Fantasy has always been hard to work onto screen. The special effects can be tricky. The genre is both - and at the same time - serious and silly. Then there is that 'loser' vibe the franchise has always emitted.
Enter "Honour Among Thieves" the latest D and D movie that was doomed to disaster - except it's actually pretty good. My thoughts go to Chris Pine. Did he actually see this being good? Did his agent own a favour? Anyway, he is delightful, as are the rest of the cast.
So, fantasy land, stuff needs stealing cause of bad guys. Characters are met, monsters are slain and hilarity ensues.
This is not a serious movie. It never needed to be in a D and D realm. But, it knows what it is, the film is very well acted, the effects are good, and the director does an amazing job in letting the viewer in.
Just as an aside. I mean, this is the same thing with Oscar's and comedies. Good acting is hard, but everyone knows that humour is harder than drama. Why has no one won a role as a hilarious character. No Sasha Baron Cohen, no Steve Marin. The few comic actors that win do so in dramatic roles! So, what is harder as a director, making D and D fun and not a disaster, or turning a nuclear bomb (Oppenheimer reference) into a good drama? I would argue the former.
Anyway, good movie in the sense of it's an adventure comedy in a fantasy realm. Tonnes of D and D moments, but also very friendly to enter as a casual. Nice work all around. About as good as you can get as a D and D movie!
8/10.
Enter "Honour Among Thieves" the latest D and D movie that was doomed to disaster - except it's actually pretty good. My thoughts go to Chris Pine. Did he actually see this being good? Did his agent own a favour? Anyway, he is delightful, as are the rest of the cast.
So, fantasy land, stuff needs stealing cause of bad guys. Characters are met, monsters are slain and hilarity ensues.
This is not a serious movie. It never needed to be in a D and D realm. But, it knows what it is, the film is very well acted, the effects are good, and the director does an amazing job in letting the viewer in.
Just as an aside. I mean, this is the same thing with Oscar's and comedies. Good acting is hard, but everyone knows that humour is harder than drama. Why has no one won a role as a hilarious character. No Sasha Baron Cohen, no Steve Marin. The few comic actors that win do so in dramatic roles! So, what is harder as a director, making D and D fun and not a disaster, or turning a nuclear bomb (Oppenheimer reference) into a good drama? I would argue the former.
Anyway, good movie in the sense of it's an adventure comedy in a fantasy realm. Tonnes of D and D moments, but also very friendly to enter as a casual. Nice work all around. About as good as you can get as a D and D movie!
8/10.