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Post by lizardgirl on Apr 29, 2013 17:11:07 GMT -5
So, look. I figured we needed a thread to discuss our feelings. Without sounding too much of a hippie, and although I really love the threads analysing what's going on and so on, I thought maybe we could also talk about how we FEEL about what's going on- especially as a fair few of us here have been there right from the beginning, right? We've stuck by our boy (as you like to affectionately call him, PBL- I've started calling him that too, it just has a nice-ness about it) for 12 years.
For 12 long years. And some of us have known each other for that period of time. Who would have thought that over a decade later, MU would be happening?
And I'm sure I'm not the only one who was shocked by the approach that Pixar has taken with Randall, not only to present him as not the bad guy, but to actually make him as appealing and cute as possible in an extreme and overt sort of way.
I'm not saying I don't like this approach- in fact, I love it, and I think it's great. It's confirmed what we've thought all along. But since it has been over a decade of as having Randall as a 'friend', so to speak, I was wondering if anyone else found it...jarring, initially?
Because as much as most of us have always thought that the Randall we saw in MI was not the 'real' Randall, but rather a guy pushed to his extremes and so on, I kind of always figured that even if he was a pretty happy situation certain aspects of his nature would remain- I mean, even nice happy people can have a sarcastic sense of humour or way with words, if you see what I mean.
So to see Randall be taken to such an extreme and changed almost beyond all recognition...Hmm, maybe it's because I haven't actually seen the film, and after all, there are hints of 'what he later becomes' when he's been shown with ROR, for example. But I guess I figured that he'd always been a bit of a smart alec, a bit of Artful Dodger. Or maybe those traits were just borne out of necessity. I don't know.
Anyway, what do you guys think? It's difficult after having been in love with a character on the basis of a mere 15 minutes of screen time for over 12 years to suddenly see him be portrayed in an entirely different light, so I guess I'm just still grappling with that. How do you guys feel about all of this?
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Post by pitbulllady on Apr 29, 2013 17:43:18 GMT -5
So, look. I figured we needed a thread to discuss our feelings. Without sounding too much of a hippie, and although I really love the threads analysing what's going on and so on, I thought maybe we could also talk about how we FEEL about what's going on- especially as a fair few of us here have been there right from the beginning, right? We've stuck by our boy (as you like to affectionately call him, PBL- I've started calling him that too, it just has a nice-ness about it) for 12 years. For 12 long years. And some of us have known each other for that period of time. Who would have thought that over a decade later, MU would be happening? And I'm sure I'm not the only one who was shocked by the approach that Pixar has taken with Randall, not only to present him as not the bad guy, but to actually make him as appealing and cute as possible in an extreme and overt sort of way. I'm not saying I don't like this approach- in fact, I love it, and I think it's great. It's confirmed what we've thought all along. But since it has been over a decade of as having Randall as a 'friend', so to speak, I was wondering if anyone else found it...jarring, initially? Because as much as most of us have always thought that the Randall we saw in MI was not the 'real' Randall, but rather a guy pushed to his extremes and so on, I kind of always figured that even if he was a pretty happy situation certain aspects of his nature would remain- I mean, even nice happy people can have a sarcastic sense of humour or way with words, if you see what I mean. So to see Randall be taken to such an extreme and changed almost beyond all recognition...Hmm, maybe it's because I haven't actually seen the film, and after all, there are hints of 'what he later becomes' when he's been shown with ROR, for example. But I guess I figured that he'd always been a bit of a smart alec, a bit of Artful Dodger. Or maybe those traits were just borne out of necessity. I don't know. Anyway, what do you guys think? It's difficult after having been in love with a character on the basis of a mere 15 minutes of screen time for over 12 years to suddenly see him be portrayed in an entirely different light, so I guess I'm just still grappling with that. How do you guys feel about all of this? OK, someone has to say it...12 long years... IN AZKABAN!Actually, no. I was not surprised. Well, honestly that's a lie; I WAS surprised that Pixar actually SHOWS what WE have known all along. I have dreaded this movie more and more from the minute I got confirmation that Randall would be in it, believing that Pixar would take the "low road" and depict Randall in the worst way possible, as a bully who tormented Mike and Sulley from the very start, giving them good reason to hate him and distrust him, someone who cheated and lied and threatened his way through college to get his job at MI...the Randall that the haters and villain-obsessed want to see. I'm still amazed at the fact that Pixar LISTENED TO US! Since OUR view disagreed with the MI depiction of Randall and what Disney-Pixar seems to have been trying to shove down our throats in every way possible up until now, it would have seemed more logical for them to simply flip us off, so to speak, and show that Randall was always a nasty git. Even though I won't get that post-MI ending that I wanted for Randall, I still have to fully compliment Dan Scanlon and his crew on confirming what we have always held onto. It's like Art handed us ALL, including the crew of MU, our own personal "dream journals"(mine has kittens on it, how 'bout y'all's?), and we wrote down a shared version of how we saw Randall Boggs. Sounding too much like a hippie, indeed, but this time, even for me, it's a good thing! pitbulllady |
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CrazyDiamond
Randall's Skivvy (0-299)
I'm shining!
