Lupa
Yellow Trout
I`s funny in my head. Come in!
Posts: 48
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Post by Lupa on Dec 30, 2008 4:41:32 GMT -5
XD but you knew what I meant!
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Li
Yellow Trout
Posts: 66
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Post by Li on Jan 4, 2009 14:19:33 GMT -5
^Hey, Li, we saw you in a video playing Monkey Fist. Good job! ^^ Ehehehe, thank you. That involves a lot of heart beating ^^; It was an improvised act ^^.
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Post by Donne on Jan 4, 2009 17:03:04 GMT -5
Sure. Is it a lot of fun?
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Post by vampirenaomi on Jan 19, 2009 1:29:42 GMT -5
Any theories on how Monty/Kim suddenly became such a popular pairing at FF.Net? At least three stories posted in a short time is a little unusual.
Not that I'm complaining; I'm just curious.
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Lupa
Yellow Trout
I`s funny in my head. Come in!
Posts: 48
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Post by Lupa on Jan 19, 2009 10:09:32 GMT -5
Huh, there was also a guy on deviantert who asked me for Kim/Monty pics...
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Post by pengychan on Jan 19, 2009 10:20:13 GMT -5
Wow, I hadn't noticed other Monty/Kim fics had been posted recently - I had just noticed one from a writer I know from another fandom, but that's probably because I haven't been much around FF.net these last few days. I really should take a look when I get more time But yeah, it is a little unusual having three stories in a row about Monty, and all of them being Monty/Kim XD ...hey, wait. I think I noticed someone who asked for Monty/Kim pics on DA this morning - isn't it the one who wrote "Kim's Hectic Life"? I think he/she asked for Monty/Kim art to some people .
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Post by vampirenaomi on Jan 19, 2009 11:33:22 GMT -5
I'm so used to that it's mostly just me, Alex and Lily writing about Monty that it feels surreal that there are suddenly three new people doing it. I hope they stick around. I sent all of them a note about TUMA, but I have no idea if any of them is interested.
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Post by vampirenaomi on Jan 31, 2009 13:23:50 GMT -5
Do you think Monty could be left-handed? I always assume everyone in cartoons is right-handed by default because it serves no purpose to make anyone left-handed. However, I was looking at one screenshot and started noticing a pattern. Here he is, writing with his left hand... ... and holding a teacup in his left hand. Not to mention holding important artefacts in his left hand. The only major exception I can think of is the episode "Exchange" in which he's always handling the Lotus Blade with his right hand. And yeah, I know that I have no life. I'm just curious why they made him use his left hand so often if there was no reason to. The other pics I could see as coincidences, but the one in which he's writing confuses me. Maybe he's one of those people who can use both hands. Or maybe he has trained himself to do that.
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Post by Donne on Jan 31, 2009 13:29:28 GMT -5
I know in "The Simpsons," they often make the characters left-handed as an inside joke for reasons I forget. It could be a shout-out, or maybe the artist who made the writing scene was left-handed? It could be canon, but my mind draws a blank as to why...
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Post by SpicyWeasel on Jan 31, 2009 13:51:13 GMT -5
The thought about Monty being left-handed struck me once when I was looking at the very first pic for reference.
Artistically-wise, it could be that it's more harmonic to the eyes to have the object in the left or right hand depending on the angle the character is seen from, to make the hand pose and object more prominent. That said, a character could therefore be both right- and left-handed.
But , it seems that Monty used his left hand much more than the right one, so I like to think he's a leftie. So am I. XD It's....interesting.
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Post by pengychan on Jan 31, 2009 15:18:43 GMT -5
I always thought he was ambidextrous for some reason. Maybe it's because he can use his feet as hands as well, so why not both his, er...actual hands? XD People who are born ambidextrous are kinda are, but it is possible to train yourself to use both hands, as Maria suggested. I rather like the idea.
