Greetings, Children...
March 9, 2008 11:31 PM Subscribe
Captain Disillusion has created a series of videos that provide a skeptical analysis of sensational viral videos. One in particular, “Gas Station Ghost RECUT” addresses an unusual image caught on a gas station surveillance camera.
So when does he fight his archnemesis, Mephisto the Illusionist?
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:09 AM on March 10, 2008
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:09 AM on March 10, 2008
Clearly, I should be focusing on attaining the rank of Captain.
posted by disillusioned at 12:53 AM on March 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by disillusioned at 12:53 AM on March 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
I dig the hell out of that guy. His explanations are clear and concise.
posted by Pope Guilty at 2:14 AM on March 10, 2008
posted by Pope Guilty at 2:14 AM on March 10, 2008
I demand to know why this was not a part of my childhood. I've been hoodwinked for years! Also, very nicely done indeed.
It seems that a great many of you are from England.. Konnichiwa.
posted by sysinfo at 3:09 AM on March 10, 2008
It seems that a great many of you are from England.. Konnichiwa.
posted by sysinfo at 3:09 AM on March 10, 2008
... the whole world and its hot, easy sister the internet...
Good post.
posted by sveskemus at 3:43 AM on March 10, 2008
Good post.
posted by sveskemus at 3:43 AM on March 10, 2008
General Cynicism called. Said something about "Bill Nye" or somebody like that. Then he went on to make that "Mmmeeeehhhhh" noise or whatever with his mouth.
posted by Smart Dalek at 3:55 AM on March 10, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by Smart Dalek at 3:55 AM on March 10, 2008 [2 favorites]
Oooh, something on Youtube that isn't a hamster or a kitty. How novel! Very interesting stuff indeed.
posted by Jilder at 4:36 AM on March 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Jilder at 4:36 AM on March 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
I admit I chuckled aloud at him punching out the gas station customer. Good stuff, thanks.
posted by Skorgu at 5:25 AM on March 10, 2008
posted by Skorgu at 5:25 AM on March 10, 2008
"Your great great great great greatgreatgreat grandchildren might find themselves living in a shotgun shack, in another part of the world, behind the wheel of a large automobile..."
posted by Eideteker at 6:12 AM on March 10, 2008
posted by Eideteker at 6:12 AM on March 10, 2008
I dig the hell out of that guy. His explanations are clear and concise.
This guy is amazing.
So he edited the video to say the same thing R. Mutt said back in November. A better name for the guy would be Captain Obvious.
posted by Doohickie at 6:19 AM on March 10, 2008
This guy is amazing.
So he edited the video to say the same thing R. Mutt said back in November. A better name for the guy would be Captain Obvious.
posted by Doohickie at 6:19 AM on March 10, 2008
What's that silver crap on his face? Has he been huffing?
posted by Dizzy at 6:44 AM on March 10, 2008
posted by Dizzy at 6:44 AM on March 10, 2008
Other than the bug-on-the-camera one, are there any particularly good ones? He's got good production values, but his explanation wasn't exactly revelatory, and it didn't happen to tickle my funny bone. So I was wondering if any of the other clips were interesting, either because they were particularly amusing, presented more interesting theories, or inspired by footage that wasn't obviously wrong to begin with.
posted by ErWenn at 6:59 AM on March 10, 2008
posted by ErWenn at 6:59 AM on March 10, 2008
I appreciated his explanations, but he needs a better uniform. Also, the college newscaster 101 hand/head/eyebrow movements need to go. A straight presentation would be better than the superhero bit.
posted by Daddy-O at 7:37 AM on March 10, 2008
posted by Daddy-O at 7:37 AM on March 10, 2008
So he denounces the local news for filling airtime with vapid stories by creating a segment that's even longer. But with facepaint.
posted by butterstick at 8:00 AM on March 10, 2008
posted by butterstick at 8:00 AM on March 10, 2008
friggen great. thanks!
and for all you haters. pretty good shit for a guy having fun in his rec-room, no? Semi-professional. Attention to detail. Kid-show hokiness because the joke is that it's ostensibly a kid's show. Definitely reminds me of the live action bumpers done for afternoon programming when I was a kid, only better produced thanks to the magic of technology.
This is like Penn and Teller's Bullshit for AV team kids. Awesome.
posted by es_de_bah at 8:10 AM on March 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
and for all you haters. pretty good shit for a guy having fun in his rec-room, no? Semi-professional. Attention to detail. Kid-show hokiness because the joke is that it's ostensibly a kid's show. Definitely reminds me of the live action bumpers done for afternoon programming when I was a kid, only better produced thanks to the magic of technology.
This is like Penn and Teller's Bullshit for AV team kids. Awesome.
posted by es_de_bah at 8:10 AM on March 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
Doohickie, his explanations may have been little lacking, but his presentation is just utterly hilarious. Try watching without the "must make sure everything this guy says is original and serious" mindset.
posted by tehloki at 8:11 AM on March 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by tehloki at 8:11 AM on March 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
I thought the Man on Mars one was pretty good. Seriously, if someone paid him to do this full time he could really run with it. I especially appreciate the "WAKE UP YOU DUMBASS!" sentiment that is so urgently needed at this moment in history.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 8:16 AM on March 10, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 8:16 AM on March 10, 2008 [3 favorites]
Some good lines in there: "The whole world, and its hot, easy sister the Internet..."
posted by anthill at 8:24 AM on March 10, 2008
posted by anthill at 8:24 AM on March 10, 2008
Metafilter: I'm being blatantly exploited for shallow sensationalist bullshit
posted by chrisamiller at 8:28 AM on March 10, 2008
posted by chrisamiller at 8:28 AM on March 10, 2008
Remember: Love with your heart; use your head for everything else.
Excellent. Make this guy president.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:49 AM on March 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
Excellent. Make this guy president.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:49 AM on March 10, 2008 [1 favorite]
Thank you, Slarty. The Man on Mars segment was pretty good.
I think the YouTube-on-a-platter gimmick is a nice touch.
posted by ErWenn at 10:04 AM on March 10, 2008
I think the YouTube-on-a-platter gimmick is a nice touch.
posted by ErWenn at 10:04 AM on March 10, 2008
Oh, and the punchline in the sunglasses video is brilliant.
posted by ErWenn at 10:21 AM on March 10, 2008
posted by ErWenn at 10:21 AM on March 10, 2008
"Greetings, children. It's me, Captain Disillusion. Today, I'd like to talk to you about how creepy you all are."
I love it.
posted by owtytrof at 2:12 PM on March 10, 2008
I love it.
posted by owtytrof at 2:12 PM on March 10, 2008
I like the subtle little details like the screen he hold up to start playing a video and the crash it makes as he tosses it away. It's a completely simple effect which could easily be done in any number of different tools, but it's done as a complete throwaway effect (pun not intended).
His over the top dialog is also pretty excellent. But yeah, now that uncleozzy brought up the huffing paint point, I can't really get over his costume.
Other than that, this is quite awesome.
posted by quin at 3:44 PM on March 10, 2008
His over the top dialog is also pretty excellent. But yeah, now that uncleozzy brought up the huffing paint point, I can't really get over his costume.
Other than that, this is quite awesome.
posted by quin at 3:44 PM on March 10, 2008
Agreed with all the positive responses here. This post probably deserves a 'forteana' tag.
posted by christopherious at 10:02 PM on March 10, 2008
posted by christopherious at 10:02 PM on March 10, 2008
« Older New York, New York - It's a hell of a town! | mobile homes built without nails Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by not_on_display at 11:41 PM on March 9, 2008