D&D General How you would have done the Dungeons and Dragons' movie - 80's edition

[R_J_K75]

While I think original Conan was much better, I didnt think Destroyer sucked. I actually, to this day, think its the best D&D like movie out there.

I was flipping through the channels at 8AM this morning and came across Conan the Destroyer just starting on AMC. I watched about a half hour before I couldn't take anymore and shut it off. Honestly, it wasn't as bad as I originally remembered a few weeks back. I think it has more to do with some things I liked when I was younger, I don't anymore because your tastes change over the years. When I was a teenager, I really liked Slayer, now my ears scream in pain when I hear them.

 

[Bedrockgames]

I would have have done it as Knight of the Black Rose, which probably doesn't make it so much of a D&D movie. But that is just what I personally would want. If I really wanted a D&D film I would likely take one of the more popular trilogies and start there (so maybe start with a Crystal Shard film and if that is good, you finish the rest of Icewind Dale----or you could do something like Dragonlance-----if the latter, I think the Time of the Twins would be a more interesting one to go with)

 

[payn]

I was flipping through the channels at 8AM this morning and came across Conan the Destroyer just starting on AMC. I watched about a half hour before I couldn't take anymore and shut it off. Honestly, it wasn't as bad as I originally remembered a few weeks back. I think it has more to do with some things I liked when I was younger, I don't anymore because your tastes change over the years. When I was a teenager, I really liked Slayer, now my ears scream in pain when I hear them.

 

[R_J_K75]

That costume looks like it was bought at Spirit Halloween

 

[R_J_K75]

I would have have done it as Knight of the Black Rose

That and Vampires of the Mist were probably two of the better D&D novels I read when I was reading those books. I'm not one to re-read books, but if I were to run a Ravenloft campaign again those are two I'd probably revisit for ideas. Specter of the Black Rose was where my interest started waning. I picked it up a few times but didn't get more than 20 pages in and eventually just gave up. I think that's a good call. With the addition of a little creative license to add an adventuring party it could be a good D&D movie.

 

[TiQuinn]

I was flipping through the channels at 8AM this morning and came across Conan the Destroyer just starting on AMC. I watched about a half hour before I couldn't take anymore and shut it off. Honestly, it wasn't as bad as I originally remembered a few weeks back. I think it has more to do with some things I liked when I was younger, I don't anymore because your tastes change over the years. When I was a teenager, I really liked Slayer, now my ears scream in pain when I hear them.

I don't dislike Conan the Destroyer. The only "problem" with it is when you compare it to Conan the Barbarian and the tone set there. Destroyer is separated from Barbarian. If Destroyer was the first Conan movie, and Barbarian was never a thing, we'd probably been all "THIS IS AWESOME."

Conan the Barbarian is the swords and sorcery view of Conan. Conan the Destroyer is the D&D Barbarian version of Conan.

And they were both GOOD.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

That and Vampires of the Mist were probably two of the better D&D novels I read when I was reading those books. I'm not one to re-read books, but if I were to run a Ravenloft campaign again those are two I'd probably revisit for ideas. Specter of the Black Rose was where my interest started waning. I picked it up a few times but didn't get more than 20 pages in and eventually just gave up. I think that's a good call. With the addition of a little creative license to add an adventuring party it could be a good D&D movie.

A distance of eight years between books is a long time. Vampire of the Mist was quite good, and held up pretty well when I re-read it a while ago. Dance of the Dead was quite well done. If I ever do a Ravenloft campaign again, I absolutely plan on running an updated Night of the Walking Dead, which is set in the same domain as the novel, Souragne.

I don't dislike Conan the Destroyer. The only "problem" with it is when you compare it to Conan the Barbarian and the tone set there. Destroyer is separated from Barbarian. If Destroyer was the first Conan movie, and Barbarian was never a thing, we'd probably been all "THIS IS AWESOME."

Conan the Barbarian is the swords and sorcery view of Conan. Conan the Destroyer is the D&D Barbarian version of Conan.

And they were both GOOD.

Conan the Barbarian and Conan the Destroyer are two distinct movies. Barbarian is assuredly the better movie, but Destroyer remains fun. Certainly, when you compare it to all the other Sword & Sorcery movies of the 80s, it still stands heads above the others. Then again, looking at some of them, that's a bit of damning with faint praise.

 

[TiQuinn]

Conan the Barbarian and Conan the Destroyer are two distinct movies. Barbarian is assuredly the better movie, but Destroyer remains fun. Certainly, when you compare it to all the other Sword & Sorcery movies of the 80s, it still stands heads above the others. Then again, looking at some of them, that's a bit of damning with faint praise.

I harbor no illusions about 80s Fantasy.

The Sword and the Sorcerer is still one of my favorites of that era.

I mean, look at this ridiculous sword! I LOVE IT.

 

[Bedrockgames]

I don't dislike Conan the Destroyer. The only "problem" with it is when you compare it to Conan the Barbarian and the tone set there. Destroyer is separated from Barbarian. If Destroyer was the first Conan movie, and Barbarian was never a thing, we'd probably been all "THIS IS AWESOME."

Conan the Barbarian is the swords and sorcery view of Conan. Conan the Destroyer is the D&D Barbarian version of Conan.

And they were both GOOD.

I like both, but Conan the Barbarian is also just a far, far better film. It is about as good a Conan movie as you could make. Everything from the story, to the music, to the direction and casting is perfect. It has a clear vision and trundles over you with it. Destroyer on the other hand is a been more rickety, but still a fun time. And Destroyer is probably more gameable in terms of taking the ideas to the table (I have been in so many campaigns that lifted sections from The Destroyer). Another factor is Destroyer is a full on 80s movie, where Barbarian still has some of that left over grit from the 70s you saw in a many films in the early 1980s.

 

[TiQuinn]

I like both, but Conan the Barbarian is also just a far, far better film. It is about as good a Conan movie as you could make. Everything from the story, to the music, to the direction and casting is perfect. It has a clear vision and trundles over you with it. Destroyer on the other hand is a been more rickety, but still a fun time. And Destroyer is probably more gameable in terms of taking the ideas to the table (I have been in so many campaigns that lifted sections from The Destroyer). Another factor is Destroyer is a full on 80s movie, where Barbarian still has some of that left over grit from the 70s you saw in a many films in the early 1980s.

I had to look up who directed and wrote Conan the Destroyer, and....holy naughty word.

Directed by Richard Fleischer who directed stuff like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Bad Day at Black Rock, Fantastic Voyage, Soylent Green, and a bunch of other stuff...i.e. not a slouch.

And written by Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway - two comic book industry legends!

Had no clue.

This is in comparison of course to Conan The Barbarian's John "If ever there was a movie this dude was born to direct" Milius, and Oliver Stone...with Basil Poledouris' score to boot.