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Post by vampirenaomi on Jan 31, 2009 15:33:28 GMT -5
People who are born ambidextrous are kinda are, but it is possible to train yourself to use both hands, as vampirenaomi suggested. I rather like the idea. I think it makes sense that if he was born left-handed, he might have trained himself to use his right hand as well because a) it's easier to function in everyday life because can openers, knives etc. are often made for right-handed people b) they might have required him to write with his right-hand in school and c) because it's just the kind of obsessed/perfectionist thing I can see Monty do. In addition to that, being able to use both of your hands equally well is an advantage in martial arts as it enables you to face your opponent with either right or left-handed stance, so Monty might have wanted to do that on purpose.
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Post by pengychan on Jan 31, 2009 15:42:47 GMT -5
Oh, right - that could be. It doesn't happen often anymore, but until a few years ago it was common that teachers required children to only write with their right hand. My father was born left-handed, but they pestered him so much about it that now he can only write with his right hand and uses his right hand for the most common stuff as well.
That's probable, using both hands definitely is an advantage. He either purposely trained himself to do so or, if left-handed, he could have been taught to use his right hand as well and then surely found it useful when he got interested in martial arts.
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Post by vampirenaomi on Jan 31, 2009 18:09:05 GMT -5
Hanna and I were talking about what new topics we could talk about. Then we got the idea that we could start a Monty marathon so that each week everyone watches the same episode and then posts about it here. It can be either just your opinions or actual in-depth analysis of the episode. So, if you're interested, you should watch "Monkey Fist Strikes" at some point between February 2 and February 9 and then post about it here. I hope we get at least some posts.
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Post by pengychan on Jan 31, 2009 20:27:09 GMT -5
Hey, that sounds cool - count me in! Exams or not, I always end up wasting a lot of time with the computer before I go to sleep, so I could as well use that time to do something a little more meaningful than randomly surfing the net XD
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Post by manofevil on Jan 31, 2009 22:42:06 GMT -5
Do you think Monty could be left-handed? I always assume everyone in cartoons is right-handed by default because it serves no purpose to make anyone left-handed. However, I was looking at one screenshot and started noticing a pattern. Here he is, writing with his left hand.... I wonder if that isn't his foot.
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Post by SpicyWeasel on Feb 2, 2009 9:08:18 GMT -5
Hanna and I were talking about what new topics we could talk about. Then we got the idea that we could start a Monty marathon so that each week everyone watches the same episode and then posts about it here. It can be either just your opinions or actual in-depth analysis of the episode. So, if you're interested, you should watch "Monkey Fist Strikes" at some point between February 2 and February 9 and then post about it here. I hope we get at least some posts. I'll start off with posting my rambling on ' Monkey Fist Strikes' written back in July 2007. *Please ignore what I wrote about ' ONY'. Maybe there will be a better opportunity to write a more seriously in-depth analysis on it later. It's the seventh post in THIS thread. *** I want to mention a few favourite details I'd like to point out some more:*In the last, big fight Ron had with Monty, they both really did their BEST. Neither of them were defeated in a ridiculous, unfair and cheesy way. Monty was clearly skilled, using his knowledge about his beloved martial art for what it was worth- also showing what a REAL, angry monkey is capable of doing. And you can really feel Ron's situation. The moment with Monty standing above Ron with his right hand ready to ''finish off'' Ron (''finish off'' is MILDLY said) is very dark. It's not just a ''cartoon moment''. It could have happened in real life, which makes it even more dark and serious. *We already know how Kim seemed to look up to Monty with admiration in the episode's beginning. The ship possibility is out of the picture for me, but I really like how they both were interested, if only slightly, in each other- for the sake of skills and heroism. *Larry tells Kim that " Long have I followed the career of Lord Monty Fiske." It's funny and interesting, since Larry's usual centers of interests seem to be high tech stuff. But then again, he could have a vast variety of interests. Even in Monty! It's another case where a character that seems one-dimensional at first glance, turns out to be more complex than we thought, or what? Like a lesson in the episode says- "don't always judge a book by its cover". Could it be that Larry admired the Lord like Kim did? The way he mentions that Monty's a master of Tai Shing Pek Kwar seems to indicate that he could have had an interest in Monty's skills in martial arts. and maybe also in more regarding Monty. Yup, Monty really was famous. : P *** Whatever you guys are going to write, I'm sure I'll agree- ' MFS' is my all-time favourite ''KP'' episode of all time, and can't be described enough. There's just too much complex goodness in it. XD
