Gauntlet

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.

I've been wanting to check this one out for a while. I knew that the production was several years in the making, given all the animation/graphics that were involved. It's a super fun flick that really shows how much you can accomplish when you're willing to take on piles of work and not stop until you reach the top of the mountain. It's an indie passion project so it's obviously going to be a different experience than watching the next $200 million dollar studio sci-fi movie but if you're up for something different you should check it out. I look forward to seeing what this team comes up with next!

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.

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!

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!