On the scale of 0-4 stars I give this a 2. But based on the length of production and amount of raw footage that exists, I'm guessing a 3.5 star documentary can be made. This was simply a series of very lightweight interviews and player profiles. The production values and editing were good, but the documentary simulataneously lacked substance while still limiting its audience to only those who read teamliquid.net regularly.

I've been a casual but dedicated spectator for the last year. I read teamliquid.net multiple times a week, watch streams and tournaments as part of my free time, and follow the TSL, IPL, MLG, etc (but not really GSL). I literally learned no new information from watching this documentary. At the same time, there were a thousand references to players, tournaments, institutions, and situations that had no context. It was very much inside-baseball. My brother-in-law really enjoys watching professional Starcraft games with me, but doesn't follow the scene at all. I don't think I can show him this because he'd be simulataneously confused and, I hate to say it, bored.

It sounds like a paradox, but by making a documentary that was completely geard towards a TL-reading audience, the movie actually lacked more depth than if it had been made for a general audience. Narrative isn't required for a documentary, but context is. And finally, and I hate to sound so critical, but SHOW DON'T TELL. You have everyone on the team praising and commenting on everyone else, but there's next to no footage of them interacting with each other. There must be footage of them having conversations and doing things together. It doesn't have to be the funniest, best, or most dramatic footage, but all the talking heads explaining how close they are made the film feel lifeless.

JitnikoVi

Russian Federation396 Posts

June 25 2012 21:26 GMT

#1264

i love the inside story in this, so people like myself can get to know the players more and in turn feel more passionate when they compete

wizshaw2

25 Posts

June 25 2012 21:47 GMT

#1265

I didnt learn much. The best thing about this was day9 and the production values for the intro. 2/5 overall.

I also watched it on youtube.

fortheGG

United Kingdom1002 Posts

June 25 2012 21:50 GMT

#1266

because i love tl 5/10 but honestly I could have just went through interview threads and got the same

the only positive as far as I'm concerned is that you have made some good money off it

fairymonger

United States81 Posts

June 25 2012 22:21 GMT

#1267

Amazing video. I didnt think it was a "documentary" but the interviews were amazing. It was awesome to see videos of tlo and jinro. Hero part was very moving because i never really knew much about him and didnt get to see the dreamhack he won. WELL PLAYED TL!!!!

nenshoua

Brazil27 Posts

June 25 2012 23:07 GMT

#1268

Watched it, and while not expecting a lot, still found it very disappointing.Even a casual Sc2 fan would know most of the stuff that was presented in this series of interviews, and it is not interesting enough to show to a non-sc2 person..soooo..target audience ? probably big TL fans that know very little about TL ? idk..

Would have been great to see basically anything but what was shown, which was basically scripted fluffy stuff for the most part, with players sitting down, talking...like..it was more revealing to watch huk and idra have dinner with the slayers ppl on stream, that was great to see..seeing people interact with each other, practice, have fun, interact with fans, go through tournaments, that is the kind of footage ppl want to see..if you want to introduce your players to the public, i very much doubt that this is the right platform.

Like someone already said, biggest red flag is if listening to this as an audio book you would have missed nothing, something is wrong.

Ozell

Canada105 Posts

June 25 2012 23:49 GMT

#1269

The hero comments are awesome lol. He said some weird things in this documentary

ishboh

United States954 Posts

June 25 2012 23:51 GMT

#1270

this is some pretty good content here, I can see how it is hard to tell the story of a team like this when it is constantly changing, and there is no clear off season to actually have a stopping point.

Monsty

Canada230 Posts

June 26 2012 00:58 GMT

#1271

Just finished watching it, and it definitely made me love this time even more than I already do. That TLO story about the T-shirt was probably the most touching, now I understand why he feels so taken back when someone asks if he'll ever switch teams. I am a little sad they didn't go deeper into how Jinro got into Ro4 twice and Hero's sprint near Code S finals, but it was great regardless!

Sylosis

United States5 Posts

June 26 2012 04:33 GMT

#1272

I agree with a lot of the more constructive criticism comments that have already been posted. While I enjoyed the interviews, and I love all of the players on Liquid, I really wanted more out of this. More behind the scenes footage mixed in with the interviews. I know that there are a lot of people to show off here because Liquid has a lot of great talent, but add 10-15 more minutes, and cut back on the talking heads, and this really could have been something phenomenal. The best example that I can give is the previews to the Sons of Starcraft documentary, when we see Tasteless out eating dinner with friends, or get to see Artosis holding his child and discussing fatherhood, that's raw and real footage. That's the kind of content that I, and I think many others really wanted to see. We see all of these interviews with players after events, give me some real emotional content, a real back bone to this thing and it could have been great. There were moments of that, like TLO discussing the meaning behind his name, but it just fell a little flat to me, and that's disappointing.

WakYasuk

United States1 Post

June 26 2012 08:45 GMT

#1273

Just watched it, and I really liked it. As you can see, this is my first post and I am just getting to know the pro sc2 scene. Been lurking around here for a while but didn't bother to make an acc until I saw this. I didn't know anything abt the players and felt like I learned a lot..and the last two minutes were funny lol. Also got to know a lot more about Nazgul..Really nice, great work whoever made it.

Coppii

Norway57 Posts

June 26 2012 08:49 GMT

#1274

Such an amazing documentary! TeamLiquid was already my favourite team, and this really made me realize why!

Mad props!

SamuraiSEA

Japan89 Posts

June 26 2012 12:21 GMT

#1275

Great documentary, for an truly great team.

Was thoroughly enjoyed, thanks guys ^^

jcr2001

Singapore53 Posts

June 26 2012 14:57 GMT

#1276

As with what many have said before, I came in expecting a documentary, but got a series of interviews instead. It's watchable but I might not want to give it a second watch.

Btw I don't know if anyone brought it up before already, and I'm sorry if it has been brought up many times before, but did anyone notice this particular scene? :p (Look at the portrait in the game; it's from Zenio's and Taeja's intro)

+ Show Spoiler +

figq

12519 Posts

June 26 2012 15:07 GMT

#1277

On June 26 2012 23:57 jcr2001 wrote:
As with what many have said before, I came in expecting a documentary, but got a series of interviews instead. It's watchable but I might not want to give it a second watch.

Btw I don't know if anyone brought it up before already, and I'm sorry if it has been brought up many times before, but did anyone notice this particular scene? :p (Look at the portrait in the game; it's from Zenio's and Taeja's intro)

+ Show Spoiler +

O M G.
Mind = blown
You win this documentary, sir

Loxley

Netherlands2480 Posts

June 26 2012 15:16 GMT

#1278

My opinion about this movie pretty much agrees with the majority, I would have loved more context, more of a 'insider' feel to it. What it is to be backstage with the scene's biggest team, the interaction, the tension before hand. A better and more clear direction of what the documentary is actually trying to show. Like some1 already said; it could have been a podcast and you would almost feel exactly the same.

I loved day9 in it, I loved the sketches/bumpers created for the different cross-overs. Production value was great, too bad the content self lacked in the eyebrow-raising department. Some things that worked were the little things, like the swedish conversation between Haypro/Jinro just after the Nestea/MVP match. Thats the stuff the community doesn't get to see a lot. Interviews on the other hand.. And worse, really safe interviews.

Its good, but I think everyone expected something great. You've set the bar TL, can't expect people underestimating you

Good luck with the lessons learned, and I hope to see it resolved in a part2- 'liquid flying'

I'll rate it a 3.5/5