I'm sorry to mention this, but another larp related film...

I don't understand how people can be in support of something that clearly looks like it blends real life and the game.

The thing that really disturbs me is that it looks like individual people want to leave and not interact with the game. And from what it looks like other players simply won't let them and start coercing them physically. My horror is that it looks like players engaging in **** and burning. NOT just characters or the game. Not to mention that I don't think including **** in a game in any way is alright.

Its supposed to be a game. I might understand if it were a movie. Because no one in a movie is actually doing these things. But what makes this look so bad to me is that it seems like they are. Leaving me disgusted and troubled. I have always understood in any LARP I have been part of that if at any time someone needs/wants to leave the game they can. Crossing that line is a really scary thought to me.

This is even aside from all my dislike of bad LARP representation. Just how I feel. :?
 
Dreamingfurther said:
Its supposed to be a game. I might understand if it were a movie. Because no one in a movie is actually doing these things. But what makes this look so bad to me is that it seems like they are. Leaving me disgusted and troubled. I have always understood in any LARP I have been part of that if at any time someone needs/wants to leave the game they can. Crossing that line is a really scary thought to me.

This is even aside from all my dislike of bad LARP representation. Just how I feel. :?
Click to expand...

Ugh, I just re-watched it because I thought perhaps people were just making assumptions of **** based on the bad guys attacking the female lead.

However, I just caught the "Let's f*** this b****." during the scene in question. Like Dreamingfurther said, (SPOILERS!) that does NOT actually occur in the movie. Putting that specific line in the trailer, along with one of the characters gossiping, "I hear some girls, they roleplay medieval prostitutes, and they have sex with men who pay them in fake coins.", just seems to be catering to absolute lowest form of sensationalism.

I'll be honest, I've known some pretty creepy people who were involved in LARP , gaming groups and alternative crowds over the years. I'm afraid that trailers like this might attract the WRONG players, and frighten away some decent people.

At first I was only intrigued and a little worried. Now, I'm somewhat angry at the film's creators for this trailer. I'm sure I'll settle down, but it's got me a tad riled.
 
Thanks, glad I'm not the only one.

I have to assume that this trailer is not for a movie about an actual larp. But even so I still feel pretty strongly about it.
 
jpariury said:
I don't feel it's any worse than a trailer for Alive is for the airline industry, or Cliffhanger is for rock climbers, or Halloween trailers are for, well, Halloween.
Click to expand...

Airplanes, rock climbing and halloween are all well understood by society in general, and serve obvious and approved purposes. LARPing is at the relative fringe of society's area of understanding, and the idea of adults putting on costumes and playing with fake swords just for its own sake is laughed off by many and out-right reviled by some. None of the movies you mentioned to the best of my recollection involves the participants, as a group, acting dangerously outside the social norm in an activity that is not at all accepted by the vast bulk of the populace. To my mind, it's more akin The Rock, but if the marines were considered ludicrous or creepy and likely to abuse their power to begin with.
 
The way I look at it is....it is a movie...about a couple who are having problems, one of which is slightly unstable and trys to lose herself in a pretend world...now add in a few other persons that are unstable and the problems start to boil over...yes the movies backdrop is a "Larp" but its not styled like an "American" Larp...whens the last time you went to a game with that many players? But it sounds more like an after school special about the bad things about drugs and peer presure.....

Yes it could make our hobby look bad...but we have people that do that all the time...just not so up in your face...next the movie is in limited release....so chances are it wont show much in the US market..

I'll watch it when I get a chance and I will like it or not like base on how the MOVIE plays out..
 
Alavatar said:
The trailer reminds me of how D&D used to be thought of in the 80's.
Click to expand...

Mazes and Monsters anyone?

The movie itself though looks interesting, anyone else laugh when they called a hold to argue over damage? All things aside it might be worth looking at just to see what we can find common ground with while looking beyond the fact some of its out there and sensationalist. But in the end like its stated, this isnt a documentary, its a movie(although if you read the second link the glimpse of the dancing table girls, those are larpers they paid ingame to do that) and as such will try to go for the biggest "I gotta see this!" pull.
 
