Gauntlet

Absolutely love the story line of this movie. I won't give any spoilers, but the twist at the end definitely leave the viewer contemplating the intricacies of what they just watched. I've got to say, as others have mentioned, the effects and the performance in the movie definitely exceed the expectations for indie films. I enjoyed the nostalgic, yet modern feel of the game setting. You feel the "age" of the VFX, but I actually enjoyed it... you could tell that immense effort and time was put into producing them, and of course, they're 10-years old, when VFX technology was very young and new. The story arc is classic... with the villain turning out to be the person you didn't expect and the revealing of unforeseen allies the protagonist meets along his journey. Definitely worth sitting down, popping a bag of popcorn, and diving straight in. Can't wait until this is public so I can share with my friends.

Let me start by saying that I watched the movie and wrote this review as a favor to a friend. I can only imagine that all these 8 and 9 star reviews have been written by the cast members? Or their family and friends? I have seen better films directed by high school students. The acting is so cringe.

It IS impressive that the writer/director/producer created this entire movie in his garage apparently? That's absolutely more than I (or the average person) could accomplish. But I don't feel as though people are reviewing this movie objectively. As an average person's random accomplishment, this is great! It's cool that they learned how to film, edit, etc. As a movie, it is NOT great. It's not like this film is going to win any awards, and if this is what they came up with after ten years of work, I think it would be a while before they created something that I would actually want to watch.

Also, the entire story line seems to be a poorly-made Tron rip-off.

The story behind this movie is amazing: a one man show writing, directing, and editing over the course of a decade. Gauntlet is an incredible showing of VFX and visually beautiful. Many scenes really brought the viewer in due to the amount of detail. I really liked a lot of the character play and interaction throughout. The story was fun and an easy, entertaining watch. Some of the character wardrobe could've been improved, and some of the acting felt amateur at times. But this was a low budget film taken on by essentially one man, so some shortcomings are expected. But Gauntlet is a great watch and a good time.

Great story and final twist. I was left thinking, "Wait, this story should not be over. Surely, there's a next chapter." Contemplating the storyline after the film and thinking what might be next is my litmus test in determining how well I liked it.

This movie was filmed and set in the 90s, so I could appreciate the non-HD camera and overall feel. The visual effects are definitely modern though (even the retro ones) and worthy of a major motion picture.

As other commentors have mentioned, the actors were a bit green during this time, but they told the story very well. This is one of those films they will be referring to a "remember when" segments on Entertainment Tonight.

Note to the film's creator: Make a next chapter. When it hits the big screen or gets picked up by syndication, consider a post credits scene with a tease of what's to come. I can't wait to see where it goes.

If you're reading this review, find a way to watch it!

This film is proof that if you have a dream, a solid work ethic, a willingness to learn new skills, patience, a positive attitude, and a supportive community around you, that you can create worlds out of thin air. You don't need a budget or Hollywood connections. You can make it happen. Jeff Loehrke proves that one man can write, direct, shoot, act in, edit, and create stunning visual effects to make a dream a reality. Gauntlet is a spectacle to see. It goes above and beyond what independent filmmaking can do. And it's so much fun! Make some popcorn, turn down the lights, and enjoy this cinematic feast!