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Well, it's been over 20 years in the making, but Dungeons and Dragons the movie has finally made it to the big-screen. Big named actors, big money special effects, does the gamble pay off? Will the heroes save the land? Will good triumph over evil once again? Will SOMEONE please tell ... Read review
A sword and sorcery fantasy,Dungeons and Dragonsthe film is based on the role-playing game ... more
first introduced in the 1970s. It delivers some of the same kind of fantasy and fun the game offered, as its youthful heroes journey through a magical kingdom ba...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
When the emperor is felled by an assassin's poison, his only heir, the Child-Princess ... more
Savina, quickly discovers that the greatest threat the Empire has ever faced will come from within. The respected Archmage Profion has set in motion his dark plans to...
A sword and sorcery fantasy,Dungeons and Dragonsthe film is based on the role-playing game ... more
first introduced in the 1970s. It delivers some of the same kind of fantasy and fun the game offered, as its youthful heroes journey through a magical kingdom ba...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Dragonshard is a real-time strategy experience based in the mystical world of Eberron, the ... more
acclaimed new Dungeons & Dragons realm. Within this wholly imaginative setting lives an inventive gameplay fusion: dramatic RTS play is affected by the risks and rewards of a thrilling RPG-styled underworld. As players direct troops over the land, they also plunge smaller, hero-led parties below ground to an RPG-modeled world of beasts, battles, and bounty. Experience and items gained in this underworld result in great powers and abilities above ground.Using magic, weaponry, and skilled maneuvers, players command armies from varying races to control, protect--or destroy--the powerful Heart of Siberys. Obtaining this omnipotent artifact will unleash its full forces, good or evil, upon the entire world. Dungeons & Dragons real-time strategy experienceRTS war above ground and critical RPG-styled battles in dungeons belowPlayers command armies using magic, weaponry, and skilled maneuversHostile environments include jungles, snowy mountains, and arid wastelandsCo-op and head-to-head multiplayer modesfor 1 to 8 players
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Production Year: 1977 - Action/Adventure - Director: Clint Eastwood - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring:Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Pat Hingle, William Prince, Bill McKinney
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Production Year: 2003 - Action/Adventure - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Tom Welling, Kristin Kreuk, Michael Rosenbaum, Sam Jones III, Allison Mack, Eric Johnson, Annette O'Toole, John Glover, John Schneider
Advantages: the special effects are skillfully done Disadvantages: the acting is dire
...years in the making, but Dungeons and Dragons the movie has finally made it to the big-screen. Big named actors, big money special effects, does the gamble pay off? Will the heroes save the land? Will good triumph over evil once again? Will SOMEONE please tell me how a movie studio can transform a good idea into a really BAD movie???
An introduction to the film sets the scene, and within minutes you know that Profion (Jeremy Irons) ... ...from ‘American Beauty’) stands for everything he is against – making everyone equal and generally being nice to each other. She doesn’t want to give the grown ups her golden sceptre. So Profion urges the Council of Mages to gang up on the empress, and now it’s clear that the empire is in deep doodoo. Damodar (Bruce Payne) is urged to help when Profion inserts what seem to be lugworms into his head.
Okay gamer, you are in between the evil dark lord and a dozen goblins: What are you gonna do with the magic pouch you have in your hand? Oops, sorry, I was role-playing there for a moment.
Well, it's been over 20 years in the making, but Dungeons and Dragons the movie has finally made it to the big-screen. Big named actors, big money special effects, does the gamble pay off? Will the heroes save the land? Will good triumph over evil once again? Will SOMEONE please tell me how a movie studio can transform a good idea into a really BAD movie???
An introduction to the film sets the scene, and within minutes you know that Profion (Jeremy Irons) is the archmage bad guy. The empress Savina (Thora Birch from ‘American Beauty’) stands for everything he is against – making everyone equal and generally being nice to each other. She doesn’t want to give the grown ups her golden sceptre. So Profion urges the Council of Mages to gang up on the empress, and now it’s clear that the empire is in deep doodoo. Damodar (Bruce Payne) is urged to help when Profion inserts what seem to be lugworms into his head.
That is unless a couple of young thieves Ridley and Snails (Marlon Wayans and Justin Whalin) team up with Marina (Zoe McLellan) who is a librarian, yep, you read right, a librarian, a mage librarian, I’ll give you that, but a librarian all the same. Of course dragons are important, and with them, one side will win the day – no prize for guessing which tho! Confused? So was I!
