D&D Movie Redux (Tangent from Ep2 thread)

[Barendd Nobeard]

The primaries made few choices. We see this at the start of the film where the two thieves were litterally dragged by the wizard apprentice. Dues Ex Machina might be an inapporpriate phrase, but what do you call it when the bad guy tosses his superweapon aside in the final conflict with the hero? And what on earth was the point of that theif maze other than filler?

Look, if people liked the movie that's great and I'm happy for them. But that doesn't make the movie good. The writer/director was a fanboy who went for 10 years getting this from concept to screen. But as an artistic vision it fails. The movie made around 12 million. That's chicken feed in the film industry. Which is why I would be very surprised we will see a sequel and given how producers decide on how to make movies, I'm surprised they went ahead with Lord of the Rings.

Actually, in the warped mindset of Hollywood, the success of Lotr:FotR could lead to a D&D movie sequel.

Clueless Hollywood Executive: "Gee, Lord of the Rings was a smash hit. How can we cash in on this?"

Clueless Hollywood Assistant: "Well, we own the rights to a brand-name fantasy movie called D&D. With slick marketing to piggyback on the next Lord of the Rings, we could make money on it."

Of course, that doesn't mean it'd be a good movie.

 

[Ulrick]

Okay with D&D Redux

I think it would be nice if somebody made a 2nd D&D movie--but not a sequel to the first movie's storyline.

Because I just don't want snails to come back. Stay dead Snails. D&D: The Movie got better after you died.

Sad but true.

Maybe they could possibly have the original actors/characters in in somehow, but then I would seem like an actual sequel. Whomever does it should start from scratch and have a more serious tone. Perhaps it could be a group of heroes exploring a Dungeon in search of...a Dragon.

I agree, the movie wasn't that bad. But I was really disappointed with it. I've been tempted to watch it again to maybe get a different opinion but there has always has been another movie at the rental store that I was more interested in watching.

But hey, the movie was A LOT better than the video that came with the Dragonstrike boardgame all those years ago.

Ulrick

 

[Henry@home]

But you're saying the character development and plot was good? What? Railroading and Dues Ex Machina are good?

So BG, what do Machines owing you money have anything to do with this?

Seriously, the D&D movie could have used more polish - even Courtney Solomon appears to tacitly admit to that in statements on the DVD special feature. However, they ran into significant problems with the CGI production houses, and also ran into some money problems with finishing certain scenes. As a result, the movie seems disjointed due to scenes that got cut.

BTW, for the person who suggested that maybe they should have an illithid in the next movie - believe it or not, there was one in THIS movie as well. Remember the tentacled thing that was inside Damodar's head? THAT was a baby illithid. It explains (A) why he was able to read Marina's mind, and (B) why big D. was running out of time. I caught that snippet from a D&D fan site early last year.

BTW, have I slandered anyone yet?

 

[BiggusGeekus]

So BG, what do Machines owing you money have anything to do with this?

Hey, I identify strongly with the local ATM and talk to it often. Don't judge my lifestyle!

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Sure, the acting is pathetic all round (the best actors of the entire movie were Riff-raff himself Richard O'Brien and Marlon Wayans, neither of whom got top billing ), and some of the CGI was a little low-quality, but the sets, character development, and plot were very good. That movie *was* D&D.

I think you need to both see more movies and play a decent game of D&D.

The first half of the movie was mindless, but had some real enjoyment value. It was nothing more than a stranger than normal chase seen, done better in other movies and this movie even acknowledges that in its unsubtle pandering to Star Wars. But the pacing was pretty good even if the acting could use some help. Snails was fun.

The plot just collapses when they catch their breathe. Both protagonists and villains alike were blatantly railroaded by the dm^Hirector into having a giant battle with dragons for the climax. This required 4 or 5 amazingly stupid decisions by hero, princess, and villain alike. The parts that were cool were sabotaged by atrocious pacing.

As for the movie being D&D, I don't think so.

I, for one, am perfectly happy being Ridley's cohort. He took the Leadership feat and his dimply smile is oh so winning. But most D&D parties I know of do not consist of 1 PC and 4 NPC cohorts.

 

[Lord Zardoz]

True enough.

I hear it had a low budget tho... if that's the case, this movie worked out damn well for a low budget.

One of the things that tends to hold true is this. When it comes to a finished product in the hands of the end consumer, there are 2 things that matter.

1) Does this accomplish what I wanted it to.
2) Was it worth what I paid for it.
In most cases, no one will give much of a damn how much resources went into the creation of that product. When you watch a movie, you want to be entertained. If the movie failed to do that, for whatever the reason, then you will end up saying it sucked.

Here is a case in point. The old Atari game E.T. is generally held responsible for the downfall of Atari. There is a landfill in the Nevada desert that stands as a testiment to it. It is universally agreed that it really sucked. It was also programmed by one man on a 6 week schedule. Programming on such a tight schedule is really crappy. Any original game done by one person on such a tight schedule is impressive in that it was actually finished. Do you feel like taking a trip out to the Nevada Desert with a Shovel?

I did not think so.

END COMMUNICATION

 

[Ds Da Man]

Ummm......did you guys know that they will be making a Forgotten Realms TV show, and more then likely a Drizzt (I say Drisst ) movie. I would say that more then likely, after LotR, you will see more and more fantasy flicks. Private Ryan ='s 100 other war movies.

(D&D movie sucked, in my opinion (dont want to get sued)!!!)

 

[Randolpho]

(D&D movie sucked, in my opinion (dont want to get sued)!!!)

You, sir, are trashing a corporate trademark! You may expect to not hear from their lawyers at all until they win a default settlement against you for half a million dollars.

 

[Aeris Winterood]

Plot sucked!

They really should have come up with a better plot. The gamers who saw it pretty much hated it, imo.. and I am one of them. And it did absolutely nothing to capture those who did not play D & D and wanted a good movie.

They should had made it either a Greyhawk Queen of the Deomnwebs or a Forgotten Realms assault on Myth Drannor... both would have been much much better IMO.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Hey, they're bringing everybody's much-loathed Dark Elf, 2-Scimitars Ranger to the fore...if they screw THAT up, then you can be pissed.

Nothing makes for eat-em-up combat sequences like Mr. Rebel. I've got a player I just got into the game who loves the FR setting and characters more than I do.