Posts: 270
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Post by CrazyDiamond on Apr 29, 2013 17:48:51 GMT -5
When I heard about the sequel, I had mixed feelings. Will they make him a Ted Bundy, or will we see something different?  Crazy! But now, I'm just happy that I will see him again. It truly is like seeing a long lost friend again. It brings back so many memories... ;D As for his image overhaul… I'm still unsure about what are the Pixarians up to. I think… Damn, I HOPE that after seeing him in a different light, at least some people will cringe over his punishment in MI. But then, this makes absolutely no sense! Why would they want people to cringe over what Mike and Sulley are about to do in MI?  It makes me feel that it will take another five years or so until we get to see the other, REAL, shoe drop… I hope there will be at least a short where they'll finally deal with Randall after MI. Other than that, I am happy that Pixar has basically validated the fandom's point that Randall is a much deeper and complicated character than a mere villain. I dare to go as far as to say that I believe the internet discussions might've had some effect on his depiction in MU. I've mentioned this in another topic: You make a movie, and its message is tolerance, understanding, love and compassion with things that are considered different. Yes, somebody makes that stupid decision to trade Randall's future for a Waternoose's "clever" arrest, but hey, the message is there. And then, you go on the internet where you find fans of your villain spreading the very same message as you've tried to convey, while fans of the protagonists express delight over his skull being crushed by a shovel, going so far as to call the whole "fair trial thing" "outdated"… Now, if you were the filmmaker, wouldn't you be at least a little bit ticked off? I would. If nothing more, Pixar has made a pretty good statement with MU: Randall's fans have, and always had, a valid point. Now, we just have to wait and wonder whether the other shoe will drop and they make a sequel which will rectify some of the protagonists' wrongdoings. |
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Post by lizardgirl on Apr 29, 2013 17:53:38 GMT -5
OK, someone has to say it...12 long years... IN AZKABAN!Actually, no. I was not surprised. Well, honestly that's a lie; I WAS surprised that Pixar actually SHOWS what WE have known all along. I have dreaded this movie more and more from the minute I got confirmation that Randall would be in it, believing that Pixar would take the "low road" and depict Randall in the worst way possible, as a bully who tormented Mike and Sulley from the very start, giving them good reason to hate him and distrust him, someone who cheated and lied and threatened his way through college to get his job at MI...the Randall that the haters and villain-obsessed want to see. I'm still amazed at the fact that Pixar LISTENED TO US! Since OUR view disagreed with the MI depiction of Randall and what Disney-Pixar seems to have been trying to shove down our throats in every way possible up until now, it would have seemed more logical for them to simply flip us off, so to speak, and show that Randall was always a nasty git. Even though I won't get that post-MI ending that I wanted for Randall, I still have to fully compliment Dan Scanlon and his crew on confirming what we have always held onto. It's like Art handed us ALL, including the crew of MU, our own personal "dream journals"(mine has kittens on it, how 'bout y'all's?), and we wrote down a shared version of how we saw Randall Boggs. Sounding too much like a hippie, indeed, but this time, even for me, it's a good thing! pitbulllady Hahaha, I was expecting that! I see where you're coming from. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I've never seen Randall as a cute, nervous dork, even as a kid. We all have our own versions of Randall, which is inevitable considering how little we actually see of him in MI, and like you and many other Randall fans, I have always thought that Randall was a nice guy all along. But there's a difference between someone being a nice guy and being literally the stereotype of a geek, with GLASSES, and, and the fact that he turns invisible when he's nervous?! And like, yeah, I guess I just never saw that in him...Not that it doesn't work, because now I can imagine it (sort of) but I guess it's just different to how I thought it'd be. Of course Pixar aren't going to do exactly what I imagine in my head, but the mahoosive U-turn was a bit of a surprise (though a necessary one, since at least they really do hammer home the point that Randall IS NOT EVIL OKAY haha). Love the comparison with the idea of Art handing us all our very own dream journals and using our shared version of Randall though, that's a really good analogy! Boy, what I would do for one of those personalised dream journals. |