First, the acting... Just as I thought from the start, is really quite bad in places and seemed to be rushed with a lack of subtlety and/or style. It was as if some of the actors were trying to win an audition with the directors even AFTER the movie had begun shooting! Although, thankfully Tom Baker and Richard O’Brien make brief appearances as an elven doctor and a thief guildmaster who puts Ridley through a maze (strange how film imitates real life innit?)
Secondly, Ok, the special effects were very skillfully done and the backdrops were beautiful for those who like that sort of thing. The designs and the atmosphere of the entire realm that evolved from the fantasy writings were presented quite well. But, make no mistake; you need more than special effects to make a film to the paying audience.
Thirdly, there are all kinds of creatures and of course, dragons throughout this picture which nearly make up for the bad acting. Still, 'effects' do not make a movie and even if the story has been done before, you need to have a sense of belief. But I’ll give it a 4/5 for the fighting and killing which is skillfully performed.
I was thinking to myself throughout this movie ‘6 more months till THE LORD OF THE RINGS, 6 more months...6 more months’. In my opinion, if you’re smart and don't mind waiting until May it’ll be out on DVD, you’ll thank me.
I actually read somewhere that they wanted this to be a trilogy..... Sigh.
Advantages: Great Special effects Disadvantages: Woeful acting, poor plot
I really wanted to see Dungeons and Dragons ever since I saw the trailer. Filled with massive special effects, sword fights, sorcery and dragon or two it definitely looked a cracking film. This genre of film is right up my street so I couldn’t wait, however, I should have remembered that the trailers always look good and this film really underlined how a trailer can make a poor film look brilliant.
And what a dire film it is for all the media ... ...reflection on the game of Dungeons and Dragons where the story line is always fluctuating and never seems set in its ways but if so you can’t achieve this on screen without making your audience feel either lost or unhappy with the lack of consistency.
Worse than the story line, I feel, was the acting and use of characters. None of the actors imposed themselves on the film what so ever not even the well-known stars such as Jeremy Irons and ...
Saul_Walker 02.04.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Dungeons And Dragons (DVD)
I'll apologise in advance, but the best thing about watching this movie was so I could mentally poke fun at all the underground dwelling trenchcoated goth-types who showed up to see it. I'm sorry. Does that make me a bad person? I don't know, but whoever made this gigantic turkey is a very, very bad person, and should still be beating themselves with birch branches until... I don't know, Nancy Reagan tells them to stop. (hey, I don't know. Insert ... ...fans must have realised the travesty which was unfolding onscreen. High camp, some intrusive CGI, all in the name of what is, in certain circles, a way of life... I kinda missed the RPG boat as a kid: Even the geeks wouldn't let me join their gang at school, so I tended to drink antifreeze on the beach. After watching this, I may go back. Roll a 50-sided dice to decide.
Jeremy Irons is the only cast member I can remember, and he looked to be having ...
revere 09.06.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Dungeons And Dragons (DVD)
Advantages: Some very good animations Disadvantages: Poor plot
...games of them all is Dungeons and Dragons.
As the years progressed and the game improved it became known as Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (AD&D); with several revisions the rules became better and began to give the player a great feel for role-playing. With the popularity of the system it became inevitable that there would be computer games. From early games like ‘Azure Bonds’ to the current games like ‘Baldur’s Gate’ ... ...was very good and added great value to the whole role-playing ethos. As more and more people began to play these games and AD&D entered the main stream it became obvious that a film based on the role-playing system would be made.
The Plot
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An empire exists somewhere in our imagination called the Empire of Izmer. The land contains a multitude of characters ranging from wizards and warriors, thieves, dwarves elves, orcs, goblins and many ...
Simoncook1 11.06.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Dungeons And Dragons (DVD)
Advantages: Good special effects, nowt else Disadvantages: The film
I went to see this film with my little bro, and I'm not really sure what I expected. What I didn't expect, however, was to see extremeley talented actors in this dreadful movie. Jeremy Irons, Marlon Wayons, both great talents cruelly wasted, and why Thora Birch chose this perfect example of how not to make a film as her follow up to the masterpiece that is "American Beauty" is a mystery.
The film, set in a medieval fantasy land, has no discernable ... ...young man searching for some kind of rod? (maybe), and a communist Empress, who believes all people should be equal. There is a wise cracking side kick (Marlon Wayons), who dies-how original. The rest of the characters have no reason for being there, at least none that I could figure out.
Yes, the special effects are very good, especially the scene where the dragons fight, and no doubt this film is aimed at a young audience. But young children will ...
