The Legend of the Five (2020) User Reviews

Adults beware

[crapmeoff · 4/10 · 3 July 2020]

Firstly, it's a kids film. Just remind yourself of that when you watch it.My 10 and 13 year olds loved it. I did not. The characters were annoying and miscast. Javier Torres (played by Nicholas Andrianakos) was a useless character. Probably the hunk character for the girls, but I was hoping he would be killed off. Owen Clarke (played by Leigh Joel Scott) looked like a 30 year old guy. At least he knew things that helped. Kaylee Liu (played by Deborah An) was the arty type who 'grew up'. Yawn. Caitlin Fisher (played by Gabi Sproule) was the bimboesque girl that grew a backbone. She was the most interesting. Zoe Caldera (played by Lauren Esposito) is the lead character. Funny that her sister/mother is the Executive Producer and she is the co-producer. I think another relative is the 'best boy'. Her accent ranged from Australian to American, depending on the scene.

Once you resign to the fact that things don't make a heap of sense, feel free to enjoy the special effects, because boy I had a hard time understanding the flow of the story. The best part was I got a choc-top ice cream!

If you're taking the kids, make sure to bring a pillow

[tim_dunn04 · 3/10 · 6 July 2020]

The problem with the reviews written on this page is that 3 of four seem to be written by family members of Nicholas Andrianakos. "A Masterpiece" writes Jordan Andrianakos "the most outstanding part of this brilliant movie is Javier Torres played by the dashing Nicholas Andrianakos" Seriously the two best performances were by Gabi Sproule and Leigh Joel Scott. Unfortunately this movie is a very poor mashup of Jumanji and Lord of the Rings.

Probably not as bad as you think

[faradaygrean · 5/10 · 8 December 2020]

I guess it depends on who you are.

Five high school students on a class trip get transported to a fantasy world. On their quest to return home they discover they are elementals.

I'll watch anything. But appreciate where it's coming from .And, although it's low budget, it could be WAY worse (Riddle Room -a 2016 movie that was REALLY not worth it! Or The Girl- w/Michael Biehn and Tia Carrere- really OH SO BAD!).

This seemed like a high school play production done outside. The story has potential but the writing could be a little more elaborate.

As it opens, the main character is struggling with her mother's death, but holding it together for her father, who enters the scene. It's hard to tell what the actor's motivation is in the scene. Is he angry? Is he abusive? No? Oh, he's supposed to be sad? Good thing that's his only scene. Bad thing he's in the opening.

The acting was amateurish. Gabi Sproule, in my opinion did best- and this was her only credit on IMDB. The main actor is listed as a producer, her mother as executive producer. Also Joanne Samuel, the director, has her son (Jesse Ahern- also a producer) to do film editing, music editing and supervise visual effects. Although it could have been better, it could have been worse. The ending leads us to believe there could be a part 2. If it happens a better writer, director and editor could greatly improve the ratings.

It was a nice try...

[jessthereviewer864 · 1/10 · 11 July 2020]

The story was very inconsistent and the acting was absolutely woeful. The concept was okay but the scripting and story line didn't carry through.

How does this get made?

[chrisliz57 · 1/10 · 29 August 2020]

Coming to Busselton, West Australia for the Cinefest Oz weekend has been exciting except for one 93 minute time heist; The Legend of the Five viewing. Excruciatingly confusing, boring, ill conceived, badly acted, unoriginal ..... a film lacking any redeeming features. The age group this film is aiming to attract, adolescents, were walking out. I leave this review with a couple of questions ....... why is a reputable film festival including such tosh in their program? And finally, how on earth did this tosh get made?

LOW BUDGET FANTASY DISASTER

[movieguy3000 · 2/10 · 16 October 2020]

Aussies should steer clear of making anything fantasy or sci-fi, or horror, we cant do them well. Bad script, terrible and uninteresting characters, bad CGI / VFX. It was shot very well, Ill give it that. Actors were poor choices except for Lauren Esposito, she just passes but at least great to look at. Dont waste your time.

