Dungeons & Dragons (2000)

Dungeons & Dragons (2000)

So, director Courtney Solomon had already made the terrible An American Haunting (2006) and the fairly good Getaway (2013). The latter is my favorite film of his.

Otherwise, wow, what a cast!
What a pleasure to see Jeremy Irons, Bruce Payne, Thora Birch, and even Marlon Wayans in the same film! Especially seeing Jeremy Irons face to face with Thora Birch!

If you’re interested in their filmographies:

Jeremy Irons: Die Hard with a Vengeance, The Man in the Iron Mask, Lolita, The Words

Bruce Payne: Passenger 57, Warlock III: The End of Innocence, Rendel: Cycle of Revenge

Thora Birch: American Beauty, The Hole, Ghost World

And Marlon Wayans: Requiem for a Dream, The Ladykillers, Scary Movie 1 & 2

I would have loved to say that this film is better than the two sequels, that the first Dungeons & Dragons film is worth watching, that it’s a really good film, unlike the other two Dungeons & Dragons films, which are completely rubbish, especially the last one, Dungeons & Dragons: The Book of Vile Darkness, which is really badly made, with a story that is far too bad and predictable…

…but I can’t!
In fact, I much prefer the second one… which I bought, by the way. And I watched it. Six months later, I couldn’t remember a thing about it!
Anyway!
Here, the cover is probably the best part!

This film is nothing special, so I don’t understand why some people really like it. I understand better those who find it so bad that they couldn’t bear to watch it to the end. Apart from the actors, there’s not much else to it. The humor is also there and gives it a certain charm. But the rest is pretty corny, poorly done, and unfortunately has a few too many flaws. The effects are tolerable, but really not good, and the story is unfortunately just a typical kitschy hero story. The plot could have been promising, but unfortunately, it was turned into a typical fantasy adventure that isn’t very original! On top of that, everything else about the movie is wrong! The costumes and masks are bad, as are the computer animations!

This film is probably blasphemous to fans of the board game, apparently. Especially according to comments like this: “Avoid if you’re a player. The film is simply disappointing for AD&D (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons) players. It’s all just ridiculous.”
So… play the game yourself to get an idea!

What a shame. There was so much untapped potential, and the result is such an indescribable comedy!

Jeremy Irons overacts in the role of an utterly pathetic and unbearable villain… and he must have had a lot of fun!

Bruce Payne speaks extremely slowly, as if he thinks it makes him irresistible, when in fact it makes him laughable and unbearable.

Thora Birch is quite pure as the Empress here. It’s a change to see her in this kind of role. She is reminiscent of the Empress in The NeverEnding Story (1984).

As for Marlon Wayans, he’s true to form. He’s just as we know him.

I suppose when some people saw the first trailer at the time, it made them eager to see the film come out. And now that we’ve seen it, we’re disappointed.

Yes, I finally saw it! Twenty-five years late. It’s not worth seeing. I don’t know if true or die-hard fantasy fans were disappointed. I think it all depends on whether they liked The Lord of the Rings or not. I think the answer to that question is pretty decisive!