ASU Alumni (2016): Dave Hargis
Dragon eggs are notoriously tough to crack, and such has been the case for Dungeons & Dragons movies. The first three fell somewhere between semi-hits and mostly misses, with the third being released directly to DVD overseas (you can find the trailer on YouTube). Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, however, may just have managed to break the curse. On the surface, it’s a mixed bag, with too many inside jokes and fan service moments that can limit its appeal to the uninitiated viewer. To fans of the game, the movie is a rich tapestry of classic moments, amazing call-backs to game lore, and a number of Easter … um … Dragon Eggs waiting to be found.
To any long-time gamer or fan of fantasy genres, the plot is predictable, and yet, it’s still fun to watch. Honor Among Thieves is definitely a popcorn movie in the classic sense. The characters are fun to watch and the relationships they build have an emotional impact. The action is there, woven with bits of comedy and drama. Chris Pine and Michelle Rodriguez (Edgin the Bard and Holga the Barbarian) form the core of the team that is also a broken family. The story unfolds as part adventure, part drama, and part comedy, as the group tries to save their world and restore the bonds of the family that was lost to treachery.
Along the way, viewers experience a host of characters, monsters, locations, and magic in the current story, in addition to numerous flashbacks that are tightly woven into the narrative with considerable skill by the writers and directors. Some are tragic, some funny, while others are a mix of both, right down to the mid-credit scene. We meet monsters, such as the Owl Bear, Displacer Beast, the classic Mimic, the lethal Black Dragon, and the docile, yet deadly, Gelatinous Cube. And don’t get me started on the … big … red … Dragon. SO Big!
As one might expect, the settings were a critical part of the film, with shooting in Iceland and across Northern Ireland, the cinematographer and special effects artists provided a rich, beautiful world for the actors to play in. Ultimately, of course, it is the actors who bring the characters to life that make or break a movie, and the Bard, Sorcerer, Barbarian, Rogue, Druid, Paladin, and Wizard create a rich party of adventurers who build a realm that is easy to get lost in.
I don’t rate things with stars. My test for a film or show is whether I would see it again. So, will I? Already have! I also bought the Ultimate Guide to Dungeons & Dragons (the Hollywood Spotlight movie magazine), as well as the prequel comic, The Feast of the Moon. I, however, am a long-time fan of the game. Your mileage may vary, but if you’re looking for a fun, light-hearted adventure movie, this may be a good film for you.
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