Movie Reviews

Dungeons and Dragons Movie Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)

Actors: Jeremy Irons, Justin Whalin, Marlon Wayans, Zoe McLellan, Thora Birch, Kristen Wilson, Richard O'Brien, Tom Baker, Lee Arenberg, Edward Jewesbury, Rob

Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Dungeons and Dragons

In the empire of Izmer, those with magical powers (mages) have status, privilege, power and opportunities while the non-magical inhabitants are second-class citizens. The young empress, Savina, wants to change all that so everyone can enjoy the same rights, but she has to work with the High Council of Mages, dominated by the evil Profion, a mage who is secretly working to gain dominion over all Izmer. He has been trying to duplicate Savina's scepter, which gives the ruler power over golden dragons, since whoever controls the dragons would be undefeatable. He fails, so he uses the Council of Mages to wrest the scepter from Savina politically.

Savina learns of the Rod of Savrille, an ancient artifact that gives power over red dragons. If she can obtain it, she can yield her scepter and still maintain a power balance. Unfortunately, Profion also learns of it and sends his henchman, Damodar, to steal the old scroll that leads to the Rod's whereabouts. Ironically, two actual thieves, Ridley and Snails (the heroes of our story) are looting the magical library when Damodar shows up. Ridley and Snails escape with Marina, an apprentice mage who saves the scroll, and Elwood, a dwarf who gets caught up in the chase, but they are framed by Damodar for the murder of the library's keeper.

With Damodar on their trail,Ridley, Snails, Marina and Elwood band together to get to the Rod of Savrille. It turns out they are also being tailed by the empress's head tracker, the elf Narda. Their quest takes them to the deadly Antius Guild Maze, which Ridley must survive in order to win the Eye of the Dragon, a jewel which opens the door to the Rod of Savrille's hiding place. But their time is running out as Damodar attacks and Profion incites the Council of Mages to declare war on Savina.
--Karen Law, Resident Scholar

Less awful than reported. Two thieves, a low-level mage, a dwarf, and an elf seek magical items to help save a young Empress who is defending equality and freedom for her people from the tyranny of an evil high-level mage. Lots of dragons, magic, sword fights, crowded cities, and the most politically incorrect character since Jar Jar Binks.Watch for cameos by Richard O'Brien (Riff-Raff) and Tom Baker (Dr. Who)

Crested sapwood supportable noradrenaline runout.

--Zorikh Lequidre, Resident Scholar

Analysis of Dungeons and Dragons

Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about
books by breaking them down into many different literary
elements, all of which are searchable (click here).

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Movie
Actual chase scenes or violence - 40%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzle - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%

**Fantasy or Science Fiction?** - fantasy story on another world/distant past
Technology/$$$$/Info hunt Yes
Stealing/recovering/destroying - magical artifact
Mental/Magical powers focus Yes
kind of powers: - clash between people with mental powers

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - thief/con artist
Age: - 20's-30's
Has special powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character: - can cast many different spells - is very quick
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
Hair color? - brunette (Brown)
Hair type - (man) short/medium wavy
Body type - average (man)
Events of movie makes character more... - sensitive - caring - sad
Ethnicity/Nationality - White (American)
How sensitive is this character? - soggy whimpering jelly muffin - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor? - Strong but gentle sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - Very athletic - average physique

Secondary Main Character
Identity: - Male - Female
Hair color - brunette (Brown) - brunette (Black)
Hair style - (man) short/standard wavy - (woman) medium/shoulderlgn, straight
Body type - very skinny (man)
How much in movie? - 60% - 80%
Ethnicity/Nationality - White (American) - Black

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's - 60's-90's
Profession/status: - mage/magician
Has special powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - can cast all sorts of spells
Eccentric: Yes - obsessed
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - 20% - 40%
Hair color - brunette (Brown) - white/grey
Hair style - (man) short/standard wavy
Body type - skinny (man) - average (man)
Ethnicity - White
Sense of humor? - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physical condition - average physique
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant

Setting
A substantial portion of this movie takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - humans in a primitive/fantasy society
Planet outside our solar system? Yes
Jungle? Yes
Mountains? Yes
Forests? Yes
Big cities? Yes
Misc settings - fort/castle - bar/restaurant
Kind of city - Beautiful sparkling advanced city

Style
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths - very explicit references to deaths and torture
Tone of movie - upbeat
Comedy or somewhat funny movie? Yes
Any profanity? - None
Kinds of F/X - Things that change shape/morph - exotic aliens - nasty human transformations - exotic big cities - exotic alien landscape
If Soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE... - Orchestra/classical

Most similar reviews by Gordonator ranking
The Fellowship of the Ring starring Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Liv Tyler, Ian Holm, Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving
The Golden Voyage of Sinbad starring John Phillip Law, Caroline Munro, Tom Baker, Martin Shaw
The Return of the King starring Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom, Andy Serkis, Miranda Otto, Liv Tyler
The Dark Crystal
Aladdin starring Scott Weinger, Linda Larkin, Robin Williams, Frank Welker Jonathan Freeman, Gilbert Gottfried

Dungeons and Dragons Message Board (click here)
Movie talk: favorite scenes, what to buy, favorite online
posters, movies for sale on dvd v. rentals.

Search for another movie

Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:

Karen Law

SCHOLARS:

Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

Click here to bribe
your congressman

Use our site!
Feedback
About us

Most recent discussions:

General Movie Talk
Dating Advice
Blade Runner
Smokey and the Bandit
Was Harrison Ford on Tranquilizers or an Actor's Strike When Filming Blade Runner?
Clash of the Titans
Bye Bye Birdie
No Good Deed
The 13th Warrior
A Boy and His Dog
Boomerang
Alien Hunter