A delightful experience although in retrospect it felt almost like a very long (and rather excellent) advert for D&D 5E. The plot was built around a typical Dungeons & Dragons sessions with lots of references for both old and new players, but I imagine this movie would work fine among openminded normies as well. For reference I've played RPG:s since 1982.
What I loved the most: Visually beautiful. Lots of references to Faërun and the Forgotten Realms where I DM two campaigns right now. Likeable characters and great acting, especially Michelle Rodriguez in the role of Holga and Regé-Jean Page as a Paladin, but Daisy Head as Sofina and Sophia Lillis as Doric were also wonderful. Hugh Grant was brilliant as Forge although it took me at least an hour to see Forge rather than Hugh Grant (he's not a shapeshifter but was well cast in this role).
The scene in the cemetery where the adventures get to ask each corpse five questions is hilarious, and also when Forge says he doesn't want to see his friends die "that's why I leave the room". As a D&D player or DM you will recognize lots of creatures, encounters and situations, including the ingenuity of players that the DM could never have foreseen.
On the downside there's a lot of slapstick sense of humor such as one character being obsessed with eating potatoes, and a fat dragon. Totally pulls me out of my suspension of disbelief. Sense of humor is wonderful: witty characters, weird situations and jokes, but come on .... potatoes? There's also a literal "save the cat" situation which is a laugh for anyone who knows their Blake Snyder, but I would have removed that as well.
The end credits were absolutely beautiful.
This is not a movie I will watch more than once, but it was well worth a visit to the cinema.
What I loved the most: Visually beautiful. Lots of references to Faërun and the Forgotten Realms where I DM two campaigns right now. Likeable characters and great acting, especially Michelle Rodriguez in the role of Holga and Regé-Jean Page as a Paladin, but Daisy Head as Sofina and Sophia Lillis as Doric were also wonderful. Hugh Grant was brilliant as Forge although it took me at least an hour to see Forge rather than Hugh Grant (he's not a shapeshifter but was well cast in this role).
The scene in the cemetery where the adventures get to ask each corpse five questions is hilarious, and also when Forge says he doesn't want to see his friends die "that's why I leave the room". As a D&D player or DM you will recognize lots of creatures, encounters and situations, including the ingenuity of players that the DM could never have foreseen.
On the downside there's a lot of slapstick sense of humor such as one character being obsessed with eating potatoes, and a fat dragon. Totally pulls me out of my suspension of disbelief. Sense of humor is wonderful: witty characters, weird situations and jokes, but come on .... potatoes? There's also a literal "save the cat" situation which is a laugh for anyone who knows their Blake Snyder, but I would have removed that as well.
The end credits were absolutely beautiful.
This is not a movie I will watch more than once, but it was well worth a visit to the cinema.
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