Killing Monsters trailer opinion

[SerJaimeLannister]

Killing Monsters trailer opinion

Hello everyone, long time lurker first time poster so excuse me if this has been brought up.

I have seen a lot of discussion in different forums regarding Geralt's choice in the trailer conflicting with the voice over quoting Last Wish saying "he'd rather not choose at all". Everyone brings it up and criticizes the trailer, saying it breaks cannon because he did commit an evil act; and did so without knowing the full story. Was it really an "evil thing" to kill the Nilfgaardian soldiers? Did it seem to you like he shouldn't have interfered?

IMO, these people are pretty ruthless, we saw at the end of TW2 how Nilfgaardians pillage and reave during their invasion of the North. And I believe the two evils being brought up in the trailers were a) what the soldiers were doing to the girl; and b) walking away from the situation.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[sidspyker]

I thought the trailer encompassed Geralt & the Witcher world perfectly. [All below is opinion obviously]

The woman was hanging for cannibalism, looting and murdering wounded people.The Nilfgaardians were supposed to hang her but the sentence they used was pretty flaky itself "sentenced to hanging...... or torment."

Geralt's as in the books yaps his made up "witcher's code of neutrality" and always ends up doing what he wants and (usually) not being neutral. In this case saving the woman.Of course we really have no idea and it is likely that Geralt didn't know her crimes or he thought they were justified in war to survive... or if the sentence really was "death by hanging or torment"

Grey Morality - Yes.
Sketchy situation - Yes.
Geralt's character captured perfectly - Yes.

EDIT: To add to that, Vesemir requests Geralt to not meddle in the affair and just take the reward and move on because he knows Geralt's tendencies and when he does get off his horse and is taking out his sword, "just make it quick".

 

[dragonbird]

Hi, and welcome to the forum. There's a fairly lengthy discussion of the trailer here if you'd like to see what others thought of it.
http://forums.cdprojektred.com/threads/28260-New-CG-Cinematic-for-The-Witcher-3-Wild-Hunt-Shows-Geralt-“Killing-Monsters”

(and yes, there are plenty who share your view)

 

[Glaroug.531]

Absolutely. Illustrates my favorite quote from the Witcher 2 (well, except for when the Troll says "All gone. Soup only stay" ).

" Is he a good man? I do not think so. Does he try to maintain his humanity? I believe he does." --Dandelion.

 

[ReptilePZ]

That quote from the trailer is taken from Renfri's story in the book. Geralt ends up taking sides there as well, even if there's no clear cut right choice, so I wouldn't say the trailer "breaks canon."

As for the situation itself, I think sid put it nicely. Lots of ambiguity, a nice example of what the setting is like.

 

[GuyNwah]

There have been several long discussions of the morality of the Nilfgaardians' and Geralt's actions in the trailer. "Everyone... criticizes the trailer... " is an overstatement; there are divided opinions for just the reasons you and sidspyker mention.

I find it hard to believe that the judgment is from the hand of the Emperor. A nobody in no-man's land would not warrant his concern. If this had been a sufficiently notorious case to come to his attention, the trial and execution would have taken place at his field headquarters. More reasonably, what we see is a judgment made by a drumhead tribunal claiming Imperial authority.

Such a tribunal is prone to cast morally defensible acts of partisanship in the light of high crimes and to order punishments that take the life of resistance fighters lightly. In short, Geralt may reasonably be unconvinced by the Nilfgaardians' claim that due process has been followed and that she is guilty of the crimes charged.

It seems to be the "... or torment" at the end of the sentence that sets him off, though. Maybe he believes that this is the slip that betrays the falseness of the proceeding.

 

[SerJaimeLannister]

There have been several long discussions of the morality of the Nilfgaardians' and Geralt's actions in the trailer. "Everyone... criticizes the trailer... " is an overstatement; there are divided opinions for just the reasons you and sidspyker mention.

I find it hard to believe that the judgment is from the hand of the Emperor. A nobody in no-man's land would not warrant his concern. If this had been a sufficiently notorious case to come to his attention, the trial and execution would have taken place at his field headquarters. More reasonably, what we see is a judgment made by a drumhead tribunal claiming Imperial authority.

