MEAD

This is a great story. Many people won't get past the low budget sound stage and struggling actors but believe me, there is a great plot twist and some priceless one-liners. If nothing else, watch the animation at the closing credits. Reminds me of Mad magazine in its prime. Mead has cult classic written all over it.

A mildly entertaining, CGI heavy sci fi with a fair to middling plot and good theory of AI.

HOWEVER the biggest detractor (aside from the poor acting) is the bass-heavy soundtrack. Almost impossible to follow the storyline and dialogue. I even adjusted my graphic equalizer which left the dialogue tinny and still iveramped with bass. I shut it off about half way. I admit impressed. B for effort and D for delivery.

Writer doesn't have real world experience with real combat pilots. Americans would blow right through illusions. These pilots know it yet engage and interact instead of blasting away. Poor plotting.

I was very unimpressed at the start and the acting was subpar, very stilted with a questionable script. Turning OFF subtitles was actually important. It's a bit cringe when you realize you're reading the lines in your head more believably than the actors are.

But things did get better. Learning about how this film came to be definitely got me thinking less critically toward it. Taking a step back and letting it exist as a purely indie film with some cheesy lines and silly visual effects allowed me to enjoy it enough to finish watching it. The first 17 minutes were the weakest in my opinion but once past them the story was fine. I don't know if they'll actually make the teased sequel but I would watch it.

This film is sci-fi Indy at its finest the movie has really good pacing with a really nice runtime and a cast that you can tell is having the time of their life. I would recommend this for most families that love science-fiction i.e. Star Wars or guardians of the Galaxy and for an indie this could be a cult classic. The special effects work is great and Patton Oswalt as Mead is very lovable much like an R2-D2.

The movie was overall very entertaining! Good story and screen development. Only lacking a few stars for minor elements that would have been fixed with a larger budget. Can't wait to see a sequel!