"It was on stun... now it's on kill."
March 21, 2013 7:50 AM   Subscribe

Prop Wars is a fantastically entertaining short film about three friends fighting to the death using iconic props from movies. [via]
posted by quin (39 comments total) 16 users marked this as a favorite
 
...I want to say I have never given serious thought to how a skilled wand user would fare against a Proton pack.

But that would be lying.
posted by The Whelk at 7:55 AM on March 21, 2013 [4 favorites]


I like very much things that kids could only imagine at ten they can film and distribute at thirty.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:17 AM on March 21, 2013 [7 favorites]


Where to they get those wonderful toys?
posted by Marky at 8:29 AM on March 21, 2013 [2 favorites]


I would pay to see a version with asavage and his wonderful toys.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 8:38 AM on March 21, 2013


Where to they get those wonderful toys?

I think the Death Star is available at your local Ford dealer (note that the extended warranty is a bit costly).
posted by HuronBob at 8:41 AM on March 21, 2013


They see the Death Star in the sky, and *neither* of them thinks to flip open their communicator and yell "Scotty, beam us outta here!?"

I find this lack of nerdiness disturbing.
posted by Zalzidrax at 8:48 AM on March 21, 2013 [13 favorites]


I like very much things that kids could only imagine at ten they can film and distribute at thirty.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:17 PM


I dislike very much that at thirty they still want to.
posted by Decani at 9:00 AM on March 21, 2013


That was a lot of fun and lived up to its name. I kept getting that aha feeling whenever a new one appeared (while waiting, loserly, for Deckard's gun).

Also, tossing the reddit alien into everything is one of those tips of the hat that seems to keep on paying off. No one ever gives a shout out to Arts and Letters Daily.
posted by One Hand Slowclapping at 9:02 AM on March 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


Dude is wearing an Arc Reactor shirt and doesn't think to whip out the repulser gloves?

Sheeesh.
posted by The Whelk at 9:07 AM on March 21, 2013


Worse, they're Brits and nobody has a Tardis lying around?

Typical.
posted by MartinWisse at 9:25 AM on March 21, 2013 [2 favorites]


I think the Death Star is available at your local Ford dealer (note that the extended warranty is a bit costly).

They just had a recall over some sort of exhaust issue.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 10:05 AM on March 21, 2013 [10 favorites]


Missing:

Portal Gun
Deckard's Retirement Pistol
Han's Blaster
Gordon Freeman's Crowbar
Paul Atreides' Weirding Module & Holtzmann Shield
posted by leotrotsky at 10:07 AM on March 21, 2013


I dislike very much that at thirty they still want to.

My first impulse here is to say something biting and sarcastic, but honestly, this statement just makes me feel very sad for you.
posted by webmutant at 10:09 AM on March 21, 2013 [19 favorites]


While I liked the idea and the whimsy very much, the action itself is very poorly thought out. The shoot-out at the beginning lacks dynamics. When the guy with the phaser comes out from behind the wall, why does he door a terrible shoulder roll? Why does the guy with the lightsaber not use the Force? So many missed opportunities.
posted by starvingartist at 10:14 AM on March 21, 2013


Portal Gun
Deckard's Retirement Pistol


Not gonna lie, was waiting for these two.
posted by The Whelk at 10:15 AM on March 21, 2013


I believe the terrible shoulder roll is an homage to both Star Trek (TOS naturally) and Galaxy Quest which was of course making fun of Star Trek.
posted by wabbittwax at 10:15 AM on March 21, 2013 [3 favorites]


I dislike very much that at thirty they still want to.

Oh, you!
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:51 AM on March 21, 2013 [4 favorites]


I am going to lose some nerd points now: can someone identify the "T" shaped thing the guy pulls out at 0:16? I know I've seen it but it's killing me that I can't place it.
posted by ook at 11:07 AM on March 21, 2013


Paul Atreides' Weirding Module & Holtzmann Shield

Sandworm.
posted by brennen at 11:15 AM on March 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


I am going to lose some nerd points now: can someone identify the "T" shaped thing the guy pulls out at 0:16? I know I've seen it but it's killing me that I can't place it.

