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La Princesse, The 50-Foot Spider, Driven into the Abyss
Posted by Mark Wilson at 2:15 AM on September 9, 2008
We've been closely following the story of La Princesse, the 50-foot theatrical/mechanical spider that took over Liverpool, and in a tragic turn of events, we're sad to report that the spider did not go on a killing rampage and was instead pushed into a tunnel to disappear forever. The night included pyrotechnics and fountains, not done much justice by this handheld video, but quite remarkable all the same. Skip to 1:15 for the best footage to begin.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
Darren Davies
Posted September 9, 2008 9:26 AM
After watching the Finale in Liverpool I thought that it was a bit disapointing considering that an Orchestra was hired that could not and did not keep it together at all I think that if this had of been pre-recorded to the sounds that should have been carried out it would have saved a lot of money in the transportation (as the vehicles used were giving out that many toxins it was unbeleivable) and also the show would have been able to progress a lot earlier and also been more crowd friendly. In general this event was a success but was also really badly organised in relation to crowd control and it was very lucky no one was hurt. I was in the crowd at the start but at times felt intimidated by what was going on around me.
Darren Davies
Posted September 9, 2008 10:01 AM
After watching the Finale in Liverpool I thought that it was a bit disapointing considering that an Orchestra was hired that could not and did not keep it together at all I think that if this had of been pre-recorded to the sounds that should have been carried out it would have saved a lot of money in the transportation (as the vehicles used were giving out that many toxins it was unbeleivable) and also the show would have been able to progress a lot earlier and also been more crowd friendly. In general this event was a success but was also really badly organised in relation to crowd control and it was very lucky no one was hurt. I was in the crowd at the start but at times felt intimidated by what was going on around me.
j
Posted September 10, 2008 9:15 AM
well i was unfortunate to be able to go to the finale however my father filmed it and i thought it was fantastic and that it was a nice thing to do for people for free.if other services like security,fencing,extra police,blockades to certain areas,this would have cost money and would have probabaly ended up where people would have had to pay to see the show,at the end of the day people go to concerts and end up hurt and they're fully secured,so it wouldnt have mattered, so i say well done to all of the people involved.i only wish i could have been there to enjoy the atmosphere that my father quoted as fantastic
LiquidGravity
Posted 2:48 AM 9/9/08
@MrYuk:
@unibrow4o9:
@FinalValgas:
Art, but I was really wishing for death destruction and mayhem.
LiquidGravity
Git Em SteveDave is starlost
Posted 2:45 AM 9/9/08
In a tunnel? Watch out Frodo and Sam!
Wait, wasn't this the plot to Reign of Fire? Dragon in a tunnel is awaken years later, and until Matthew Mcconaughey and Batman show up, destroys the Earth.
Git Em SteveDave is starlost
MrYuk
Posted 2:42 AM 9/9/08
What exactly is the point of this contraption?
MrYuk
FinalValgas
Posted 2:38 AM 9/9/08
@unibrow4o9: Exactly.
I didn't think the thing could walk by itself either. It's cool, and creepy.
FinalValgas
LiC
Posted 2:30 AM 9/9/08
@unibrow4o9: This was a drill. This was only a drill. Had this been an actual giant spider attacking Liverpool, public safety officials would have been firing live ammo and directing the public to (a) run away, (b) strip off their shirts and grab a gun, (c) sacrifice their children to the monster to save the town.
LiC
unibrow4o9
Posted 2:23 AM 9/9/08
So, as cool as I think this is, what the heck is it all for?
unibrow4o9
Chunkylover21
Posted 3:07 AM 9/9/08
Am I the only one who thought this ENTIRE spider things was completely stupid and boring? Yes creating the spider and making it walk is a technological feat, but seriously, it moves at about 1 mph and really does nothing to wow or amuse the audience. We still dont really know the purpose of the whole thing nor do I understand why there were such mass gatherings to watch it move from point A to point B and then be shut down again.
Can someone please enlighten me?
Chunkylover21
BasicBlack
Posted 3:06 AM 9/9/08
That is all shades of wondrous awesome. Press the reset faith in humanity button.
BasicBlack
badhatharry
Posted 3:38 AM 9/9/08
@Chunkylover21: Am I the only one who thought this ENTIRE spider thing was completely fucking terrifying? I just killed like nine black widows in my garage last night, was was terrified that one would be able to sidestep my homemade aqua-net flamethrower and attack me. And those things were maybe an inch long. Multiply that 600 times, and I'm left quaking in a huge puddle of my own waste.
Let that thing stay in the tunnel, and let us pray that nuclear testing doesn't wake it, mutate it, and give it the taste for lanky Jewish guys. Cause then I'm screwed.
badhatharry
ShinySideUp
Posted 3:33 AM 9/9/08
@Chunkylover21: No its not just you. Christ what a snoozefest...
ShinySideUp
BasicBlack
Posted 3:15 AM 9/9/08
@Chunkylover21:
It's even cooler than that: it doesn't really walk. It rolls around on a black base. There is absolutely no reason for it other than the creation of oddity and wonder. The point is, there's no point.
BasicBlack
Noobs-R-Us
Posted 3:59 AM 9/9/08
@MrYuk: Perhaps this is a test of what they're going to use for their 2012 Olympics? They think this will top Beijing? Ha ha, FAIL!
Noobs-R-Us
BasicBlack
Posted 3:41 AM 9/9/08
@ShinySideUp: "Christ what a snoozefest..."
Yeah, I had a hard time getting through the New Testament, too.
BasicBlack
mfokp
Posted 3:41 AM 9/9/08
Was there at least any story to go along with it? Or was this a giant spider roaming the streets of Liverpool just for the sake of having a giant spider roam the streets of Liverpool?
Royal de Luxe [en.wikipedia.org] is another group that does the whole giant-puppets-in-the-street thing. Their performance, however, is more of just that - a performance, with some sort of story with which to follow along. Here's a clip from The Sultan's Elephant done May 2006 in London:
+ Watch video
mfokp
StopTheLHC
Posted 4:32 AM 9/9/08
Where's my 100 foot rolled up newspaper?
StopTheLHC
Jeice
Posted 5:04 AM 9/9/08
For many of you I'm sure that if you were actually there, it would have seemed cooler.
How can it not when you have a GIANT MECHANICAL SPIDER walking over you?!
Jeice
Yep
Posted 5:47 AM 9/9/08
Jeez, the bar is high around here. I actually thought it was pretty cool - particularly for the fact it seemed to have no real point other than to amuse and entertain. Is it my imagination, or does the rest of the world have a bit more time on their hands (and fun) than we Americans?
Yep
dna
Posted 6:42 AM 9/9/08
I agree it's pretty awesome. It's by no means perfect or realistic, but it's amazing someone actually took the time to make it happen.
dna
djmattyb
Posted 8:52 AM 9/9/08
You don't get to see the spider falling anywhere in that video. It's like the camera is stopped and then started again for the best part. What the heck? Hopefully there's an HD version of this on Vimeo.
djmattyb
Mith
Posted 9:46 AM 9/9/08
"Otacon, Is this a new version of metal gear!? What am I supposed to do?"
"Snake.. the only way you can take that thing on is with Stinger Missiles! FIND THE STINGER MISSILES!"
Mith
justhesh
Posted 5:53 PM 9/9/08
When you fast forward through, its movements become REALLY creepy.
The creators should be brought up on charges.
justhesh
misterburglund
Posted 3:19 AM 10/9/08
I've seen better floats at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.
misterburglund
Kayonesoft
Posted 5:03 AM 9/9/08
How utterly disappointing.
Kayonesoft