That's a very good point, but the Realms has got a lot of lore and exposure. Probably not a bad idea for them to use it as a setting, much as I dislike it.

I suspect it will gradually make money as a cult classic. It really isn't a bad popcorn flick. I've seen worse.

I kinda feel bad for Chris Pine though, and the rest of the cast.

Quote from: Ghostmaker on May 15, 2023, 07:59:23 PM
I suspect it will gradually make money as a cult classic. It really isn't a bad popcorn flick. I've seen worse.

I kinda feel bad for Chris Pine though, and the rest of the cast.

Well, IMHO all the cast pulled their weight and then some, Michelle Rodriguez is a likable and believable (for D&D metrics) fighter, Chris Pine is fine as a Bard (almost always useless), Sophia Lillis as the tiefling delivered (and I fucking hate Tieflings as PCs), Justice Smith was fine as a Wizard filled with self doubt that pulls it off when needed and Regé-Jean Page was a believable and even likable Palladin.

Heck, even the bad guys were on point.

The humor landed, even if they did drag one or two jokes well beyond their welcome point.

My complaints are similar too others, the Owlbear = Hulk comparison is spot on in that particular scene.

Now, from a GM/Player POV: I've been in games where the dice turn something into a long gag (talking with the dead anyone?), so I kinda understand WHY they did it, it's just that I don't think that translates very well into the screen, especially for normies.

It's the change in media, really. The game system has to provide a huge kitchen sink setting so all the various DMs can have their adventures and do something different with each campaign.

Actual stories benefit from a very focused setting; particularly when they're as short as a film. The need to make "feel like D&D" by including all those disparate setting elements runs directly counter to good storytelling.

Quote from: Chris24601 on May 16, 2023, 02:42:36 PM
It's the change in media, really. The game system has to provide a huge kitchen sink setting so all the various DMs can have their adventures and do something different with each campaign.

Actual stories benefit from a very focused setting; particularly when they're as short as a film. The need to make "feel like D&D" by including all those disparate setting elements runs directly counter to good storytelling.

The need to make it "feel" like PLAYING D&D, and failing at it, it's what gets in their way.

Should've taken a published novel and translate THAT to the screen. But those novels are "problematic". Then you might get the normies.

Quote from: mightybrain on May 15, 2023, 07:27:26 PM
It certainly seems to have reviewed well enough with 91% from critics and 93% from audiences according to Rotten Tomatoes. Compare that to say Thor: Love and Thunder with 63% and 77% respectively. That suggests to me that the brand recognition and marketing are probably more the issue here than the movie itself. The first two Hulk movies didn't break even either but Marvel movies have been dominating for years now.

On the other hand, I've never really been that desperate for a D&D movie. Or should I say a Neverwinter heist movie, since it was far more about the setting and the characters than it was about the game. I just don't find the setting that interesting. I thought the characters were okay as a one off, but its difficult to imagine turning them into an ongoing franchise.

Or Rotten Tomatoes have grown even better at purging negative reviews.

Quote from: GeekyBugle on May 16, 2023, 02:56:46 PM

Quote from: Chris24601 on May 16, 2023, 02:42:36 PM
It's the change in media, really. The game system has to provide a huge kitchen sink setting so all the various DMs can have their adventures and do something different with each campaign.

Actual stories benefit from a very focused setting; particularly when they're as short as a film. The need to make "feel like D&D" by including all those disparate setting elements runs directly counter to good storytelling.

The need to make it "feel" like PLAYING D&D, and failing at it, it's what gets in their way.

Should've taken a published novel and translate THAT to the screen. But those novels are "problematic". Then you might get the normies.

there is always the middle ground. and, tbqh, they did very well at finding it with this movie, imo. it's by no means perfect, but they did hit a decent balancing point - not too much of the nerdy stuff that would shoo away non-dnd people, but just enough digging into the setting and references to make the nerds nod.

so the actual movie making part was done okay, it's this

Quote from: Ghostmaker on May 05, 2023, 08:25:14 PM
WotC and Hasbro took a giant Cleveland Steamer shit all over the very people they needed to watch the movie multiple times.

and general marketing fiasco that did this movie in.

Quote from: GeekyBugle on May 15, 2023, 08:14:49 PM
Now, from a GM/Player POV: I've been in games where the dice turn something into a long gag (talking with the dead anyone?), so I kinda understand WHY they did it, it's just that I don't think that translates very well into the screen, especially for normies.

I don't think the audience need to be RPG player to figure out the gag that "five questions" were literal and pretty much required for the spell to end. It was pretty much spelled out for the normies.

Compare that with the "talk to the dead" scene in Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell where the magican simply has no fucking clue how to return the undead to be unalived again after asking their questions.

Quote from: Wntrlnd on May 18, 2023, 08:48:22 AM

Quote from: GeekyBugle on May 15, 2023, 08:14:49 PM
Now, from a GM/Player POV: I've been in games where the dice turn something into a long gag (talking with the dead anyone?), so I kinda understand WHY they did it, it's just that I don't think that translates very well into the screen, especially for normies.

I don't think the audience need to be RPG player to figure out the gag that "five questions" were literal and pretty much required for the spell to end. It was pretty much spelled out for the normies.

Compare that with the "talk to the dead" scene in Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell where the magican simply has no fucking clue how to return the undead to be unalived again after asking their questions.

Did I say the joke didn't land with normies?

Or did I said such a long running gag doesn't translate well from the table to the screen?

You're focusing on the punchline while I'm talking about the time it took to get there.

For all those that skipped the theaters, the Dungeons & Dragons movie is now streaming on Paramount+. Considering that you also get Top Gun Maverick, it might be worth the $5 to check it out.

Captain Kirk's "well, shit" there towards the end is a perfect delivery.

Eh, the movie may not tank....but I've already written it off. For me, it was a one and done. I watched it once and won't again. My kid liked it so they were streaming it on paramount. And I was so engrossed in the movie that I was on my tablet, with earphones in, listening to youtube vids LOL.

I'm no movie critic. But for me what it boils down to "was I entertained?" and the answer was no. I'll admit my bias when going into the movie knowing the whole kerfuffle of the writers purposefully emasculating the male actors, and the movie shows it. The sorcerer was cringe, Cpt. Kirk was useless, and the women power was brilliant.

I won't dis on anyone who liked it....but I didn't. For me, it was another D&D movie failure.

Now if I was a screen writer I have a script in my head....but I'm not....so eh? My indifference means nothing.

Quote from: mightybrain on April 03, 2023, 06:47:24 PM
I'm taking a more carrot and stick approach as opposed to all out scorched earth. If they're willing to put out reasonable content from time to time, then I'll buy that, but only that. They seem to be getting the message, slowly but surely.

No. wotc is not getting any message. You keep forgetting that with wotc failure is the only option. Any steps forward, any success MUST be completely ruined somehow some way.

On 20 plus years they have learned absolutely nothing.