Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 9:42 pm
I saw a short clip of this while watching Tech TV. They also interviewed the writer. They talked about how they stuck to the game and stuff. That interested me. So I rented it.
The movie had a low budget. Not stupid crazy low, but low enough that the stunts were a little weak and stuff like that. I'd call them "TV series" good. Other than that, it really wasn't that bad at all. If you are a D&D fan, you shouldn't be too disappointed. They really do stick to the game rules and stuff. Basically, if you took one of the old modules/campaigns and made a movie, this is what it would have been like. The actors actually read the Player's Handbook and other stuff. Monsters where right out of the books, etc. Through out the movie, they would make refferences to other D&D modules and stuff. So, they really stuck to the D&D lore. The party was made up of a 7th level fighter, 7th level Cleric, 7th level Barbarian, 9th level Wizard and I don't remember the level of the Rogue. Each character played just like they should have, behaved the way they should have, etc. Again, they had D&D experts on the set coaching the actors, director, etc. It was cool to watch the Cleric turn undead, the wizard do her thing, etc. Again, you have to be a D&D geek to enjoy this movie. And not even a hard core geek. Cause I didn't know the difference between arcane and divine magic until they explained it. And I cought them doing that a few times. They'd mention something a hard core player would just know, but then give a quick explination for those that don't.
Over all, I give it a HUGE MONSTEROUS thumb up for sticking to the game lore and staying true to the D&D fans. Can't stress that enough. Especially in this day and age of destruction of material because someone's ego is dumb and stuff. However, I think it will really only appeal to D&D fans and younger boys. And that's because it IS a D&D story.
Watch it for the D&D. Watch it for an outstanding example of how hollywood should treat other people's stuff.
Oh, ya, they even stayed true to the whole sequal thing. It takes place 100 years after the other movie did. However, I don't remember seeing all of the first one. But what I remember seeing, was aweful. But, it was a continuation of the first story, in some way. However, they went back to the D&D roots and kept it real.
The movie had a low budget. Not stupid crazy low, but low enough that the stunts were a little weak and stuff like that. I'd call them "TV series" good. Other than that, it really wasn't that bad at all. If you are a D&D fan, you shouldn't be too disappointed. They really do stick to the game rules and stuff. Basically, if you took one of the old modules/campaigns and made a movie, this is what it would have been like. The actors actually read the Player's Handbook and other stuff. Monsters where right out of the books, etc. Through out the movie, they would make refferences to other D&D modules and stuff. So, they really stuck to the D&D lore. The party was made up of a 7th level fighter, 7th level Cleric, 7th level Barbarian, 9th level Wizard and I don't remember the level of the Rogue. Each character played just like they should have, behaved the way they should have, etc. Again, they had D&D experts on the set coaching the actors, director, etc. It was cool to watch the Cleric turn undead, the wizard do her thing, etc. Again, you have to be a D&D geek to enjoy this movie. And not even a hard core geek. Cause I didn't know the difference between arcane and divine magic until they explained it. And I cought them doing that a few times. They'd mention something a hard core player would just know, but then give a quick explination for those that don't.
Over all, I give it a HUGE MONSTEROUS thumb up for sticking to the game lore and staying true to the D&D fans. Can't stress that enough. Especially in this day and age of destruction of material because someone's ego is dumb and stuff. However, I think it will really only appeal to D&D fans and younger boys. And that's because it IS a D&D story.
Watch it for the D&D. Watch it for an outstanding example of how hollywood should treat other people's stuff.
Oh, ya, they even stayed true to the whole sequal thing. It takes place 100 years after the other movie did. However, I don't remember seeing all of the first one. But what I remember seeing, was aweful. But, it was a continuation of the first story, in some way. However, they went back to the D&D roots and kept it real.