Now computer games are the hot commodity, and to its credit, D&D holds its own even in the computer market -- Baldur's Gate and its sequel are among the top selling games in recent history, and the upcoming Neverwinter Nights promises to push the envelope even further, allowing people to create their own environments in the game. Still, the imagination-played D&D is as popular as ever, having recently launched a 3rd edition of the game.

In late 2000, New Line Cinema released a motion picture set in the Dungeons & Dragons game world. In this movie starring Justin Whalin, Jeremy Irons, Bruce Payne, Marlon Wayans, Zoe McLellan, Thora Birch, and Kristen Wilson, we are taken to a far distant world where magic and dragons are very real.

There's the film's first obstacle -- fantasy equals "ewwww ick" for a lot of people. While I have always enjoyed D&D, I admit to being somewhat elitist (until a couple of years ago, that is) in my reading and film watching. Sure, I liked Beastmaster, but the word of the day was "hokey", even back then.

And that's the film's second obstacle -- fantasy often equals hokey plot. In a movie set in a contemporary world, setting doesn't take much explanation at all. A writer can say "Denver" and people know exactly where it is. In a fantasy (and science fiction) setting, the economy and political structure must be explained, and for some of the more complex stories that can take quite a bit of time. The plot then gets rushed (or the explanations are skimmed over, leaving a bad taste in the mouth of the viewer), and "hokey" comes into the brain and out of a reviewer's fingers.

This second obstacle, I feel Dungeons & Dragons overcomes quite well. In fact, I would dare say that if you've never played the game, this movie will be a good introduction to it. The overall plot is that the evil Mage Profion (Irons) wants to take over the empire of Izmer, and a thief named Ridley (Whalin) tries to stop him by getting his hands on a magic rod that can control red dragons. The problem is that Profion also wants this rod and sends his henchfreak Damodar (Payne) to get it -- and kill Ridley.

The movie is what can typically be referred to as a "campaign" in the game. The overall setting. The ultimate goal. Each obstacle that Ridley and his companions must overcome can be played as adventures that further the campaign. Treasures and experience are acquired, characters will fall along the way, new friends will be made... a campaign can truly be a living entity unto itself.

One of the things I liked about the movie is that the actors all went for it with everything they had. Justin Whalin runs the gauntlet in emotional range, going from cocky to chivalrous, to devastated, doubting himself and his purpose, to righteous fury. Jeremy Irons is deliciously over the top as Profion, and Bruce Payne is eerie in his understatement. Marlon Wayans provides comic relief as Ridley's longtime partner Snails, and Zoe McLellan is refreshing as the naively indignant Marina.

Some genuine surprises surface in the way of plot, there are some good lessons even for life on *this* world, and the special effects are actually quite good. All in all, if you like the game of Dungeons & Dragons, or are even curious about it, you may very well enjoy this movie. If you're anti-fantasy, then I can't help you.

This movie is rated PG-13 for fantasy action violence.

SCORE: 7.3 -- A fun romp through a fantasy world of magic and dragons. Takes itself a little seriously, but the acting is over the top, which makes up for it. An engaging plot with some nice (and some gleefully evil) characters and good action makes for a good time. Recommended for action and/or fantasy fans. Return to top