Opportunity missed

[eliza-80195 · 2/10 · 10 July 2020]

I think Samuels had a decent concept here, and with the luxury of the backdrop of the beautiful Australian Blue Mountains, it should have been a winner. Overall the production let it down for me. The talent misfired all over the place but I will keep a watch on Gabi Sproule, something intriguing there. The rest, not so much, the 'lead' was very disappointing despite the LA hype. Obviously family favours through this production, sad given how many unemployed true professionals are available. But hey, it's a kid's movie so I was hoping my nine year old would enjoy it regardless. Unfortunately he found it confusing (I agreed) and too much with the CGI that could have been toned down, it jolts you out of whatever carriage the movie manages to generate. We didn't stay to the end so I didn't get to see how this was funded. I hope Samuels gets another opportunity with some better production support to get it to hang together in a coherent fashion. A misfire all round given some of the ingredients and the opportunity.

Back ache from forcing myself to sit through the whole movie

[monelisalatu · 1/10 · 17 July 2020]

I just spent a good 20 minutes setting up an account and verifying emails in order to get on here and leave my review. This movie has scored -1/10 from me. Don't waste your time. Adults, save yourself... from the first scene where the main character is on a phone call to friends, the acting was extremely poor. I mean, my interest in the movie was gone. Then her father enters the scene and another cringe worthy moment between father and daughter when they express their love for each other make me want to puke! My 5 year can act better than them and she's very convincing. I was very sleepy in this movie during the movie, even my 8 and 10 year olds were getting restless. Save yourself the disappointment and money and skip it. $55 I will never get back and 2 hours of my life I will regret.

This is the reason a producer shouldn't star.

[rusnr · 1/10 · 28 June 2021]

A cascade of tropes and cliches from Narnia, Tolkien all held together by some poor casting choices. I honestly could not shake the sense that this was a vanity project gone wrong.

This being said, my daughter, the target audience (I hope) seemed to enjoy it.

Avoid at all costs

[thereviewman6 · 1/10 · 10 July 2020]

This movie had potential, but felt like it was directed and scripted by a bunch of 10-year-olds making a home movie with a budget. The acting was so unbelievable it almost felt laughable and I could have sworn the directors picked some actors from their local high school drama class - the ones failing the subject of course. I went to the cinema with an open mind and unfortunately waited anxiously for the movie to end. I was left disappointed and annoyed.

scene fade is so abundant its annoying

[skibo-71008 · 11 October 2020]

The movie certainly shows the love for fading in and out, and the stupidity of the characters/kids is unreal and resembles Japanese anime in extreme ignorance.

The director should go back to school as there is nothing intelligent about this movie. However, the actors are actually halfway decent for their roles despite being made to look like they have an IQ of 60.

Kids flick with laughs and amusement

[irenechristian-32131 · 8/10 · 1 October 2020]

You could hear the kids laughing in the cinema whilst we watched this film on the big screen. Safe family film, that appeals to its child-friendly audience. Great landscape shots of Australia.

Beth Champion Stands Tall in Aussie Fantasy film

[phantombry · 7/10 · 19 July 2020]

While the plot was a little hard to follow at times, overall this was an enjoyable experience. On the positive side, the visual effects were very good and the settings visually appealing. The script and premise was good but the editing left the viewer more than a little disappointed. There were plenty of magical moments but something was missing .Beth Champion's was the stand out performance and worthy of a second viewing. Tiriel Mora's character (Marduk) while strong could have been developed further to provide the flow, clarity and connection of the plot. Of The Five, Leigh Joel Scott and Lauren Esposito's performances were good. Deborah An, Gabi Sproule and Nicholas Andrianakos delivered their lines but needed more direction. In what for most would be a bewildering experience they seemed at times disinterested. The scene between Lauren Esposito and Gabi Sproule was good. Further character development would have enhanced the viewer's interest. Well worth a look!