Sunnfire said:
Jessica said:
... unless you believe that larping would be better without women.
Click to expand...


Well that would get rid of Tab and Dave... so I'm not sure where I fall on this argument anymore.
Click to expand...

HAH! You just can't stand it when one of us rez's more people than you in your own chapter... ;)
 
evi1r0n said:
In the end it is a fictional movie. It looks awesome. I love dark film. Just because it involves our hobby doesn't mean it's necessarily a bad thing. I doubt anyone is going to see this and think, "I wonder how those LARP groups get away with ritualistic **** and murder?" It is on the same level with believing Harry Potter is a representation of witch craft. People will sensationalize anything if they can find something to get upset about. If this movie deters a person from LARPing then they probably wouldn't have enjoyed the game to begin with. Just my opinion.
Click to expand...

But you just proved the point with the Harry Potter reference. There ARE people out there who feel that Harry Potter promotes witchcraft. There are many christian groups that protest and boycott the films and books, refuse to let their children see it or read it and even threaten the author. Now imagine if there was actually a Hogwarts style school in real life that they could actually focus their attentions on.

The defense the producer has is the same thing - it's a fictional movie about a fictional game but if people believe that that won't color people's views on something that actually exists in real life, then they're the ones living in a fantasy world. I too like dark movies and actually want to see the film but I also know that it can have a strong, negative impact upon the hobby. I'll probably be downloading the movie for the $40 fee this weekend (need to make sure all my other checks clear first) so that I can start working on press releases for the US before the movie hits the theaters.
 
markusdark said:
evi1r0n said:
In the end it is a fictional movie. It looks awesome. I love dark film. Just because it involves our hobby doesn't mean it's necessarily a bad thing. I doubt anyone is going to see this and think, "I wonder how those LARP groups get away with ritualistic **** and murder?" It is on the same level with believing Harry Potter is a representation of witch craft. People will sensationalize anything if they can find something to get upset about. If this movie deters a person from LARPing then they probably wouldn't have enjoyed the game to begin with. Just my opinion.
Click to expand...

But you just proved the point with the Harry Potter reference. There ARE people out there who feel that Harry Potter promotes witchcraft. There are many christian groups that protest and boycott the films and books, refuse to let their children see it or read it and even threaten the author. Now imagine if there was actually a Hogwarts style school in real life that they could actually focus their attentions on.

The defense the producer has is the same thing - it's a fictional movie about a fictional game but if people believe that that won't color people's views on something that actually exists in real life, then they're the ones living in a fantasy world. I too like dark movies and actually want to see the film but I also know that it can have a strong, negative impact upon the hobby. I'll probably be downloading the movie for the $40 fee this weekend (need to make sure all my other checks clear first) so that I can start working on press releases for the US before the movie hits the theaters.
Click to expand...

There was a small Wikkan (spelling?) store in my home town. The movie the Craft (a major studio release) didn't hurt their rep, the fact people thought they were weirdos did. Just like the magic and monsters don't really hurt ours just the whole being nerds and playing pretend thing.

So we should write off a potentially good movie because some wack-jobs (who don't even represent the Christian community or Americans as a whole) might get mad? This is an extremely indie film. The people who are going to see this are people like us and indie film people. The random person who might stumble into a small art venue to see this and takes offense isn't going to make or break us.

If we do get negative media attention it is a prime opportunity to spin it around and make it good. There is no such thing as bad press if you know what you are doing. Let the media interview the local chapter owners or Mike to get the real scoop on LARPing as a rebuttal (most news sources will show both sides of the fence). We live in such an uptight society as it is. It's a movie... This movie isn't going to bring a bunch of rapists and murderers to the game. The people who would think this movie represents LARPing would hate this game based on a myriad of other sacrilegious IG content.

