left much to be desired but there was not much he could do. You can't even pin it down to 1 studio, although Gana (Isthmus Crypticus and Purge) has (in my opinion) done a better job than Mook (who did rest). With such an uneven ratio of distribution (of episode production) I don't think you can really pin it down to that.

-- William (stateofflux@yahoo.com), July 25, 2000.


Yes, you just reminded me of that four-armed woman, number 16. I've always been enticed by her, and every time I watch this episode, I die over the fact that she only has a good 15 seconds of beautifully- drawn on-screen time. Whoever designed her put a lot of effort into the job, and she's gone so quickly... Ugh. I especially like her hair...

-- Matthew Rebholz (matrebholz@yahoo.com), July 25, 2000.

I think Mr. Chung is back!!!!! I hope he comes back to pay us a visit in the forum!> http://www.cam.org/~emru/eye/inte/pchung.html. Go there for a Peter chung interview!

-- Lady Morgan (Aeonfluxfan1@aol.com), July 26, 2000.

humm i think i got my hopes up.....humm i started to read an interview and it said somthing about him being back from korea...but then it goes on discussing the ep....sounds like they are old! humm sorry to get any hopes up..but never the less it is a pretty good interview..

-- lady Morgan (aeonfluxfan1@aol.com), July 26, 2000.

Wow that was old! haha and i read it before too! hehe didn't even realize till the end! Well anyways i was looking for some good interviews! Anyone know where to get any????????

-- Lady Morgan (aeonfluxfan1@aol.com), July 26, 2000.

Does anyone just miss the hell out of this guy, Peter Chung? Sure wish he was doing Aeon again.

-- Barb e. (Suesuesbeo@aol.com), July 27, 2000.

Good things come to those who wait...

-- Paul (gilbreathfamily@worldnet.att.net), July 27, 2000.

If there's anything I think I know about him, it's that he's full of concepts he wants to see on-screen. Considering his expertise and his track record, I'm sure we'll continue to see his work pop up in places. And he can't do commercials forever, after all.

-- Matthew Rebholz (matrebholz@yahoo.com), July 27, 2000.

Waiting, waiting...

-- Barb e. (Suesuesbeo@aol.com), July 29, 2000.

"cinematic near-perfection" - i agree. as the saying goes, they hella tyte. the shorts are perfect for a quick Flux fix if you need it. My least favorite is Gravity cuz of the lack of scenery when she's falling; i like to be aesthetically dazzled from shorts like War, Tide, Leisure, Night to a lesser extent, and from eps like Thanatophobia, U or D, and The Purge. imho the shorts have as much re- watch value as the long eps because they're so condensed and well structured.

-- stonce anomi (neobe@kscable.com), July 30, 2000.

I agree.

-- Matthew Rebholz (matrebholz@yahoo.com), July 30, 2000.

Heh, remember this column? This is the only place I found to place this, was fun reading it all again, though. This is a site that lists for you who wrote the series, and a few mentions of who was in it, and all, it's kinda nice to have for reference. http:///www.anp.awn.com/afeplog.html

-- Barb e. (Suesuesbeo@aol.com), January 08, 2001.

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