Star Leaf

I thought I'd put a show on while I was doing other things, instead of what could have been a great show, I got this. It's fairly pointless and a head scratcher, which means I was scratching my head wondering why I watched it.

GOOD INTERESTING STORY THAT IS FUN AND PRETTY EASY TO FOLLOW = 1/2 Star MEMORABLE DIALOGUE = 1/2 Star FEEL A PULL TO WATCH IT AGAIN = 0 Stars MUSIC OR SCORE STANDS OUT = 0 Stars NO NOTICEABLE PLOT HOLES = 0 Stars STORY GETS RESOLVED OR FEELS COMPLETE IN SOME WAY = 0 Stars I PERSONALLY LIKE OR FEEL A CONNECTION TO THIS STORY = 1/2 Star MEMORABLE OR LIKABLE CHARACTERS = 1/2 Star MOST THINGS ABOUT THE STORY COULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN OR ARE BELIEVABLE = 0 Stars STORY ISN'T BORING OR REPETITIVE = 0 Stars I think this movie could have been better if the writer's were willing to expand the plot and add new ideas. It feels like they were completely set on one idea and felt that there was no room for improvement, which is always false. Most of the acting is just OK, and like I said before the story is shakey. The special effects are pretty good for being an indie. You wouldn't miss much if you skipped over this one, there is much better out there.

Like, far out man. Duuude, that was, like, totally mind blowing. This movie was like totally gnarly. I'm, like, totally down for some munchies and cheese. Man, like, this movie just totally was like so awesome in its awesomeness. That star leaf weed was like totally awesome, man. I gotta go out and find me some of that and watch this movie again,so I can, like, ya know, really wrap my mind around the exponentially large ideas being thrown at you. OK, so, I tried my best to write like I was a stoner. And now I feel both embarrassed and dirty. The stupidity of this movie has been imprinted on my DNA and will be passed down from generation to generation and any children, grandchildren, etc., I may have will, in fact, be stupider for my mistake of having watched Star Leaf. What to say about it? Script - sophomoric. Acting - terrible. Editing - even worse. Incidental Music - all I can say is WTF??? To be quite honest, I fell asleep on my couch and missed the last 10 minutes, I believe. On the other hand, maybe I toked up a bit too much star leaf myself and can't remember how it ended. Anyhow, you're better off getting high or drunk yourself and passing out instead of watching this.

It is a fun movie to watch and I definitely will watch it again. Obviously lower budget, but a thoughtful and crazy script that kept my interest. I saw extraterrestrial and it obviously had quite the budget. I thought this movie was better on script, videography and directing. Extraterrestrial could have been a home run, but needed another re write or two...I dunno, it just got out of control. Star leaf seemed to have more maturity on all aspects of the movie making. sure, crazy kids running around the forest, add some pot, add some violence, but in the right proportions and some zany flavor, it makes for a good watch. I love films like "Still Alice", but do I need to be in front of reality when i watch movies all the time? Heck no. Give me a movie like this any day to make me forget my worries for an hour and a half. Give me aliens and one toke to go please!!!!

The movie is as bad as the plot sounds. Aliens growing weed for some special people, testing them out, bla bla. I'm going to go into very few words here, it has no horror elements, tries to induce some tension, some mystery, fails each time, ends predictably. Luckily for me, it has only 75 minutes, so there is an upside to it. The movie itself is avoidable! Only if you're into weed movies, could this pass as a junky cheesy fun! I'm also quite done with stereotypes, all of them present here, the smoker, running away from responsibility, the girl, always trashy and the war "veteran", still facing his inner demons. Can't we do something betters, I mean it is 2016 almost, how many such copy cat movies are we supposed to endure? Cheers!