Terrible

[amandalonergan · 1/10 · 16 July 2020]

Was so bad - bad acting - my daughter and I walked out before it finished - was ridiculous movie

Terrible acting

[rfsf-fatica · 1/10 · 1 August 2020]

Give this one a miss. Unconvincing and bad acting, not sure what happened with casting on this one. Poor visual effects and no depth to the story or characters.

Watch for a cringe

[Josh-49361 · 1/10 · 14 July 2020]

If you want a movie to cringe to watch this one. The storyline doesn't make sense and the acting is as weak as it comes. Even the kids will find this one confusing and cringe worthy.

GRAND IDEAS... LOW BUDGETS..... SELDOM WORK.

[daryldemarco-752-177177 · 1/10 · 6 January 2021]

Insufferably bad, but somewhere in the mire of bad there was some good ideas. GRAND IDEAS LOW BUDGETS SELDOM WORK. There's very little to like about this....

There are better movies for 10 year olds...

[arnoldsharja · 1/10 · 28 September 2020]

I'm sorry, i don't know why I watched it... not sure what was the idea behind it? Seems like a high school project with some money for special effects, done by the schools IT department. Nice try.

Mostly derivative, flawed, but ok for low budget

[rbrown-90244 · 3/10 · 31 August 2023]

I like "kids transported to another world" stories. Knowing that it was low budget I didn't expect much, and didn't get much either.

The acting was hit and miss (mostly miss). The story elements borrow heavily from Narnia, Alice in Wonderland, Jumanji, a little Monty Python, and even a hint of the original Land of the Lost. There are too many weird senseless portal jumps leading to confusing continuity with the story. At times it felt like scenes were left out. The elemental powers were woefully underdeveloped and underused. The wrap up completely under delivered.

It wasnt completely terrible though. There was some (if not enough) effort at character development. The Australian scenery was a plus. The overall idea and setting were decent even if derivative. The special effects were ok for a low budget film.

If there was a book I'd read it since it is bound to be better or at least be less confusing. Tighter and more thoughtful writing, more believable acting, and a little better editing and this might have been good: It could have been 6 stars or more. Sadly it wasn't. Waste time on it at your own risk.

Just run and never try to watch this!!!!

[shuvra124 · 1/10 · 24 September 2020]

Its a copy (tried) of Jumanji, but total crap, CGI like 70s! NO acting skill, NO graphics, NO story, NO budget! Just they want to make a movie and they did it! Someone gave 8/10 review, i wanna say him, get a life man and stop watching movie, u need some IQ for understand what is good and what is bad!

This is a terrible movie

[samuelbeaman-27695 · 1/10 · 18 July 2020]

This was a very bad movie. I thought the idea was really good and it started off really well, however, as the movie continued it ended up being a basic movie and a cross between Jumanji and Predator. The acting was shocking and the movie was put together really badly, the movie was all over the place and I didn't know what was going on. My mate and I ended up predicting the whole movie!! Overall, this is a very bad movie and I highly suggest you don't see it.

Solid effort for an aussie flick

[turningcogfilms · 8/10 · 19 July 2020]

About time we got some aussie fantasy! im wasnt the biggest fan, but i took my three kids and they loved it. my daughter is taking her friends to see it again so it must have strucka cord! Some of the cgi is a bit goofy and some of the actors arent great but it all comes together. even havier lands some zingers! Maybe not one for the adults but my kids already asked for it in dvd. if youre gonna go see it maybe send the kids in alone and go get a coffee!

1star for effort

[sonodaalex · 1/10 · 27 October 2020]

"It's a kids movie" is not an excuse to give high rates for a bad movie. Specially nowadays.

The storyline is actually not really bad, but everything else is.

In times of Jurassic Park and jumanji franchises coming back strong, movies industry should try a little harder.

Absolute Rubbish

[lsperrett-96180 · 1/10 · 23 March 2021]

Poor script, poor acting, poor everything- don't waste your time

BAD

[maxveight · 2/10 · 26 September 2020]

The plot was all over the place, the dialogue was laughable, the story was butchered and the acting was awful. Its like they just wanted to show some nice scenery from around Australia and make into a movie. The only good thing was the Keeper of the crossroads.