Dungeons And Dragons (DVD 2001)

I'm not entirely sure what to say about this film. I bought it because it was selling cheap in Woolworths if bought with some other DVD (maybe The Two Towers) and I had missed it when it was on in the cinema and wondered what it would be like.
Let me state straight away that my personal experience of Dungeons and Dragons stretches no further than several of the PC games that are available (ie I never played the actual paper and dice game). However, from these I knew what the world was like and what to expect.

It wasn't what I got! The main problem with this is that it just doesn't feel like a film. The graphics are probably the biggest contributor. The special effects in this film bear far too much relation to an episode of Xena or Hercules to be taken entirely seriously. The Beholders look quite good, but the dragons look terrible and, I'm sorry, I know it's not SFX, but Jeremy Irons' servant's sky blue lipstick is quite frankly ludicrous.

The other problem is that the story is told in a very disjointed manner and is really too simple for the complex world it is set in.

I would think long and hard if you are considering buying this unless you really can get it dirt cheap or just want a mediocre film to waste time.

When the emperor is felled by an assassin's poison, his only heir, the Child-Princess Savina, quickly discovers that the greatest threat the Empire has ever faced will come from within. The respected Archmage Profion has set in motion his dark plans to turn the Council against her rule. If he succeeds, the Council will order the young empress to surrender her crown and the sceptre, an action she must refuse at all costs. Profion will stop at nothing to secure the sceptre and the power of the Gold Dragons for himself, and his schemes threaten to plunge the nation into civil war!

The Empress sends her most trusted scout, Norda, on a suicide mission to find an ancient artifact, the Rod of Savrille. Its fabled ability to summon and enslave the wills of Red Dragons may tip the balance of power back in their direction and allow her to expose Profion's treasonous plans. Profion, through magical means, discovers her plans to thwart him and a deadly race for the weapon begins.

But destiny, it would seem, selects her own champions... and soon the fate of the entire realm will rest not with Norda or the mages, but in the hands of those the Empire has forsaken…

And time is not on their side...cool cheers to pdotcom

well, i thought this film was excellent, and as it isnt a recently made film, the graphics were as expected. Loved the story line, but i have a feeling that it might be like marmite- some love it, and some hate it! very good price, especially if you're unsure whether you'd enjoy the film. Both endings are perfect.