Karyn 25.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Dungeons And Dragons (DVD)
Advantages: nice graphics in places Disadvantages: poor script, bad directing
~Background~
Dungeons and dragons is a paper and dice RPG game that has stretched over 3 decades. Often seen as a 'geek' thing, due to often referenced in the media, it is played by people you wouldn't think geekish at all, for example, the actor, Vin Diesel! Many writers have drawn best selling novels from playing the game, most prominently RL Salvadore. The game has such a big cult following, references can still be found in modern PC RPG games. ... ...of the game, it was only a matter of time that the sheer imagination would leap out of the writings of fans and players into the big screen.
~ Film Summary ~
Two rogues decide to make a quick break-in, not realising that they might interrupt something that will change their lives forever, and send them on a quest to retrieve a staff that will finally bring balance to their autocratic world where if you aren't a wizard, you aren't important seems ...
SarahJohnston_greenmums 03.10.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Dungeons And Dragons (DVD)
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Advantages: Better than the first movie Disadvantages: Not much better than the first movie
Being a huge Dungeons & Dragons fan, I found myself greatly disappointed by the first movie, after the hype surrounding it the actual result was appalling, bad acting, terrible plot and poor special effects. When I heard there was another movie in the pipeline I had mixed feelings, there was great potential for a truly amazing movie or they could repeat their first mistakes and produce and enormous pile of dung! Tentatively I started watching.
Here I will be reviewing the film only(i'm telling you that now as there is no criteria to fill in below).
First I will provide you with a brief summery of the first film as one of the characters makes a large appearance in the 2nd movie.
Dungeons & Dragons-
"Empress Savina Rules over the magical empire Izmer. The young thieves Ridley and Snails get involved with her quest to find ...
Advantages: better than the first, better relating to the game Disadvantages: some inconsistances with the original movie and the odd quirk
~Background~
This is the second film made from the game and supposedly follows on some 100 years after the first film and based on the Dungeons & Dragons paper and dice game which has been going on for an amazing 30 years. Not a game for the imagination deficient or mathematiclly inept, it challenges individuals and groups as dungeon masters unfold challenge after challenge in a imaginary universe of Elves, halflings and Orcs. Games consist of one Dungeon master and up to 4 players (sometimes more), with the dungeon master beigng the only one that knows where the game is heading.
~ Film Summary ~
Damodar returns from the undead, seeking revenge on the city that caused his master to curse him. He quests to wake a sleeping dragon, the black dragon of destruction. Can Berek, Lux and the team beat him to the pip? Will Berek's wife ...
Advantages: A full series of DVD's so you can watch the whole lot. Nice sturdy box in which they come in Disadvantages: None
I remeber the cartoon from the 80's when it was on TV and recently bought the whole box set for my son who is obsessed with dragons.
I use to love this cartoon as a child and re watching this box set with my son I still thing it is great as does he.
The cartoon is set in the realm of Dungeons and Dragons, a place where a group of children end up after taking a ride at a fair. Once in the realm they are faced with good and evil and a battle to get home. Each episode is about them trying to return home.
The good in the realm is the Dungeon master who gives each of the children a magic weapon, and guides them through them realm with riddles. the weapons he gives them is
Ranger gets a bow
Cavalier - a shield
Thief - an invisible cloak
Magician - a magic hat
Acrobat - a staff
and barbarian a club.
They are also joined by a baby ...
A fantasy adventure set in the Empire of Izmer - a land long divided by the rule of law. The Mages rule whilst the commoners are totally without power...
Trailer - 1. Original Theatrical Trailer, Documentaries, Deleted Scenes
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Professional reviews
Review
"...Some of the effects are quite interesting..." (Los Angeles Times, p.C17, 08/12/2000)
DVD Description
In the mystical land of Izmer, a class of Mages rule by means of magic and otherworldly powers. One Mage, Profion (Jeremy Irons), wants to rule the land by himself and hopes to topple the young and inexperienced Empress Savina (Thora Birch) by acquiring her mystical scepter--the key to controlling the Gold Dragons. To to counter Profion's plans, a young mage named Marina has to find the legendary Rod of Savrille--they key to controlling the Red Dragons. Marina teams up with a rowdy dwarf, an elf, and a pair of thieves named Ridley (Justin Whalin) and Snails (Marlon Wayans). But even with the help of this team, Marina's path to the Rod of Savrille is a rocky one laden with booby traps, puzzles, and Damodar--Profion's henchman, who threatens death at every turn. Nonetheless, the Empress and her followers are determined to face the odds to prevent the evil Profion from triumphing. The popular role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons comes to life in this film with cutting edge special effects, culminating in an awe-inspiring battle between two hordes of dragons over a huge, elaborate, Gothic city.
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