Dungeons & Dragons (film)
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Dungeons and Dragons |
| Original title | Dungeons and Dragons |
| Country of production |
USA Czech Republic |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 2000 |
| length | 107 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Courtney Solomon |
| script |
Topper lilies Carroll Cartwright |
| production |
Thomas M. Hammel Kia Jam |
| music | Justin Caine Burnett |
| camera | Douglas Milsome |
| cut | Caroline Ross |
| occupation | |
| |
| chronology | |
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Successor → |
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Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy adventure film that was produced in 2000 based on the theme of the role-playing system of the same name . The film opened in German cinemas on April 12, 2001.
action
The film takes place in the magical empire of Izmer, where the ruling elite of magicians suppress the so-called "ordinary people". The young Empress Savina intends to implement comprehensive reforms to remedy the general injustice; However, this is opposed by the villainous archmage Profion, who not only wants to maintain the status quo, but also wants to make himself the sole ruler.
By means of an intrigue, the empress is supposed to have the golden scepter, which gives rule over an army of golden dragons, taken away; However, Savina gains knowledge of a red scepter that is said to be even more powerful. Through an entanglement of fate, the mage student Marina, the two young thieves Ridley and Snails and the roughly carved dwarf Elwoods come together as a role-playing group of adventurers who are hunted, among others, by the Scarlet Brigades, the rascals of the villain Profion. A mysterious scroll takes you through a test by the thieves' guild and brings you together with wood elves and the tracker Norda. You set off on the quest to locate the red scepter before it falls into Profion's hands. A love affair is developing between Ridley and Marina, but the girl is kidnapped by the demonic henchman Damodar to his castle; the rescue operation is dramatic, the thief Snails is killed.
As the situation in the High Council comes to a head and a civil war threatens, the disabled heroes reach the forest people's camp, where they learn a lot about the nature of the dragons that control the sceptres: the golden dragons are the root of all magic and thus the basis of existence of the Empire of Izmer, but they are ruthlessly hunted by the red dragons, whose victory would mean the reign of evil. After a night of love between Ridley and Marina, the scroll that shows the way to a cave and the red scepter is deciphered.
This comes into the possession of Damodar, whom Ridley follows through a dimensional gate onto the towers of the magical school, where the battle rages between the imperial golden dragons and the red dragons. Ridley kills Damodar for the injury he inflicted on his beloved Marina; at the climax of the plot, the darkling Profion is finally devoured by a golden dragon before he can kill Savina.
The happy ending brings peace and freedom to all Izmerites and the promise of the return of the slain Snail; the open end shows the group of heroes setting out into unknown dimensions to find them.
Awards and criticism
The actress Thora Birch was nominated for the 2001 Young Artist Award for best supporting actress.
"An unimaginative, amateurishly staged fantasy film based on a popular role-playing game that also never convinces in terms of trick technology"
RPG fans criticized the film, among other things, for using a completely new background instead of the original world background.
The film was panned by the critics. Despite talented actors, he was credited with miserable dialogues, amateurish staging, wooden representation, poor camera work, a mind-numbing, comical supporting role with racist elements and numerous other shortcomings. A few critics were able to draw humorous gains from the film. When Rotten Tomatoes was evaluated , only 11% of 85 reviews were positive. In the IMDB viewer ratings , the film only received 3.6 out of 10 points.
Others
The 2005 sequel, Dungeons & Dragons - The Power of the Elements , was released directly on DVD. Bruce Payne was the only actor to return from the first film, directed by Gerry Lively .
In 2012, Dungeons & Dragons 3: The Book of Dark Shadows was another film in the series. The television production was again directed by Gerry Lively.