Dungeons & Dragonsis currently at the peak of its popularity and shows no signs of slowing down. The brand isn’t merely unstoppable on the plane of tabletop RPGs but also doing incredibly well on even the most unlikely of entertainment fronts.
Critical Role, a show composed of very long episodes where you watch a party play the classic board game while embodying their characters, is one of the biggest things ever on Twitch. The people behindStranger Things, one of the most successful TV series ever, don’t even bother hiding that they borrow more lore straight out ofD&Dthan they create their own.Baldur’s Gate 3is basically a video game adaptation of the tabletop RPG — well, do I even need to talk aboutits success?
With all that, I think Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, the movie adaptation of the popular brand, exists in an absolutely bizarre place. It sports this hugely popular brand name and was very well-liked — if not loved —by most people who saw it. And yet, it stillfailed to break evenat the box office.
Over a year after its release, and in a time when even mostgreat movies can perform awfully at the box office, I’m having trouble handling all thehopeful headlines about sequelsthat we want but that no studio would want to make right now. So, let’s look back on this should-be Blockbuster in the beautifully delusional hopes of kickstarting the wave that will one day turn this tide.
Why Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is special
One of the things that might prevent you from engaging with a work of classic Fantasy is the innate fear of drowning in a sea of overly serious lore.Lord Of The Ringsdid a service to the world of fiction in general, but they aren’t for everyone.
Dungeons & Dragonswriters John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein, and Michael Gilio knew that. They also knew that one of the best things aboutD&Dis how it allows players to use their imagination, which will inevitably bring about hilarity. Despite not being a comedy,Honor Among Thievesis funnier than anything that came out that year.
Just as importantly, it also understands fantasy. Much of the film’s efficacy stems from stellar writing and directing but also from the magic of whatever wizard put this cast together.
Chris Pine’s Edgin Darvis is one of the most interesting protagonists I’ve seen. He’s the conventionally handsome protagonist, but he has to make up for his hilarious lack of combat skills with charm, wits, and pathos. While he’s the movie’s emotional core, none of the other cast members fall far behind.
you may tell the filmmakers were incredibly confident in their cast and writing. Midway through the movie, they introduce a character who’s funnier (and, arguably, hotter) than anyone else in the movie, keep him around for a couple of scenes, and then let him go off on his own. Did they do that to flex on the audience? I don’t know, but I’d believe it — and love them for it.
The action is also awesome, courtesy of some spectacular choreography and stunt work that a lesser movie would have ignored in favor of CGI.Honor Among Thievescould’ve quickly fallen into the fantasy pitfall of making everything CGI, but it avoids it. The final act felt especially satisfying in how it employs CGI, dividing its use between a few segments. It manages not to take your attention away from the characters and the journey at hand.
you’re able to see a lot of love was put into this beautiful blend of CGI, neat and cozy sets, and impressive puppet and animatronic work. They used every trick in the book to make the movie work and keep moviegoers wondering how they achieved many of their special effects.
Hey, it’s the one year anniversary of this handsome devil.pic.twitter.com/AWMHR6XhSh
When all is said and done, the movie’s winning formula is simple: equal parts heart and laughter, but we all know damn well just how hard that simple mix is to pull off. The ensemble antics ofHonor Among Thievesmight have learned some lessons from the originalGuardians Of The Galaxy, but I’d argue that it’s probably an even better movie than its teacher.
I’ve been careful not to spoil any plot element, but I assure you that the plot of both films plays nothing alike. The influences here are all about the group’s dynamic and have nothing to do with the progression of the plot. Even though it’s not an entirely original film, it still provides a wildly original and spectacular take on a formula many feared cursed — and for a more or less understandable reason.
Honor Among Thievesisn’t the first attempt at aDungeons& Dragons film, and let me tell you, the original one was bad. Is the original D&D movie the reason why people of my age and above steered clear fromHonor Among Thieves?
I’ll admit it: that original film is the reason I resisted the clear allure ofHonor Among Thieves. However, I didn’t resist for long, especially not after I realized thatHonor Among Thieveshas absolutely nothing to do withwhatever that thing was.
Perhaps the most significant sign ofHonor Among Thieves‘ quality, though, is that you just read glowing praise about aDungeons & Dragonsmovie from someone who’s otherwise unable to standDungeons & Dragons.Yes, I concede that my predicament is weird and for reasons well beyond the obvious.
I love board games in general. I’m fond of other tabletop RPGs likeVampire: The Masquerade, and I even adore manyD&D-based video games, such asKnights Of The Old Republic. There’s just something about having to fill out character sheets and come up with a backstory that kills any interest I might have, even before the first dice roll. You really don’t want me to join your party unless you want the company of a Tortle Bard or something even dumber than that.
you’re able to watchDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieveson Netflix or Amazon, and you have my blessing to join me on my quest to promote this marvelous movie. You can even try to be more annoying than I just was when you bring it up in conversation with your friends today.