Ghostbusters PKE meter.
posted by Roommate at 11:17 AM on March 21, 2013 [2 favorites]


Two movies: Ghost Busters PKE meter, and They Live as a communications device. (The prop originated from GB)
posted by quin at 11:18 AM on March 21, 2013


Was hoping for a Sword of Omens, or the Krull Glave, or an Everlasting Gobstopper.
posted by asfuller at 11:21 AM on March 21, 2013


Was hoping for a Sword of Omens, or the Krull Glave, or an Everlasting Gobstopper.

Dude, it is less than three minutes long. It is short and funny, and every minute of running time longer than it takes to deliver the set-up and the punchline would make it exponentially more tedious.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 11:47 AM on March 21, 2013


starvingartist: While I liked the idea and the whimsy very much, the action itself is very poorly thought out. The shoot-out at the beginning lacks dynamics. When the guy with the phaser comes out from behind the wall, why does he door a terrible shoulder roll?

You are obviously not a true fan. Have you never even seen Galaxy Quest?!

Gwen DeMarco: Does the rolling *help*?
Jason Nesmith: Yes. It helps.
posted by misha at 11:58 AM on March 21, 2013 [3 favorites]


I like very much things that kids could only imagine at ten they can film and distribute at thirty.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:17 PM


Decani: I dislike very much that at thirty they still want to.

Dude. I am so sorry they filmed this on your lawn.
posted by misha at 12:02 PM on March 21, 2013 [4 favorites]


I saw Galaxy Quest once or twice. It was funny, but clearly the association did not stick. This just looks like an embarrassingly bad shoulder roll by a guy who is out of shape.
posted by starvingartist at 12:08 PM on March 21, 2013


I like that they did their own stunts.
posted by psoas at 12:34 PM on March 21, 2013


It's going to be a couple hours before I get home from work and can watch this, but I can't wait, so -

Please, someone tell me whether they've worked in an oscillation overthruster? It'd totally make sense if they did.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:41 PM on March 21, 2013


It would have been nice to be surprised just once, but as it is, this is yet another laundry list of the the most predictable things nerds like with no real punchlines. Technically quite sound, yes - but soulless and bland.
posted by mightygodking at 12:42 PM on March 21, 2013


I found it amusing, complete with the ending. Wish I had the stuff or the skills to do something like this.

(And that YouTube not be such jerks so I can download it and save a copy of for later sharing - Slow DSL <> happy streaming.)
posted by Samizdata at 1:21 PM on March 21, 2013


Well, I really enjoyed it! Especially the Mjolnir bit. I bet that Ghostbuster's rig was really expensive, too. These guys probably spend a lot of time over at Thinkgeek.
posted by misha at 1:22 PM on March 21, 2013


Aaaah, thank you Roommate.

So it turns out the answer really IS Ghostbusters 2! Sort of.
posted by ook at 1:52 PM on March 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


Kinda super amazing that they went for an Indy moment and reached for...

his revolver? Really?

Sorry, we were looking for "bullwhip."
posted by ShutterBun at 3:00 PM on March 21, 2013


they're Brits and nobody has a Tardis lying around?

There was a sonic screwdriver. I'm not sure what brandishing it in someone's general direction is supposed to accomplish.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 5:04 PM on March 21, 2013


ANYTHING.
posted by The Whelk at 5:17 PM on March 21, 2013


I actually really liked that the sonic screwdriver didn't really accomplish anything, because, despite canon altering moments now and again, it specifically isn't supposed to be a weapon.
posted by quin at 9:07 PM on March 21, 2013


And, as I watched it again, I'm not convinced that the fedora wearing guy with the sunglasses was supposed to be Indy, 1.) the hat is wrong, 2.) the revolver is a single action cowboy pistol, not the Webley that he carried through the Raiders franchise.

I sort of think it was just supposed to be your generic cowboy, because the other details of the short were all so well built and generally consistent with film prop lore.
posted by quin at 9:23 PM on March 21, 2013


Could be a nod to Firefly, too, quin.
posted by misha at 11:32 PM on March 21, 2013


Brits? Sounded Australian to me.
posted by gadge emeritus at 9:49 PM on March 23, 2013


« Older Lower the ever living fuck out of your cholesterol   |   What Fresh El is This? Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments