Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves , 2023.
Directors: John Francis Daly and Jonathan Goldstein.
With: Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Reggie Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Hugh Grant, Jason Wong, Chloe Coleman, Spencer Wilding, Will Irvine, Nicholas Blaine, Brian Larkin, Sarah Amonka, Colleen Carnegie, Georgia Nee Landers, Sophia Desantari. Huntley, Clayton Grover, Ian Hanmore, Paul Basile, Kenneth Collard, Haley Marie Ax and Daisy Head.
Assessment :
A magical thief and a group of unlikely adventurers embark on an epic quest to retrieve a lost relic, but things go awry when they meet the wrong people.
When Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Directors Choose Between Thieves John Francis Daly and Jonathan Goldstein (co-written with Michael Giglio with a story by Chris McKay) guide D&D newcomers through the world, characters, mystical creatures, and rituals (how beautiful) of a monstrous. hybrid owl) adventurous, entertaining and fun. It's good to know that D&D has stood the test of time as the most popular role-playing board game, even though many of its ideas are not only familiar, but have been adapted for other functions (here a handy stick to (maybe) illustrate some teleport portals that look like video game portals ).
Additionally, there are other jokes and references that are made for the fans without much explanation, which sometimes reduces the amount that can be invested in the story. It also comes across as a forced swear word, which would be forgivable if it didn't happen too often and wasn't too obvious. At the end of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, no one walks away with much knowledge or a deeper understanding of the board game's fictional universe, as the narrative insists on serving as a stereotypical story about their family members. . Life Unfortunately, these characters have no depth beyond their playclass or origin.
On the plus side, the script mostly strikes the right tone, except for a few scenes that take themselves too seriously (the ending reads emotionally as it involves a tough choice that says something about who these characters are and what is important right now). Whenever someone brings up a past mistake, relationship issue, or current struggle that doesn't make sense because it's barely out of context, it's a happy time to interrupt the inevitable with a joke. and put everything back together in a more appropriate mood. in place.
The gallery opens with a group reunion with Egin (Chris Pine), a former harpist (the spy ring means nothing as the flashbacks skip that part of his life and the film never interacts with them as as a group), proposing to leave the group. Jay kills his wife, he is forced to raise his daughter Kira (Chloe Coleman) alone. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a movie that gives Kira a magic item that makes her invisible, just because. Egin, however, befriends fighter Holga (Michelle Rodriguez, who puts on a thrilling physical performance in several expertly staged fights) and eventually expands his ring thanks to amateur magician Simon (Justice Smith) and the Great Frog scammer. Flight recruitment success more useful.
You can probably guess which of these characters betrays the clan and goes into mad villain mode upon becoming king, while the others are stuck and turn young Kira against her father as she raises him through manipulation so powerful that if she comes back, Vera will come back. The plot is so basic and uninviting that none of it matters; This is an opportunity to send these characters on a quest for legendary items that will help them defeat the red magician (Daisy Head), end the king's tyranny, and obtain another magical artifact capable of reviving the 'Ejin dead. Along the way, they meet a shapeshifter who resents humans (Sophia Lillis) and a paladin who doesn't understand jokes and sarcasm (Reggie-Jean Page).
Without a doubt, the production is excellent, especially when the film is set in real environments and locations. Everything from buildings to mining and fantasy items looks expensive and colorful. When the story strays from green screen territory (the CGI is also sometimes rough around the edges), it becomes less compelling and adds to the overall impression of what's going on. Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis DeLeo comfortably lean into comedy, adding much-needed personality; A sequence in which the dead are briefly revived and interrogated is particularly amusing. On the contrary, the film is more entertaining than exciting or charming.
Fans will likely be delighted, and will likely find something to appreciate in the story (perhaps it's intentionally cliched and familiar enough to best reflect the gamers' role-playing scenario one night). It's also fair to say that Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is already temporarily attractive, but loses momentum (needs to pick up the pace in the second half), and as a result (except for a rather shocking ending) is only suitable for hardcore.
Note Flashing Caption – Movie: ★★ / Movie: ★★★
Robert Cogder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics' Choice Association. He is also the editor of Flickering Myth Review. Check here for new reviews, follow me on Twitter or Letterboxd or email me at [email protected]
