D&D Movie/TV What would a good D&D movie be like?

[Nebulous]

Yeah, like James Cameron's Avatar. That movie was a total flop.

I hated that movie.

 

[Remathilis]

I'd rather have animatronics and people in suits and makeup. To me CGI along side real people is often too noticeable and comes off like Mary Poppins or Pete's Dragon (e.g., Jar-Jar and Azog).

You notice it because its BAD CGI, not because its CGI. Good CGI isn't noticed; that's the point.

[video]https://youtu.be/bL6hp8BKB24[/video]

 

[collin]

Starts with a good script. Not a good D&D script - just a good script. Fun, interesting plot and characters. A script NOT written by any one of the producers, directors, or actors. Now send it for a light re-write to ensure sufficient D&D-isms to make it sensible that you're hanging the tag of "D&D" on it. Change a few place-names and character names if adapting to an existing, known D&D setting. This should not be hard and is not going to break any script that was tolerably crafted in the first place. Cast with good actors and tell them to take their roles seriously. Hire a director who knows FILM and has a proven track record of success and proof that they DO know film direction. Assign a TECHNICAL ADVISOR to ensure mostly that the movie simply doesn't stray OUTSIDE of D&D rules bounds rather than trying to ensure that rules come first. Don't give the effects work to the guys you knew in high school. Add actual money. Profit.

That's what I said. Listen to the Man in the Funny Hat - he knows what he's talking about.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I'd rather have animatronics and people in suits and makeup. To me CGI along side real people is often too noticeable and comes off like Mary Poppins or Pete's Dragon (e.g., Jar-Jar and Azog).

The biggest problem with that is that animatronics and people in suits & makeup can be more expensive than all but the priciest CGI.

I don't want bad CGI, but in a budgetary tug-o-war between having great CGI and not having enough money to pay for decent scriptwriting, directing and acting? Well, I'm going to pick having the latter and hope the CGI doesn't reek.

 

[Nebulous]

still my favorite dragon ever, Vermithrax - 1981

 

[Nebulous]

Reign of Fire did a pretty good job with the dragons too, although the movie itself wasn't so great.

Smaug I really wanted to like, but it fell short for me, maybe because it did look like a cartoon. Or maybe because I just didn't like the Hobbit films at all.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Didn't like Smaug's jawline.

 

[Nebulous]

Didn't like Smaug's jawline.

Me neither. As silly as that sounds.

Nor did I like the inability of a 100 ton dragon that was unable to so much as SINGE the beard hairs of a single dwarf

 

[Wednesday Boy]

You notice it because its BAD CGI, not because its CGI. Good CGI isn't noticed; that's the point.

I'm not against all CGI and that video makes many points that I agree with. I like how the video compared CGI to a tool in the filmmaker's toolbelt. It's a great tool for landscapes, brief special effects, and extra from far off shots. And I recognize it's an incredible feat of technology and film. It's not my preferred tool for rendering characters from scratch.

If Jar-Jar and Azog are bad CGI, what do you think are examples of good CGI for main characters?

(Also, I recognize it's a matter of aesthetic opinion. I was equally aware Jabba was a special effect in Jedi and the Special Edition ANH. I just prefer the Muppet to the cartoon.)

The biggest problem with that is that animatronics and people in suits & makeup can be more expensive than all but the priciest CGI.

I don't want bad CGI, but in a budgetary tug-o-war between having great CGI and not having enough money to pay for decent scriptwriting, directing and acting? Well, I'm going to pick having the latter and hope the CGI doesn't reek.

For sure--my wanting Muppets and makeup has no basis in budgetary or production hurdles. Like Remathilis's video points out, a great plot, direction, and acting will make me overlook subpar special effects, so I would prioritize those over Muppets any day. But since in this thread my character is a movie exec with limitless time, budget, and resources, I gave Muppets the nod.

 

[Remathilis]

Me neither. As silly as that sounds.

Nor did I like the inability of a 100 ton dragon that was unable to so much as SINGE the beard hairs of a single dwarf

Blame Tolkien on that one; nobody (important) dies in the Desolation of Smaug...