Review: Dungeons & Dragons, Wrath of the Dragon God

[jeriendhal]

Summary: 100 years (or one thousand, I can't remember) after the events of the first movie, the evil wizard Damodar (who has been wandering around in a Mostly Dead state after serving as the blue lipsticked flunky of the last movie's main villain) finds a Magical Orb (tm), that will release a dragon to finally devastate the city-state of Ismir. Only the brave (if self-doubting) warrior Berek and his band of player characters allies can stop the evil soceror. Thankfully, none of them are a Wayans brother.



This second D&D movie has one major advantage when it was released, in that it wasn't the first D&D movie. Though the cast and charater are mostly pretty bland, the only real characterization being between Berek and his wife, the mage Melora, the actors acquit themselves without much embarrassment and little scenery chewing, despite some of the wince worthy lines. The action also keeps going at a fair pace, and the special effects range from Xena quality (most of it) to almost movie quality (the big appearance of the titular Dragon God).

Most of the fun for former D&D players will be in catching the game references, from a mention of a dead character going mad in the Barrier Peaks to the various spells used by the mages (the elf mage in the party make good use of Lightning Bolt during one mass battle against bandits). There are also some pretty classic "PC's loot the room and disarm the traps" sequences too. It probably could have used an injection of humor at some points to offset some of the ridiculous of the situation, but given how painful the Komedy! of the last movie was, you can't really blame the filmmakers for erring on the side of seriousness.

Overall, while I wouldn't call the film great, but it's a fair way to waste an evening with your gamer buddies, and considerably less painful to watch than the first film.

Comments

[badasher.livejournal.com]

Amen to take on it. I was able to sit through it and not feel the need to claw out my eyes or curse damnation on Gary Gygax.

Still, I think their DM was fudging some major rolls in there -- considering some of the stupidity they pulled off. (i.e. cleric going mano e draco at one point).

And btw the way..you gonna pay royalties for the scenery chewing reference as well as the 10x10 joke? ;-)

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

I would think the DM has to fudge the rolls, you can't have a TPK in a movie like this. No matter how stupid the PCs are.

[badasher.livejournal.com]

You definitely have a point there. It would make for an awfully short movie. heh

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

I got a fifteen. What version are we using?

[chewipaka.livejournal.com]

CURSE YOU FOR RECOMMENDING LOIS MCMASTER BUJOLD! CURSE YOU TO HEEEEEEEECK!

I'll have you know, my productivity has gone seriously down since I started reading her stuff. I blame you. And other forum members, but mostly you.

[jeriendhal.livejournal.com]

My work is done here. Let me know what your favorite books were. :)

[akselav.livejournal.com]

The barbarian was hawt :D

[jeriendhal.livejournal.com]

I was rather fond of the thief myself, though not in that sense. :) I loved the bit when they were disarming the trap in the goblin village, though there was a bit of a problem with that rather impressive spike trap.