Deanna
There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.
Fleur
Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.
Dana
An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.
neisha_saxena
Now, I've read my share of fantasy fiction and I'm addicted to Battlestar Galactica. I've even played a bit of D&D, but I'm not much of a gamer. As a result, at the beginning of the movie, I wasn't sure what to make of the NERO players. Through the light touch of the film makers, I grew to like and understand the players in a way that never felt forced or contrived.The mother of Fern, one of the players, said it well, our society idolizes the individual and yet there is a human need to be part of something larger than ourselves. At this moment in time, in particular, there seems to be a hunger for this. That's what this movie is about. A group of people who otherwise might be gaming alone in front of screens find society, community, and even love. There is a moment toward the end when all might be lost, but ultimately community prevails.
hungrydragon88
So I was also a participant in this documentary when it was shot, and I've played at a few different chapters across the country.Actually, when I saw the film I was surprised at how even-handed it actually was. There's a lot of drama queens that LARP, and there's no way any film made about a NERO chapter would have appealed to all of them. I mean, there's so much drama in the NERO universe that there's controversy over who started NERO in the first place.Some of my family members have watched this movie and now finally have a grasp on what it is I actually do with some of my weekends. More importantly, they came away from the film with a greater sense of understanding.Another NERO member said that the lizard guys in the photo quit shortly after shooting, which is true. To that point, oddball types float in and out of the game all of the time, and they usually play the monsters who don't know the rules well. The film covered the die-hards and the more pathetic participants (even though they really do get a chance to speak for themselves).NERO is a community. It attracts all types. Sure the film doesn't follow the in-game plot; but come on fellow Larpers, that stuff is only interesting to us. This film seems to have been crafted to appeal to people besides just us. It focuses on real drama that comes with trying to make our fantasy work! That's probably why it was more than just another you tube video showing people hitting each other with padded weapons.Of the characters profiled in the film, I knew about 40% of them. While they are more complex than the film reveals, I didn't think that they were misrepresented. I thought it did a better job at providing an even-handed perspective for them than King of Kong did for Billy Mitchell. Additionally, those I have talked to who were in the film by and large were satisfied with how they were portrayed.I'm glad I was documented in this project. If nothing else, I'd say watch it and see for yourself.
jfpower
I absolutely loved this movie! Not only does this film open your eyes to a world of gaming that you never knew existed, but it provides hours of comedy. You can't help but enjoy hearing and experiencing the out of this world realms where people pretend to be characters and battle to see who the winner will be. If you are familiar with World of Warcraft this film takes you to a whole new level of game play.The movie meets a dual purpose: broadening one's intellect and tightening their stomach muscles.
wulfstand
Last nite at San Jose Cinequest. A very interesting film about folks in Live Action RolePlaying and how the hobby has defined or even taken over their life. The film covers the romantic angle too, with couples both meeting and breaking up over "in game" issues. Altho the film is about "L.A.R.P." is could well be about SCA, Renfaire, D&D or even Massive Multiplayer Online games. It touches a bit on that last, with a couple of the guys in the film admitting they spend over 40 hours a week playing WOW. Of course a film about slackers playing computer games would be a tad boring.What I particularly like is the balance shown by the film-makers. They show the good and the bad, with no apparent bias. Intelligent and thought-provoking, with a number of very funny moments and a few poignant ones too.
