tladyrose I have to say, as an all around lover of everything nerdy, I had high hopes for this movie. I really did. I am quite sad to say it failed on almost all points. For one, the main characters were one dimensional and shallow. Lyn went from trying to seduce someone, to running away from Erich, to outright fear for her life, then back to enjoyment in the time span of what couldn't have been more than a few hours. Doesn't make sense to me at all, maybe i'm just missing something. For two, the plot itself was poorly created with almost zero development, surprise or even a story line that made sense. Everything was expected. It was not a "Shakespearean Tragedy" as described, as at no point in the film did the protagonist ever move into the accepting fate portion of said writing style. However, there were quite a few redeeming moments, especially the well placed comedic relief. The SCA chapter (Society for Creative Anachronism and NOT LARP) that they found for a lot of this footage was quite good, especially the actual site, weapons, costumes, even some of the game events that just made up the background. I applaud that.However, my third and final point, as a LARP-er (Live Action Role Player), I burst into tears during the last 25 minutes of this movie and almost turned it off. It is very difficult for a movie to get to me, and I understand that this is fictional, but I have so many issues with this movie it's horrifying and would take up pages. As if we geeks didn't have it hard enough, sure go ahead and portray a completely harmless sport that has spent years and years trying to gain a favorable reputation and toss it out the window. Thanks.

sarastro7 The problem with current cinema in a nutshell: it is considered cool and edgy for movie characters to be constantly irritated, annoyed, offensive and swearing. The problem with this movie in particular: people who engage in live role-playing do so because it's fun. They don't go around constantly using f-words and c-words and taking things too seriously and not seriously enough at the same time, as shown in this movie (I am not a live role-player, but I have friends who are). "Artistic license" it may be, but that doesn't stop it from also being a betrayal of what live role-playing is really like. Yes, a betrayal: some audiences, not knowing how distant this portrayal of it is from the real thing, will be scared away from live role-playing by this movie. It's all but saying that role-playing will lead to uncontrollable violence - a repetition of ignorant, conservative, long out-of-date fears about young people's love for comics, video games and role-playing.I realize the story is trying to take things to a different level; speculating about minor conflicts getting out of hand and turning into deadly serious major ones, and that's fine. There are many good ideas here and very nice directing, but in my view it should have been handled very differently. It just never feels like something that could happen, or like a good representation of live role-playing. Many plot developments seem contrived (like Lyn suddenly getting sick, and the car that won't start), and the way most of the characters hate each other is completely contrary to real live role-playing situations, even though the latter certainly has its share of intrigues and internal politics. But in this movie the characters (esp. Shaman Murtagh) are just not believable. They range from too angry and obnoxious to nastily self-ridiculing. The story itself goes into such extremes that we are asked to suspend our disbelief beyond any bounds of credibility. I wonder which audience this is made for. Is it an attempt to thematize the danger of fantasy being confused with reality? Or is it just an excuse to escalate the pretend-violence into real violence? I, for one, don't think it works.Of course, I'm judging this from how similar it is to real live role-playing. Maybe the writer and director didn't care about that, but wanted to do something different. All right. But people involved in live role-playing are the ones who will mainly and mostly want to see this movie, and therefore one might argue that it ought to be truer to their experience. If the writer and director achieved what they set out to do, good for them. For me, however, this was a disappointment and in bad taste. It should either have been more tasteful (some may not be aware of it, but great drama *is* possible without copious profanity, as any student of literature will know) or much more like a comedy. After all, live role-playing is about fun. This movie undermines and takes away that fun. Maybe it would be an interesting and innovative movie if there already existed twenty movies done in the proper spirit, but since there doesn't, this is not what people who understand live role-playing is looking for.For those like me who may have been disappointed with this movie, I recommend watching All's Faire In Love instead. A similar idea, but done as a comedy, and a very effectively entertaining one.5 out of 10.

edumacated this film is out of whack, but that is where it is supposed to be.you have a real viking, rescuing a fake princess from a fake celt, and throughout, all become something they really didn't want to be when the game started.they are nerds playing at fantasy violence without realizing that their modern skins mask a real violence hidden in their real history, and it just waiting for the right catalyst to prompt its release.and then there is the ending. it is a mixture and manifestation of both fantasy and reality.and that is the truth that surrounds us all. we all live in a mix of fiction and the other. and it is up to us which wins out and when. when we give ourselves up to the impetus of a group, we also relinquish individual immunity from the crimes of that group--just ask albert speer.

xavier-haurie Forget that this is a "cinematographic debut", forget that it's an "indie film". This movie needs neither apologetic introduction nor patronizing kudos.Most aspects of the film are mastered better than in the majority of mainstream movies, so your eyes, your mind or your heart will find something to latch on from beginning to end.Plot has multiple layers, some easily read and others complex. You can enjoy the film at any level.Cinematography is solid in a Hollywood-action-movie sort of sense. But also gives you some meaningful "artsy" shots which convincingly express the turning points in the plot and in the characters' evolution. They set the mood without being overbearing -- like the "right" frame around a masterly painting.Characters find their depth in the way that each attempts to enjoy, survive, or in some cases take advantage of, the co-existence of inevitably real motivations with the seductiveness of acting, improvisation, role-playing, fantasy...Music obviously helps set the mood and tell the story; but it acts more as a commentary -- as a minstrel would do. In fact I found that the movie has its own carefully crafted rhythm.Costumes and props are top-notch -- forget that it was a low-budget movie. It looked better than most $100M CGI stuff.Dialogs sound "true" from beginning to end.Go see this movie like you would go see any other movie. Enjoy.