Such a tribunal is prone to cast morally defensible acts of partisanship in the light of high crimes and to order punishments that take the life of resistance fighters lightly. In short, Geralt may reasonably be unconvinced by the Nilfgaardians' claim that due process has been followed and that she is guilty of the crimes charged.

Maybe everyone is an overstatement, but most people tend to gravitate toward that opinion. I agree with you though. It seems to me these are just some bored soldiers who have nothing better to do. Seemed like a shady accusation to me, though I am fully aware this sort of thing happens frequently in battlefields.

 

[sidspyker]

I find it hard to believe that the judgment is from the hand of the Emperor.

I think that perhaps that's like a "by the power vested in me by X" kind of a line that is likely used in all 'official' business and not a direct order by the emperor.

 

[ReptilePZ]

Always reminded of this scene, when this topic comes up:

[video=youtube;zrzMhU_4m-g]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrzMhU_4m-g[/video]

 

[GuyNwah]

I think that perhaps that's like a "by the power vested in me by X" kind of a line that is likely used in all 'official' business and not a direct order by the emperor.

I agree; I was just making a preemptive strike against the argument that the sentence carried the gravity of the Emperor's own judgment. I think Nilfgaardian field commanders sometimes take the Emperor's name in vain to their advantage.

Spoiler

The execution of Shilard on orders claimed to be official by Renuald strikes me as a similar example.

 

[SerJaimeLannister]

I agree; I was just making a preemptive strike against the argument that the sentence carried the gravity of the Emperor's own judgment. I think Nilfgaardian field commanders sometimes take the Emperor's name in vain to their advantage.

Spoiler

The execution of Shilard on orders claimed to be official by Renuald strikes me as a similar example.

I am literally a newcomer to this franchise (just finished TW2 yesterday) but that escaped me. You mean that Renuald just played dirty to avoid the hostage situation or there was a power struggle between him and Shilard?

And no the "torment" part was said as Geralt approached. What sets him off is when they cut her down and decide to make her suffer even more.

 

[GuyNwah]

That's just my opinion; others disagree and have good reasons for their disagreement.

Spoiler

Loyalty to the Emperor does not exclude using one's position to backstab rivals at court. Shilard is deeply suspicious of Renuald. Surprisingly for such a canny career diplomat, he even leaves letters around that say as much. Renuald may be just as loyal to the Emperor, but he would gain much in standing by a success at Shilard's expense. There is no direct evidence that he has done so, but my hypothesis is that he made use of his position and well-known loyalty to procure the death warrant against Shilard.

Well, when it became plain that they intended to carry out the "or torment" part of the sentence.

 

[Bellator Pius Gratus]

Hello, and welcome OP!

Regarding this thread. I have some thoughts of this trailer myself, but it isn't about canon or morality, right or wrong or anything like what's discussed here. Shall I create a new thread or discuss it here?

 

[ReptilePZ]

Hello, and welcome OP!

Regarding this thread. I have some thoughts of this trailer myself, but it isn't about canon or morality, right or wrong or anything like what's discussed here. Shall I create a new thread or discuss it here?

You can use this thread to share your thoughts about the trailer.

 

[Bellator Pius Gratus]

You can use this thread to share your thoughts about the trailer.

I already have, but sadly I haven't gotten an answer yet. What this may depend on, well, I know this trailer has caused some...hmm...discussion in the past. I consider myself a witcher fan, but not a blind one. Well, except when it comes to this trailer because I don't know what to make of it. I ask a simple question but people either can't or won't answer it. Since this is an interesting question(I actually joined partly because of this trailer) I've would like to discuss it, and maybe creating a new thread might wake some people up.

 

[sfinx]

Hello everyone, long time lurker first time poster so excuse me if this has been brought up.