When first introduced to the title I immediately thought of Cheech and Chong's Next Movie. Space weed and "trippin'" is what I had a feeling this movie was going to be about, and while that was part of it, it certainly wasn't anything like Cheech and Chong. Star Leaf tells the story of 3 friends on a road "trip" to find a special strain of extra terrestrial marijuana, the Star Leaf. This drug, they hope, will help their friend cope with the effects of PTSD. Unfortunately for the group, there are rules to be followed when partaking of this cure and needless to say, some one always breaks the rules. The story actually has multiple morals intertwined into decisions we may all face day-to-day one way or the other. Primarily, if you use marijuana or not, it is difficult not to sympathize with a set of friends trying to help their buddy suffering from PTSD. The tolls of the war in Afghanistan and Iraq have left us with soldiers much like our veteran in this movie. Our veteran struggles with the idea of using a possible illicit substance, being an upstanding person, however, he is probably in the greatest need of the relief the Star Leaf will bring to his affliction. Beyond the overt medicinal and or recreational uses of marijuana the story reminds us "There are rules". With great relief and or "high" comes great responsibility. And if you break the rules, there will be consequences. This is much like our politicians like to remind us, that if marijuana is legal, there are still regulations around it. The consequences for breaking the rules are exactly when things go to hell in a hand-basket for our friends. While it is not quite a "horror" element, it definitely gets the point across. I would categorize this movie more as a Sci-Fi Drug Thriller. Richard Cranor, who directed and wrote this film, filmed most of it right in the forests of Olympia Washington near where he resides. Ironically, Richard plays "Ranger Dave" a kind of law enforcement man watching over the "rules". Yet another not so subtle reminder, you can partake, but the law is watching. What made this movie compelling for me was Richard Cranor's personal story. He has a brother who struggled with PTSD and Richard himself was stricken with cancer. Knowing this going into watching the film made me appreciate the personal connection he made with this movie. I don't want to add too many spoilers, but I will write: Star Leaf is a movie with a message that resonates in my opinion. As indie movies go, I really enjoyed it. You do not have to be high or on something to get enjoyment out of the story, although I am sure the story might seem different if you were. I particularly like movies when things go to hell due to the characters bringing it down on themselves, and this movie delivers. One can never go into watching a micro-budget movie expecting a full-fledged Hollywood flick. There is not unlimited cash to make everything picture perfect, so be forgiving. Take the story for what it's worth and enjoy the filmmaker's vision. I look forward to more of Richard Cranor's work as I think he has lots of story to tell.

Star Leaf was an unexpected pleasure to pop in the DVD! Tracking the pursuit of pot plants with extraterrestrial origins by some younger PTSD-afflicted US vets from Afghanistan, this timely movie offers a lot of younger generation references and humor that bring the current-day marijuana landscape and veteran experience to the fore. The production team and cast did a great job with this low-budget film to keep the dialogue and the movie visually engaging, funny, moving, and suspenseful to the end. Responsible use and medicinal legitimacy of marijuana, as well as the tip of the hat to veterans, are neatly woven into the story line, but never preachy. A second watch of the film likely will reveal additional plot, and character, and message gems that can be missed during the action of a first watch. Start Leaf is solid enough to play enjoyably to stoners and sobers and successfully deliver on either level. Seems ripe for a higher budget sequel or series.

Moviecut—Star Leaf

source: Star Leaf

Oh dear. I went into this thinking hopefully that-given the subject matter-it might be a low budget, cheesy but fun drug culture comedy romp that just might be a sleepy cult classic. No, it was just one big hot, steamy mess. The acting by the three young leads was atrocious, the special effects were laughable and the story was all over the place. I was confused from the second act on. What's unfortunate is that HAD the film makers gone with cheesy but fun instead of attempting a somewhat serious movie with a synopsis that is no way serious and on a shoestring budget, they might have ended up with an okay little flick. The only reason I made myself watch the whole, sad thing is because I knew I wanted to put my two cents in and I don't feel right doing a review unless I've seen the entire film. But it never got better, just further down the toilet. The reviewers who gave this awful piece of dreck a10? Really? Makes me wonder how they rate GOOD movies? But as for "Star Weed"- I suggest you move along...nothing to see here.