Beta

The story is pretty lame and the acting is not much better. Unless you're bored, I'd stay away from this one.

I liked the concept of this movie (virtual reality as an escape from a house arrest) so I watched the trailer after reading some of the reviews. The cover (and that retro/cheesy font used on the title and throughout the movie) didn't impress me, but I decided to give it a chance because I've watched a lot of good indie movies that didn't have a big budget, but definitely had a cool concept/story. Beta is one of those, thankfully. Some reviewers complained about the leading lady, but I liked her! Some also complained about the music, but I liked that too. The retro/cheesy font used throughout the movie could have been improved on, but maybe it was a conscious choice? There were some genuinely funny moments throughout the movie (mainly involving the male lead - "I'm below average intelligence." LOL!) which show that the movie didn't take itself too seriously. It was an interesting story with likable characters, and I'm glad I gave it a chance despite the bad impression I had from just looking at the cover. Recommended for sci-fi fans who like movies that can transcend a small budget with big ideas.

If you do watch it, you should know that there's an extra scene in the middle of the end credits.

It's not high budget and that shows in the special effects and lack of big name actors. Having said that, the acting is true to each character and the science is realistic. The story develops cleanly, with character development and a solid plot. It's a little campy and pokes fun at itself more than a bit, along with presenting some very nerdy side jokes along the way. (Although now I want a Miskatronics computer!) It's not going to win any Oscars, but it's a fun watch.