I agree the movie trailer paints a dark picture but it shows when a game goes completely wrong with already crazy people in a fictional scenario. I don't think we will need to man the ramparts in defense of this film. If this was film had the marketing, publishing and movie budget Harry Potter had then maybe we should worry, but it doesn't. People who can make their mind up on LARPing based on a semi-related fictional movie trailer are seen as crazy, to us and the rest of the world. No rational thinking adult sees that trailer and thinks, "I always knew those LARPer people were maniacal killers who worship demon gods, better stay away from Ron in accounting."

If you find the movie offensive based on the actual content and not that it makes LARP look bad (maybe) then more power to you. I don't get offended so I look forward to seeing it.

I am just a big indie film guy and am really excited to see this movie because it loosely involves my hobby. Will let you folks know if it is good.
 
Dan Nickname Beshers said:
To my mind, it's more akin The Rock, but if the marines were considered ludicrous or creepy and likely to abuse their power to begin with.
Click to expand...
Okey dokey. Point is, we can take any number of movies that portray some fun activity as "going too far" (I dunno... Bloodsport, Surviving the Game, take your pick, really), and make them out to be a travesty in the name of publicity. ("Don't go hunting, you'll end up killing homeless people!", "Don't take martial arts, you'll end up an overweight crappy actor from Belgium doing splits all the time!")

LARPing is not so special that it can't or shouldn't be portrayed as having a hyperbolized dark side.
 
jpariury said:
Dan Nickname Beshers said:
To my mind, it's more akin The Rock, but if the marines were considered ludicrous or creepy and likely to abuse their power to begin with.
Click to expand...
Okey dokey. Point is, we can take any number of movies that portray some fun activity as "going too far" (I dunno... Bloodsport, Surviving the Game, take your pick, really), and make them out to be a travesty in the name of publicity. ("Don't go hunting, you'll end up killing homeless people!", "Don't take martial arts, you'll end up an overweight crappy actor from Belgium doing splits all the time!")

LARPing is not so special that it can't or shouldn't be portrayed as having a hyperbolized dark side.
Click to expand...

Amen to that brotha.
 
Thought I'd drop a line with a slight update on this.

I had a friend who is very active in LARPs and is an indy film maker himself in Southern CA who managed to get to see it at a small film festival. He is currently working on a review for LARPers about it but the short version is that this will indeed be damaging to the LARPing community. He heard after the movie ended (from two different couples): "I am never going to the Renaissance Faire again," and "I'm never, ever, larping. Ever." although I don't know the demographics of it. Once he finishes up his review I will be happy to post it here.
 
I know I want to see it. Yeah the trailers reminded me of Larp meets lord of the flies. But I still like it. I am hoping that it is available in the states. Or if it will come out on DVD. I remember a movie that featured a very young Tom Hanks. Rona Jaffis Mazes and monsters. If you see it now it would look corny. But still a good film. And somehwat describes what can happen when a person who cannot distinguish between reality and fantasy. I knwo some might use wild hunt as evidence against Larp and why it should be banned. But personally I just see Wild Hunt as an entertaining movie that all should enjoy.
 
markusdark said:
Thought I'd drop a line with a slight update on this.

I had a friend who is very active in LARPs and is an indy film maker himself in Southern CA who managed to get to see it at a small film festival. He is currently working on a review for LARPers about it but the short version is that this will indeed be damaging to the LARPing community. He heard after the movie ended (from two different couples): "I am never going to the Renaissance Faire again," and "I'm never, ever, larping. Ever." although I don't know the demographics of it. Once he finishes up his review I will be happy to post it here.
Click to expand...


I would liek to see this for sure. And sadly when people make those kind of knee jerk decisions. It's a very sad thing.. Whne they can actually to a renaissance fair or an actual Larp event. And see for themselves it is nothing like what happens in Wild Hunt.
 
I am always looking for good videos to show friends to get them excited about LARPing and possibly attend an event. I was all excited until it turned into a frickin slasher film! LOL
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top