I used it already in some topics and I'll use it again - Geralt has emotions and brain - he is not killing machine and believe me or not, he is human - improoved, deadly, but still human.
I know this topic is not so clear from games, because there are your decisions, which partly formed your hero, but if you read books, you will learn about him so much and also about his thinking and emotions. I don't want to write big spoilers, so I'll just say, he sometimes gets to point, where his neutrality fray also his nerves..

About trailer itself - there you can watch desperate unarmed woman in big troubles and three men, who are beating beating her and torturing her. Even if she would be guilty, this has nothing to do with justice. This is pure madness and brutality. Nobody should touch woman this way, even when she would be murderer - if that would be truth and she would be guilty, they would be maybe worse than her. But if I look on that woman, she is not very probably some murderer.

Geralt did the right thing and only mentally disordered would just watch it or walk away. Sorry guys, I know you always want to chave a chice and your own Geralt, but I bealieve this is the only right thing he could do.
(Yes, he could also talk with them and convince them, but who would watch such boring trailer ?? )

 

[Zhyphix]

@Bellator Pius Gratus

Is your question about the knife? If so, try watching this video on the making of the trailer; you can distinctly see it on the soldier's belt. The same video was a bit above your own post in that thread, by the way.

 

[EliHarel]

Killing Monsters trailer is like Back to the Future - no matter how much I've seen it, every time I discover a new detail.

 

[Bellator Pius Gratus]

@Bellator Pius Gratus

Is your question about the knife? If so, try watching this video on the making of the trailer; you can distinctly see it on the soldier's belt. The same video was a bit above your own post in that thread, by the way.

Indeed it was. Thank you fellow witcher for that video. No really, thank you!

As you say, that same video was already posted previous my own post, but since the poster mentioned the woman in the video (a topic that has been discussed beyond belief) I completely disregarded it. Silly me. So it's verified then, the knife belongs to the soldier. Thank the devs for that!

I watched the trailer over and over before joining up thinking...well...that Geralt seemed to have a new card up his sleeve. A hidden blade to be exact. A big no no in my opinion, ergo I wrote CDPR about it. Well I wrote them about many things, some I've posted here.

When many were discussing morality(Nihil novi sub sole in Sapkowski's world) or innocence, and who were worse : a cannibal or nilfgaardians outside of Nilfgaard, I watched and watched...somewhat upset...yes...let's use the word upset...and wondered why no one discussed the big smelly elephant in the room: a hidden blade, trademark of Assassin's Creed games. On a piece of string or something, but still a hidden blade.

I know now, that possibly it was because I was apparently the only one not seeing what really happened in the trailer. It happens so fast. Too fast. Not until a month ago I realised that...possibly the knife belonged to the soldier. But I just couldn't see for sure. I know Geralt is faster than humanly possible, but I suppose the trailer wasn't made for mutants with equally fast reaction was it? : Seriously, I need to check my eyesight or, possibly, we can discuss how fast things can happen in trailers before it might be regarded as too fast.

I mean the trailer is great and fun to watch, and yeees, damn Geralt is fast. He's a witcher, we clearly see that. But I completely missed where the knife came from. In my case this was counter-productive to what the trailer tried to do.

The lack of this being mentioned at all boils down into two possibilities: either I have trouble with my eyes...or...or...most here are perfectly okay with Geralt sporting a hidden blade. Those are the alternatives, and I shudder at the thought of both.

Mind you, I have bought all games of the franchise, so I've no problem with the Assassin's Creed series. But Geralt having hidden blades, no, don't even joke about that. Actually I laughed at CDPR's joke of an assassin falling to his death in La Valette castle. References, yay, love 'em, but don't incorporate them into another franchise.

Geralt having knives in his boots or strapped to his legs, to that I say yes, in fact, I'm in favour of bringing weapon holsters from 1 back. I even liked the possibility of throwing knives, though I rarely did.
Oh well, I'm grateful for the answer. Have my thanks and a REDpoint, as well as an ice cream. :ice: My treat! :lol:

 

[soldiergeralt]

they don't seem to have been reveling in the killing. very possible that they found her somewhere with evidence that she had been killing and eating people, and disgusted with the actions, decided to punish her with hanging.

i think if it had been a man, geralt would have went on his way.