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Post by lizardgirl on Apr 29, 2013 17:59:12 GMT -5
When I heard about the sequel, I had mixed feelings. Will they make him a Ted Bundy, or will we see something different? Crazy! But now, I'm just happy that I will see him again. It truly is like seeing a long lost friend again. It brings back so many memories... ;D As for his image overhaul… I'm still unsure about what are the Pixarians up to. I think… Damn, I HOPE that after seeing him in a different light, at least some people will cringe over his punishment in MI. But then, this makes absolutely no sense! Why would they want people to cringe over what Mike and Sulley are about to do in MI? It makes me feel that it will take another five years or so until we get to see the other, REAL, shoe drop… I hope there will be at least a short where they'll finally deal with Randall after MI. Other than that, I am happy that Pixar has basically validated the fandom's point that Randall is a much deeper and complicated character than a mere villain. I dare to go as far as to say that I believe the internet discussions might've had some effect on his depiction in MU. I've mentioned this in another topic: You make a movie, and its message is tolerance, understanding, love and compassion with things that are considered different. Yes, somebody makes that stupid decision to trade Randall's future for a Waternoose's "clever" arrest, but hey, the message is there. And then, you go on the internet where you find fans of your villain spreading the very same message as you've tried to convey, while fans of the protagonists express delight over his skull being crushed by a shovel, going so far as to call the whole "fair trial thing" "outdated"… Now, if you were the filmmaker, wouldn't you be at least a little bit ticked off? I would. If nothing more, Pixar has made a pretty good statement with MU: Randall's fans have, and always had, a valid point. Now, we just have to wait and wonder whether the other shoe will drop and they make a sequel which will rectify some of the protagonists' wrongdoings. Haha, I was just talking about this in another thread- so many ideas floating about! But yeah, I completely agree, everyone empathising with Randall puts Mike and Sulley in a REALLY awkward position, and like you, I don't get that. It's great that Pixar have made the point that we were right all along, that there can be nice-ness underneath what appears to be a nasty personality, but I can't tell whether they've accidentally made Sulley and Mike look bad, or if they think that people won't change their minds about what they did to Randall in MI (though as we can already see on Tumblr, like you said, everyone's very much pro-Randall). Like you (and everyone else) I just don't get what Pixar was thinking. The idea that internet discussions about Randall might have had an impact on his portrayal in MU is like, my favourite thing ever. We'll never know if it's true or not I guess, but it's a great idea and I hope it is. |
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Post by RandallBoggs on Apr 29, 2013 18:08:05 GMT -5
Feelings! Men don't have feelings! ^0^
Well Ran might think on that but anyway hehehe...
*folds arms* I've been around since the beginning. Done a lot of firsts. First fanfiction where he was actually portrayed in a better light...first comic series he was in...a stalwart researcher who has revealed things to many that were never known before (and still am mind you hehehe)...and I've defended him on many occasions.
I...knew he was a good person. I admit, at first I was unsure what drew me to him. I saw the movie several times just because I wanted to see him, but I didn't know why. Then...I started looking at things differently and came to a conclusion that..."wait...that wasn't right".
What happened to Randall wasn't right.
There were a lot of haters back then, and I hear what they said and look over their fanfics and I realized that there were some things that didn't fit and some things people didn't see.
He had a job, like many people. So it was to scare human kids. Stop thinking like a human and the guy becomes well...human in the thinking process. Here's a guy who had a job he liked doing and was good at...then some hotshot comes and takes it from him.
