Well, I guess this is an obscure one. Rented it on iTunes and I wonder how some of these movies wind up on that marketplace. Not that it doesn’t deserve to be there or whatever. I only rented it because it sounded like a fun B movie tied into a geeky board game aesthetic. And because Lance Henriksen was in it and I’ve always liked his grim, glower. Figured the movie must have something to it.

The flick is about a geeky board game store owner who loves a fantasy legend his father recited to him all his life. Turns out the story was true and he’s (naturally) the latest in a long line of champions. He must stand against the forces of Hell with his blade, Kevlar composite armor, and his shiny helmet that gives him abilities. Will he grab the reins of destiny or go back to selling Catan?

This movie. I mean, objectively this is a bad movie. I know that. But subjectively, I’m charmed by its gumption. This feels like a movie made by a bunch of guys who were sitting around their game store and decided to make a B movie. I don’t know think it has major ambitions… I suspect they knew they weren’t making the best movie.

And yet, the film making isn’t incompetent, the actors are pretty decent most of the time, and they had access to some real sets and locations. And somehow they had enough money or enough favors to call in to get Lance Henriksen… not A list actor but dude’s been around the block so it was surprising to see him in this flick.

Should you watch it? Objectively, no. Subjectively… if you like some wholesome B movie cornball cheese with a lot of wobbly bits but clearly passion in the making, it’s a fun little watch. Maybe you laugh at it, maybe you study it for what they could have done better if they had the time, budget, and skill.

All I know is that I enjoyed it well enough. It was always on the verge of falling apart, some of the acting was dodgy, and some of the dialog (especially the jokes and pop culture references) were cringe. But, dammit, if they didn’t have some kind of vision and dammit if they didn’t make a movie that isn’t garbage. Subjectively.

Score: 75