Spinal Tap takes Top Spot

Roof:

Captured different ways people handle emotions well. You could easily identify with each character – either as how you would act or how someone you know would act. I personally liked the music that was on the CD – not what I was expecting to hear when it started playing.

American Spirit:

I liked the beginning of this video and the subtle humor (“you know I don’t smoke”). Not hilarious, but kept you engaged. While it was done well, I didn’t grasp the need for the kids at the end running by the empty box.

Embrace:

I think the description for this one is necessary to appreciate it. The sound (sobs) seemed over amplified / dramatic at times which kept me from really connecting to the situation. Without the description I would have thought the siren at the end was from an ambulance or firetruck though. The girl looking into the camera at the end was definitely dramatic.

Spinal Tap:

By far my favorite video. I have nothing critical–sorry, I mean constructive–to say. This video pulled me in the most. While I think black and white can be effective, I don’t think it applied here and I’m glad it wasn’t used. I felt like I was in the bar watching the conversation – or at least watching a TV episode or movie. The characters seemed very real. We can all relate to taking a joke too far or trying to share something personal that isn’t easy to talk about. After seeing the one character snap about the Spinal Tap jokes, you know he’s had his say on the topic of his dad when he goes back to them. I didn’t get any of the Spinal Tap jokes, but I could still appreciate them. I did get the Coldplay joke.  I think the music is part of what was so effective here. The other videos had music that was simply instrumental; the lyrics in the background music helped make it a real scene. I could also be biased because it started talking about surfing. And the bar had Carlsberg on tap.