You know, this is just something that comes up but...remember how close his numbers were to Sullivan? Well, Randall's no slouch, he does his job. He just was inable to work to his full potential. Take OUT the scream extractor and he'd be leaving Sullivan in the dust.
Anyway...the situation seemed unfair. As I started to connect, I knew.
I knew from the start that he was a good person. I mean he was making this machine to get the city out of a crisis.....and his inner desire to get ahead seemed to come from something else.
The bathroom scene...the "if you haven't been cheating!" scene. He was panicked, stressed, and afraid. That's something a "villain" doesn't show.
It's...hard for me to explain everything. I mean it's 12 years....a turn of the zodiac.
All I know is...I've been with Randall since the beginning. I knew he was a good person, even if he came off abrasive. He reminds me so much of myself it was frightening at first. But he's his own monster. Still...it's because of so many things and personal connections that I've been by his side.
He's a friend. Heck, for all he's done for me, he's family.
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CrazyDiamond
Randall's Skivvy (0-299)
I'm shining!
Posts: 270
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Post by CrazyDiamond on Apr 29, 2013 18:15:34 GMT -5
The idea that internet discussions about Randall might have had an impact on his portrayal in MU is like, my favourite thing ever. We'll never know if it's true or not I guess, but it's a great idea and I hope it is. I had this idea while I'd been reviewing some of the forums and found out that they are pretty repulsive even if you aren't a Randall fan. I mean, do you really want anyone (kids especially), to think that someone being beaten to death is a great idea? I don't think so…  There is one more thing that I have an issue with: Since it is pretty much well-known that Mike and Randy are initially honest friends/roommates in MU, I think that people who will see MU first and then watch MI for the first time will expect a Mike/Randall reconciliation plot-point. In other words, they will focus their attention on Mike and Randall, and I can even see many feeling puzzled with his punishment… Why? Because this is how human mind works, right? I have recently watched Oz the Great and Powerful, and although I paid attention to the story, I was totally scanning the movie for 1930s movie's references. First-time viewers will definitely be like "Hey, they've been friends in MU! There's definitely going to be some reconciliation in the end!" Again, I wonder what is this going to mean, but it is interesting nevertheless… |
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Post by lizardgirl on Apr 29, 2013 18:17:30 GMT -5
He's a friend. Heck, for all he's done for me, he's family. Don't really know what else to say aside from, well, that's a lovely post, genuinely. Thanks for sharing with us. Just goes to show how much of an impact a character like Randall can have... |
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Post by RandallBoggs on Apr 29, 2013 18:17:54 GMT -5
I know this is about feelings but let me tag on this...
This is a turning point for some fans. Those who see MU first, then MI and think something like this in the "happy endings!" mind-frame........will be disappointed.
But, it will give the change I mentioned in another topic. People will realize that "Wait this...this is wrong! They were friends! How could they do that!?"
Outrages a bundle.
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CrazyDiamond
Randall's Skivvy (0-299)
I'm shining!
Posts: 270
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Post by CrazyDiamond on Apr 29, 2013 18:19:53 GMT -5
He's a friend. Heck, for all he's done for me, he's family. If this was tumblr, I would like AND reblog this post. This is just so true. I even remember reading your first fanfics. And I needn't remind you how much RFU meant to me. Whoops… MeanS to me. |
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Post by lizardgirl on Apr 29, 2013 18:21:49 GMT -5
The idea that internet discussions about Randall might have had an impact on his portrayal in MU is like, my favourite thing ever. We'll never know if it's true or not I guess, but it's a great idea and I hope it is. I had this idea while I'd been reviewing some of the forums and found out that they are pretty repulsive even if you aren't a Randall fan. I mean, do you really want anyone (kids especially), to think that someone being beaten to death is a great idea? I don't think so… There is one more thing that I have an issue with: Since it is pretty much well-known that Mike and Randy are initially honest friends/roommates in MU, I think that people who will see MU first and then watch MI for the first time will expect a Mike/Randall reconciliation plot-point. In other words, they will focus their attention on Mike and Randall, and I can even see many feeling puzzled with his punishment… Why? Because this is how human mind works, right? I have recently watched Oz the Great and Powerful, and although I paid attention to the story, I was totally scanning the movie for 1930s movie's references. First-time viewers will definitely be like "Hey, they've been friends in MU! There's