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Post by vampirenaomi on Feb 4, 2009 6:54:15 GMT -5
I was going to watch the episode yesterday, but some schoolwork took longer than I had expected and I was only able to sit down and watch it today. I hadn't actually watched the entire episode in a really long time because I have a tendency to just watch my favourite scenes over and over again, so it was very enlightening to see the whole thing again. I will of course concentrate almost entirely on Monty in this post, but there are a few other things that are worth mentioning as well. Anyway, I must agree with Hanna on that MFS is the best Kim Possible episode ever. For me it's largely because it introduces Monty and portrays him in a brilliant way, but this episode is also pretty well constructed. The animation could be better at some points, but there are also bits that I love. I will go more in depth about this later. I'll analyse the episode in the chronological order of scenes. Many of the things I will say here were already mentioned by Hanna in her wonderful analysis, but I'll try to say something original as well. Anyway. When I first saw the episode, I was already familiar with Monty, so I knew that he would be the villain. As I watched it now, I tried to imagine what it would be like to watch the episode if I knew absolutely nothing about him or KP. I think that in the very beginning of their meeting, Monty could pass off as a good guy. However, his true colours are made obvious to the viewer after that close-up and sudden harpsichord music that appear after Ron's monkey comment. It's even more obvious just a little bit later on when Ron is badmouthing Monty to Kim, and Monty and Bates suddenly appear by their side. The music in that part is really threatening. Needless to say, I love it how Monty has his own unique tunes like that. They really suit his character, especially here when we only know him as the aristocratic Monty Fiske. I am somewhat amused by the map Monty shows to Kim. Why does he have the four monkey statues there? They arouse Kim's curiosity, so he should have got a map that makes no mention of Mystical Monkey Power to make sure she doesn't get suspicious. In addition to that, the map shows spruces, which doesn't make it look like a very authentic map of any part of Cambodia, least of all this jungle they're in. One thing that has always fascinated me about this episode is what goes on while Kim is inside the temple. We have Monty, Bates, Ron and Rufus on their own outside. It's just fascinating to think about what they could possibly talk about or what their interaction could be like. Ron and Monty might want to stay away from each other since they don't like each other and Monty already said he would talk to Kim only, but I still think there are many possibilities for interesting moments here. This is unrelated to Monty, but I love the way Kim has been animated while she's inside the temple. It looks just lovely compared to the rest of the episode (especially the scenes with Larry). I agree with Hanna. That dry chortle is a great moment because for once his laughter sounds perfectly normal and not malicious in any way. It's interesting that Kim says that Monty has a royal title when they're at the camp. The title is given quite easily these days, but I like to think that the massive castle implies that the Fiske family goes at least some time back. I tried to look up what being referred to as a lord means, but there were so many rules and exceptions to them that I couldn't understand half of it. Monty could be anything from a younger son of a nobleman (who doesn't inherit the actual title, like Duke of Blah blah but gets to have a courtesy title) to a random dude that just got one. Or maybe he bought it online, as Ron suggested. ;D It was interesting to observe Monty as he was masquerating as the ninja. I think his fighting style was somehow different from all his other appearances in the series. He was less offensive and more agile somehow. Compare that fight to the one he has with Ron in the end and you'll see the difference. Of course, in that final fight he was furious and using MMP/Tai Shing Pek Kwar to their full potential, so it's no wonder. I just adore the interior of his castle. I am particularly fascinated by the numerous paintings that we get to see. Those added to the tall windows that cast twisted shadows everywhere, the maze-like corridors and secret passages really make the castle seem completely screwed up and mysterious. This picture here is a great example. I think this is the episode in which Monty is the most threatening and competent. You could argue that ONY takes this even further, but after watching this episode again, I must disagree. In MFS Monty is perfectly prepared to kill someone with his bare hands instead of using