This first spoiler-free take Dungeons & Dragons: Thief’s Honor It comes from the film’s debut at the 2023 SXSW Conference. More detailed coverage is expected as the film’s release date approaches.
We are living in a new golden age of fantasy movies and shows. Gone are the days when epic fantasy adventures were crippled by low-budget productions and scripted outright disregard for the genre. Elves, dragons, and magic are as much a part of the pop culture zeitgeist today as they were in 90s sitcoms.Nevertheless, thanks to the great success game of thronesfantasy shows and movies are usually dark and gloomy in both tone and visuals. Dungeons & Dragons: Thief’s Honor This is what shocked the system. This is an attempt to prove that we are ready to embrace the fun, chaos and utter weirdness of the fantasy genre.
What makes Dungeons & Dragons unique as a game is the way the system functions as a giant sandbox. Even if a player uses many of the same tools, no two games are the same for him. The new film by John Francis Daly and Jonathan Goldstein is based on a script written by Daly, Goldstein and Michael Gillio, and it looks like they’ve been invited to the latest session of their long-running campaign. I feel like
It’s like watching an episode of Critical Roll And then I realized that not only had the group suddenly come up with a good story, but they had been hanging out together for a long time before the cameras even rolled. Honor of the ThiefEdgin the Bard (Chris Pine) tells stories about his background and his past adventures with most of the other characters so that the audience can understand his motivations (his actual words). Upon viewing, the film feels like the latest chapter in a very long and complicated story.
Photo: Aidan Monaghan/Paramount Pictures
This is the hallmark of the best stories. It invites you into a vast and complex world that feels as if it existed far beyond this particular adventure, long before these characters entered the story. Honor of the Thief That world-building ace.remove the names of some keys D&D Locations such as Baldur’s Gate and Waterdeep. But the real sense of connection for fans of the game is that the film uses real-life sets and locations to convey the grandeur and magnitude of the world, with a plethora of characters and background sights, from ruins to ancient monuments. In some ways, the approach is similar to James Cameron’s original. Avatartells fairly simple, uncomplicated, and often predictable stories, allowing Cameron to focus on building massive worlds without overwhelming his audience.
of Honor of the Thief, that approach pays off. The story of a group of misfits going in search of a magical artifact to pull off a successful heist isn’t too complicated and often predictable. But it’s effective and designed to let the characters and the world speak for themselves.
For viewers who have never played Dungeons & Dragons, the movie world is no more difficult to wrap your head around than Westeros or Middle-earth, save for all the creatures and cultures, from dragon people to lizard people to cat people. tabaxi.) Similarly, there are a wide variety of creatures, such as owl bears and mimics. The film employs a number of incredibly useful creature effects, but sometimes the CGI touch-ups don’t blend well. The writers trust the audience not to over-explain how things work in this world: magic, character abilities, factions like the Harpers and Emeralds in his Enclave, and outdated technology. It’s proof.movies close to willow again princess bride than Lord of the Ring.
But the difference is Dungeons & Dragons and other fantasy franchises Honor of the Thief It really shines. It begins with a depiction of the magic of the movie. This is unlike anything else on TV or in the movies: there’s no wizard waving his wand and shooting his CGI beams around. Instead, casting all kinds of spells, from simple to complex, requires physical elements, gestures, words, and even concentration. This movie makes it very clear that magic has its limits. For example, simply covering a sorcerer’s mouth prevents him from casting spells.
![The D&D party kicks off the action with a reddish group shot. Ejin (Chris Pine) steps forward and reaches over his shoulder for his instrument in Dungeons &.Dragons: Thief's Honor](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/duTaxxWS_SpO2GkZYmttJqZPwRo=/0x0:6000x3376/1200x0/filters:focal(0x0:6000x3376):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24497134/dd04504r4.jpg)
Photo: Aidan Monaghan/Paramount Pictures
But Daly and Goldstein, who are as cool as they are magic, are all about the main party, from savage Holga (Michelle Rodriguez) pummeling and kicking everyone’s ass in amazingly choreographed action sequences. Make sure members get a moment to show off their class skills.A bard who motivates teammates to achieve goals. But what stands out is Sophia her Lilith Tiefling Druid her Doric. She steals the stage using Wild her shape in the movie’s best sequence. It’s her one-shot escape from the castle that showcases a variety of creatures and proves that druids are the best class. (Fight me.)
Perhaps no character feels more straight out of a game session than the paladin Xenk (Regé-Jean Page). He is the character of Jesse Plemons in this movie. game night, an incredibly serious character surrounded by ridiculous goofs. He also joins the novice table with OP characters he’s been playing for years, always remembering that he takes the game very seriously, refusing to break character, and “doesn’t tolerate colloquialism.” I feel like an older player who lets me down.
For fans of the game, or of its hundreds of offshoots, seeing these dynamics play out unashamedly and recognizably on screen, knowing places brought to life in such gorgeous detail. It’s a real pleasure to see it and to see people living in this world. The creatures that make D&D such a unique franchise. (An intellect devourer is a scene-stealer.) The film also explores the possibilities players may experience in their campaign, from horror to ambitious fun, and from epic high-fantasy to thrilling heist. It does a great job of capturing different tones.
This last point is critical to the film’s success. The film juggles several tones and genres while always being jokingly serious. Characters are constantly failing in battles and puzzles. It’s a ruckus and a riot to see them completely goofy, but it’s also a triumph when they finally succeed. There is no attempt to hide or undermine the geek stuff in. No one mocks each other’s names or skills. The appearance of displacer beasts and jelly cubes does not draw the irony that they are ludicrous creatures. They are simply treated as dangerous.
The film is playful and serious throughout, focusing on the fact that these are serious situations for the characters. Rodriguez’s savage is still reeling from a broken relationship, and while it’s hilarious when her storyline pays off, audiences are still invited to feel and empathize with her pain. Dungeons & Dragons: Thief’s Honor It does not recreate the mechanics of the game or the feel of improvisation. for example, Legend of Vox Machina, but it’s the best Dungeons & Dragons The movie we wanted. Not only is it a fun fantasy movie, but it’s also a good adaptation of a game session. And it’s an invitation to a new, more visual version that avid players already love, and that filmmakers seem to love too.
Dungeons & Dragons: Thief’s Honor will premiere in theaters on March 31st.