Ok, first of all, let's all just agree that there has NEVER been a D&D movie.

What should it look like? How would one do the best job of representing on the big screen what D&D is really all about, and still be a movie?

I have my own idea about this, but I'm going to let people comment for a while before giving my impression.

RPGPundit

Quote from: RPGPunditOk, first of all, let's all just agree that there has NEVER been a D&D movie.

What should it look like? How would one do the best job of representing on the big screen what D&D is really all about, and still be a movie?

I have my own idea about this, but I'm going to let people comment for a while before giving my impression.

RPGPundit

I think it'd have to be an epic adventure and dont my the same folks that did LotR.

Bollocks.  The second made-for-TV D&D movie was a rather brilliant emulation of an average D&D game.  There's a party of adventurers, some nasty monsters, a big damn dragon, and a dungeon.  What the hell more could you ask for?

Sure it wasn't brilliant cinema or anything, but come on, let's be honest with ourselves, the average RPG session would hardly hold up as a feature presentation anywhere else but the SciFi network anyway.

Dungeons & Dragons II: Wrath of the Dragon God was not real good, but it held my attention, so I own the DVD.  Plus: cute elf chick!

That said, a different D&D movie would be...different, I guess.  There are as many different approaches as there are film producers, and some of THEM will have multiple takes on it.

I dunno, Pundit, what do you want a D&D movie to look like?  What's important, to you, in evaluating whether it is a D&D movie?

I think one thing that Lord of the Rings impressed on me is how useful horror films tricks work for "serious" fantasy. Of course use in moderation but compared to 80's classic fantasy films this is one of the important elements that set the LoTR films apart.

I was also watching Robin of Sherwood the other day and Excalibur both of them had a used elements of horror films and both of them are considered among the better fantasy works of the 80's.

As for the party aspect I would fish around various westerns, war and samauri films for ideas for effectively portraying a group on screen. The seven samauri comes to mind as the best example of this.

Note I am not saying make a fantasy like a horror version of the seven samurai. But rather use the techniques and elements of these film to tell a story set in a D&D style fantasy.

For example is Aliens 2 nothing more than a dungeon crawl with sci-fi trappings.

Again rather than take Aliens 2 and put everyone in armor and robes, and make the aliens tarrasques. You study the films and see how it was put together that made it so effective. When they go down a corridor how it was filmed, how was tension developed etc.

It would look like Lancelot du Lac by Robert Bresson. Well, it wouldn't, but it should.

/hides

It might look like the D&D DVD "Scourge of Worlds". That at least felt like typical RPG adventure.

It also made Lidda the halfling my favorite iconic.

 Haven't heard of it ? Its a DVD "adventure" that uses all CGI  for the animation that is formatted like those old "Choose your Own Adventure" books. The main difference is that you use your DVD player remote control to make the choices instead of flipping pages in a book.

- Ed C.

Quote from: KoltarIt might look like the D&D DVD "Scourge of Worlds". That at least felt like typical RPG adventure.

Well, that's a game which in principle should feel more like a game adventure.  However, a feature movie isn't a game and should be done differently.  

There have been a few good movies based on games, and a lot of bad ones.  Clue (1985) keeps up a lot of references to the board game, but overall the movie is not much like the game at all.  For that matter, from what I understand the D&D novels -- which are relatively successful -- aren't much like a typical RPG adventure.  

Any adapted movie needs a concept that goes beyond its source -- a focus or direction beyond simply mirroring the original.  For it's kind, I didn't think the Wrath of the Dragon God was that bad.  It was low-budget shot in some Eastern European country with no name actors, but for that it was a fair attempt (and much better than the higher-budget original).

Quote from: J ArcaneBollocks.  The second made-for-TV D&D movie was a rather brilliant emulation of an average D&D game.  There's a party of adventurers, some nasty monsters, a big damn dragon, and a dungeon.  What the hell more could you ask for?

Sure it wasn't brilliant cinema or anything, but come on, let's be honest with ourselves, the average RPG session would hardly hold up as a feature presentation anywhere else but the SciFi network anyway.

That was my thought too, the second one was actually pretty spot on.  It's not a great movie, but it is pretty much a DnD game on screen.

There won't ever be a true D&D movie. Game play just doesn't come across on the big screen. What excites us at the table will just bore us on the big screen. Having said that, some elements could be used.

Wrath of the Dragon God was actually quite alright. I liked the barbarian chick. And by like, I mean she made my loincloth feel funny. But what they had of the typical D&D moments was more a homage to game elements and not a try of actually integrating them in the plot of the movie. Script writing by shopping list...

Dragonlance would be a good approximation. Yes, it's railroady D&D, but that should be fine for a movie. We'll just have to wait and see 'til it comes out pretty soon (I hope). At least the party aspects of the game should be well done.

(Hey, Kiefer Sutherland as Raistlin... "WE DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO DISCUSS FIREBALLING THE BLACK DRAGON! YOU JUST HAVE TO TRUST ME!")

As for pure dungeons and the room-exploration scenario, something like the first Cube movie might work. Considering the amount of different rooms, it will wreak havoc on the usual movie tension building. So this might be a better idea for a series. Maybe one with rather short episodes, sold on the web. Each week a new room, 20 minutes...

Quote from: estarFor example is Aliens 2 nothing more than a dungeon crawl with sci-fi trappings.

Aliens had a sequel?

Quote from: Dr Rotwang!Aliens had a sequel?

Just one.

Here is my point: A D&D movie that was true to the game would be an adventure-comedy, heavily character focused, on a bunch of crazy guys charging through a dungeon, or having adventures in the wilderness. It wouldn't be much of a story.

Which pretty well proves that RPGs are NOT about "story". D&D as a film would SUCK as a story, at least as anything other than a comedy.

RPGPundit

Quote from: RPGPunditHere is my point: A D&D movie that was true to the game would be an adventure-comedy, heavily character focused, on a bunch of crazy guys charging through a dungeon, or having adventures in the wilderness. It wouldn't be much of a story.

Oh, a Coen brothers movie?

Quote from: SosthenesOh, a Coen brothers movie?

You could just follow the plot of OotS and make that into a cell-shaded animated movie.