definitely going to be some reconciliation in the end!" Again, I wonder what is this going to mean, but it is interesting nevertheless… Looking at a lot of the posts on Tumblr, people are expecting a lot that Pixar haven't done or aren't going to do. I totally agree, after MU it's natural to expect there to be a continuation in the relationships, regardless of the fact that so many years pass between the films- it's still natural to expect at least hints of continuity, hints of a past friendship between the two. The approach Pixar took with making Randall not just nice in MU, but an integral part of the main character's life (at least initially) was certainly risky. I guess this goes back to how Pixar actually views Randall's punishment- to them, it was probably just a laugh and a way of getting rid of the minor antagonist in a satisfying and 'humorous' way. They don't see the weight of what performing such an action as illegally banishing a guy actually means. It's like they pay so much attention to detail to some stuff, and yet they're blind to the implications of other stuff. |
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Post by RandallBoggs on Apr 29, 2013 18:23:21 GMT -5
He's a friend. Heck, for all he's done for me, he's family. Don't really know what else to say aside from, well, that's a lovely post, genuinely. Thanks for sharing with us. Just goes to show how much of an impact a character like Randall can have... It's a true statement. My dedication to everything I do is because Randall is not just a fan-fad. He's grown to be a part of me, part of the willpower I use to get through every day, every struggle. Because I know that he was a good guy that got beaten down by the world, yet he is STILL hanging in there. If you think about him in the way I do, he's kind of...inspirational. The world is full of...bad twists and turns and it tries to corrupt us, put us in bad positions, bring out the worst in us. I feel that's what happened to him. He got so tired of losing what he needed to be happy (which is the common things for us. Friends, family, respect, a secure future), that he just...broke down. We try to be good people. Sometimes the world doesn't want us to, wants us to conform to some degree of maliciousness because that's what a majority of it is. Randall's an example of a person who came into the world good, hopeful, with his own quirks...he made decisions he thought would make him happy and they turned on him. I know he's not dead for a fact. If he is, then there's not much hope for other good people struggling through things is there? |
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Post by lizardgirl on Apr 29, 2013 18:24:08 GMT -5
He's a friend. Heck, for all he's done for me, he's family. If this was tumblr, I would like AND reblog this post. This is just so true. I even remember reading your first fanfics. And I needn't remind you how much RFU meant to me. Whoops… MeanS to me. Just echoing CrazyDiamond's sentiments here. RFU and the people who contributed to it, yourself included, RB, were a big part of my childhood. I have a lot to be thankful to you guys for and I won't ever forget it. |
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Post by RandallBoggs on Apr 29, 2013 18:25:56 GMT -5
You both are welcome.
That was a....interesting time for me....
Ahem in terms for Randall it was...nice to be sorta official like. To carry on things in a new perspective and give his support.
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Post by lizardgirl on Apr 29, 2013 18:27:13 GMT -5
It's a true statement. My dedication to everything I do is because Randall is not just a fan-fad. He's grown to be a part of me, part of the willpower I use to get through every day, every struggle. Because I know that he was a good guy that got beaten down by the world, yet he is STILL hanging in there. If you think about him in the way I do, he's kind of...inspirational. The world is full of...bad twists and turns and it tries to corrupt us, put us in bad positions, bring out the worst in us. I feel that's what happened to him. He got so tired of losing what he needed to be happy (which is the common things for us. Friends, family, respect, a secure future), that he just...broke down. We try to be good people. Sometimes the world doesn't want us to, wants us to conform to some degree of maliciousness because that's what a majority of it is. Randall's an example of a person who came into the world good, hopeful, with his own quirks...he made decisions he thought would make him happy and they turned on him. I know he's not dead for a fact. If he is, then there's not much hope for other good people struggling through things is there? Everything you're saying is SO TRUE, especially that last sentence. Inspirational is exactly what I'd call Randall. He keeps us going when things get tough because, hey, he kept going, right? Even if it didn't work out well in the end. God, I love Randall. |
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Crazy! But now, I'm just happy that I will see him again. It truly is like seeing a long lost friend again. It brings back so many memories... ;D
It makes me feel that it will take another five years or so until we get to see the other, REAL, shoe drop… 
