Review of the Dragonlance DVD at Newsarama!

DRAGONLANCE: DRAGONS OF AUTUMN TWILIGHT (Paramount)

Now if this film was released in the early 1990s, it would now be considered a groundbreaking classic. Even if it came out at the beginning of the new century, it probably would have found a nice niche. But considering where the world have animation has moved to, it’s kind of sad to say that Dragonlance has to now be looked at as an interesting relic.

Featuring a pretty top notch voice cast (including Kiefer Sutherland, Lucy Lawless, Phil LaMarr, Michael Rosenbaum, Jason Marsden among others), and solid character and traditional background design, the plot is based on the classic D&D RPG offshoot. You have your typical role playing characters including a mage, thief, knight, cleric, dwarf, etc. on a quest to retrieve various artifacts in order to save their world from unholy doom and destruction. What’s annoying is the film just borrows way too much of its plot from Lord of the Rings, especially the first book Fellowship of the Ring for my comfort. Another thing is while some of the cast do sound like they are trying their darndest to give their characters some life, especially Marsden and Rosenbaum, others sound like they are just mailing it in. Then again, with some of the dialogue they’d been handed, one really can’t blame them either.

As for the production values? Let’s say many of the best animators in the U.S., Japan and Europe won’t be losing any sleep over this. The motion of the characters in particular is seriously stiff. Also, the CGI work that’s been done here is about as smooth and flowing as a poorly done Machinima project. For those who don’t know, this is the first major domestic release of an Indian studio called Toonz, and I know that there’s a lot better work being done over in the subcontinent than what’s done here (check out the Chipmunks movie if you need more proof).

All this film really makes me want to do is unearth my Dungeons & Dragons animated series one more time. At least with that series I know those guys were doing the best they could with what they had. As for Dragonlance? I think it’s just rolled a huge series of 1’s on my enchantment scale.

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Mean Eyed Cat said:

Here's another review:

http://blogcritics.org:80/archives/2008/01/06/140352.php

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Klaus said:

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=142121

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Ranger REG said:

Does Steve Fritz ever read the book? :\

So what if it looks like a semi-ripoff from LOTR:FOTR? That's how it was in the book.

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Mean Eyed Cat said:

Here's another review:

http://blogcritics.org:80/archives/2008/01/06/140352.php

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Klaus said:

Someone asked him that in the thread. He answered yes.

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Ranger REG said:

Setting aside that he's a film "critic," what does he think about the book?

I mean there are similarities in the first book, both parties went into a dungeon (Moria and Xak Tsaroth).

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Out of sheer curiosity...have you ever read the Dragonlance books? Just wondering because it does't seem as if you have and they quickly go from being a LOTR style team-up to beingsomething far far more. The relationship between Raistli and his brother Caramon in particular is something incredible that is explored in the second series.

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Yep, I have read the DL book, and that brings up my counter question to you. Have you seen the movie? If you have, the "something more" that you addressed is hardly touched upon in this film.

And the animation really is lacking. Wait until you see the Dragons and their minions.

Finally, the relationship between the brothers, again, only hinted at. I get the feeling this film is only the first and it MIGHT be addressed in future films, if done.

As for Death Sentence, I realize I may be standing in opposition to the general track here, but considering the talent, I really did expect more. I honestly found the first Death Wish movie more entertaining. -s

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