G.P.S. (2007) Reviews

• Good for the Budget - Fun Thriller with Cool Bonus Features

  ardentayu2009-05-01

  I saw this on DVD, which means I got to see the Behind the Scenes Bonus Features that go in depth into the making of this movie. There are more than 2 hours of special features.I didn't intend to watch them all, but they pulled me in so much I ended up watching most of them. After seeing those, I have a real appreciation of what the filmmakers went through to get their first feature made on a tiny budget, so I give them a '7.' The movie itself is really fun, but it's not flawless. It had me laughing out loud at a couple of the funny characters, and there were some very suspenseful scenes in the second half of the movie. I think the biggest problem is that the suspense doesn't really start up until halfway through. The first half almost plays like a comedy, the second half like a thriller. If you know that going in, you can like it anyway. But it is a little disconcerting to the viewer as the tone changes dramatically at the midway point. I'm glad they embellished GPS treasure hunting (or geocaching) to make it highly competitive, otherwise it wouldn't have been exciting. People are literally racing each other to get to the next hidden cache. There are some beautiful locations and some cool stunts. Overall, a really good first effort, and from what the director, producer, etc. said in the bonus features, it's obvious they learned a lot in the process to take with them to their next movie.

• I saw this film at the Pasadena film Festival. And I liked it very much!

  Cullen132009-01-28

  I saw this in Pasadena and didn't know what to expect. After the screening I found the filmmakers and talked to them about their experience and what they had to do to get their film made. They were very smart and engaging people who were thrilled that they had won an award for their efforts. I believe it was for best action film in the festival. After speaking to the filmmakers, I realized what a daunting task it was for them to shoot this film on such a small budget and was wholly impressed with what they accomplished. It was an entertaining thriller that had me guessing till the very end. I enjoyed it very much and personally would like to see these young filmmakers get another chance to bring another story to the screen. Well Done!

• Saw this at the Tacoma Film Festival

  cgariando2007-10-15

  I don't know a lot about "GPS hunts" or "Geocaching" or whatever it is called, but you don't need any experience with activity as the filmmakers introduce you to it in the opening scenes of the film. The story and dialog were top notch. The excitement builds throughout the movie to the conclusion that catches you off guard. I Was impressed with the quality of the production. It has a great story that reminded me of "The Contract" with John Cusack and Morgan Freeman with a some of the Blair Witch's frenetic quality thrown it. Scenes in the dark woods make you feel the suspense and fear the characters are experiencing. There are moments of levity that fit the characters and situations and brought real laughs from the audience.

• Something new for me

  sarahabrami2008-04-03

  This movie kept me on the edge of my chair. The video quality gave it a feeling of reality which added to the suspense. The chemistry between the characters drew you into their history together from the beginning. This continued throughout the movie aside from one scene. The setting was beautiful. It was not the kind of movie I would normally see, but overall, the music was placed well with the drama, the dialog rarely faltered, and the stunts were well done. I have not seen a lot of independent films, so I'm not certain if the unique qualities of this movie are similar to other independents. It challenged my expectations of what a movie "has to be," and gave me something new.

• Best Indie of the YEAR!

  VinceRocca2008-07-26

  In my line of work I see a lot of movies, and I see way too many Indies. Most I can't finish. GPS, thankfully wasn't one of them. This movie breaks the mold and strives to be more. It is what a true Indie should be. It's filled with many wide open beautiful landscapes, lots of interesting and good looking faces, and a compelling hook that keeps you invested to the very end. In addition to helicopter shots and stunts, the movie has solid performances. The five leads are enjoyable, but Paul Proios and Danielle Renee really steal the show. I'm reminded of the Robert Rodriguez and Kevin Smiths of the world, who made big movies with small budgets.