something or someone to do his dirty work (lava, monkey ninjas, Yono etc.). He's also very cold and calculating somehow. It's like he is utterly incapable of feeling pity or sympathising with others. He's like that later on, too, but in other episodes we get much more humour and occasional interaction with other characters that make him seem goofier. Even Bates doesn't really bring any light into this episode. The way Monty interacts with him only underlines the fact that we're dealing with a completely messed-up individual here. Hanna said it perfectly here, In addition to all that, I must again agree with Hanna about Monty's past. The episode makes it clear that at least some point of his life, he was a respectable scholar and explorer to the point that he earned Kim's admiration. There was a documentary about him and even Larry was a fan. I am very intrigued by this side of him, but sadly it's not really mentioned again after this episode. I said that there were a few points about the animation that really appeal to me. One of those is the interesting use of a character running towards the screen. For example, when Monty is chasing Ron at his castle, you get this sort of scene. The battle scene in the end is also very interestingly done because not all of it is drawn from a simple angle that would show both of them from the side. Does anyone else think that Monty's voice is a little higher here than in many of the later episodes? In any case, as I said, this is the best KP episode for me. It's simply special in so many ways.
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Post by SpicyWeasel on Feb 4, 2009 9:22:10 GMT -5
At some point I thought the map could also show the location of the other three jade statues, judging on the three types of landscape formations on it: bridges, spruces and a mountain formation. But where is what marks the jungle, then? It suddenly doesn't make any sense anymore. Besides- where spruces grow is definitely not where I would expect to find a monkey artifact. Say...on the taiga in Canada? I don't know. :/ Wasn't the location for the last statue on any map at all? Perhaps Monty had to do some really hard research on it to discover the last location. Agree. I've always pondered about what could have happened in this moment. I once did a drawing based on the thought of the two of them just glancing at each other, but why wasting time on drawing something THAT boring. I suck at ideas. XD Monty's had this dry, ''normal'' laughter in ' Monkey Ninjas in Space' and in ' Big Bother'. But ' MFS' was the first time he laughed like that. Monty's stone castle home and its interior never ceases to be enchanting....it its gloomy, twisted way. I wonder WHERE he got the paintings from. Their motives are rather peculiar, such as the female monkey in bikini (?) a little above the favourite armchair. XD I've came to associate Monty's rougher, deeper voice in the later episodes with slight aging. It could also indicate that Monty's growing a little more tired and bitter due to losses and thirst for power for each episode, making him sound ''older''.
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Post by vampirenaomi on Feb 4, 2009 9:56:03 GMT -5
At some point I thought the map could also show the location of the other three jade statues, judging on the three types of landscape formations on it: bridges, spruces and a mountain formation. You know, I never thought about that at all. It could also explain the four statues on it. In fact, this map could be just some general document about the four monkey statues. Weren't the characters already standing right before the temple when Monty pulled out that map? What's the point? It should be obvious that the jade statue is in the temple. That's not boring at all! Even if they aren't saying anything, just their poses and expressions could show lots of emotion. I love all kinds of interaction between Monty and Ron, so it would be great to see a pic like that in which they despise each other but can't really show it as much as they'd probably like to because they're supposed to be on the same side, at least technically. Really? I'll have to pay more attention when the time to watch those eps comes. These two are the Monty eps that I watch the least for some reason. Many of the paintings seem to have similar style, so they must have been done by the same person. Some fanfics I've read speculate that Monty painted them himself, but since there's absolutely no evidence for or against it, I guess it comes down to whatever one wants to believe. I like to think that he's simply obsessed enough to buy/steal/collect every piece of monkey stuff he can get his hands on. And that is a great observation! I never really thought about it like that. Being boring, I just went with a normal explanation and thought that Kane was simply not yet as used to the role as later on. But your idea does make lots of sense and brings interesting insight to the character. I tend to associate the higher and somewhat more cheerful voice with his Monty Fiske side, so it makes perfect sense that he would start sounding different when he grows more and more distant to his past.
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