Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves confidently adapts the beloved role-playing game franchise with a lighthearted yet fun touch.
About Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Director: John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein
Production: Paramount Pictures
Cast: Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Daisy Head, Hugh Grant
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Runtime: 2 Hours 14 Mins
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
Rotten Tomatometer: 91% Tomatometer, 93% Audience Score
My Rating: 4/5
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a confidently crafted movie that follows the journey of four individuals on their quest to remove their former partner Forge from his position as city’s leader, aided by Sofina, a sorceress with mysterious plans for the city's people. Edgin, Holga, Doric, and Simon must retrieve the treasures Forge stole from them to resurrect Edgin's beloved wife.
The movie's lighthearted tone is a breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre, providing a much-needed departure from the superhero movie trope. Despite the Dungeons & Dragons games' vast worlds with intricate rules and worldbuilding, the movie delivers a cohesive and refreshing plot with adequate worldbuilding that will keep audiences entertained from start to finish.
What truly sets Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves apart is its exceptional plot progression. The story flows naturally, with nothing feeling out of place or unnecessary.
Edgin is the likeable loser
Chris Pine's portrayal of his character in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves was simply fantastic. As someone who isn't familiar with the game, I liked his performance. Pine's character was charismatic and relatable, and his non-sensical quotes were delivered with perfection. My personal favourite was “We must not stop failing. Because if we do, we failed”.
Holga is a badass woman with emotions
Holga, played by the talented actress, was a standout supporting character in the movie. Her character was a refreshing take on the strong female archetype, as she was shown to have emotions and vulnerabilities. Her unwavering support of Edgin through tough times was endearing to watch, and it added an emotional depth to the story.
Doric has amazing VFX Scenes
Doric's shapeshifting scenes were some of the most amazing in the movie. She is a shapeshifter and her use of shapeshifting powers is unique and breathtaking to watch. Despite not having prominent screen time, she was shown to be an essential member of the team, and her character added to the overall dynamic of the group.
Simon works really well as comic relief
Simon, played by another talented actor, provided some comic relief in the movie. His character's ineptitude in sorcery added to the light-hearted tone of the movie, and his mistakes sometimes worked in their favour, making him a valuable member of the team. His character was a great addition to the ensemble cast, and it added a nice balance to the group.
Sofina is amazing
Sofina, portrayed by an amazing actress, was my favourite character in the movie. Her villainous portrayal was top-notch, and her look was simply amazing. Her character was complex and intriguing, and her mysterious plans for the people of the city added a layer of suspense to the story. Her character was a perfect match for the light-hearted tone of the movie, and she was a great addition to the ensemble cast. I have seen her performance in Shadow and Bone as Genya and Sandman. I loved her in those shows.
Regé-Jean Page utilizes screen time perfectly
Regé-Jean Page, of Bridgerton fame, stole the show despite his limited screen time. His character's inability to understand metaphors and sarcasm was reminiscent of Drax in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, and his performance was truly amazing.
The world of Dungeons & Dragons is a vast and intricate one, with numerous rules and guidelines to follow. Adapting such a game for non-gamers can be a daunting task, but the creators of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves have done a perfect job. The movie manages to introduce the viewer to the world of the game without making it feel too complicated or overwhelming. The weird and wondrous creatures that populate this world don't even feel weird, as the viewer is drawn in and simply accepts the world as it is.
One of the biggest challenges in adapting a game like Dungeons & Dragons is finding a way to convey its complex rules and worldbuilding in a way that is easily digestible for a traditional movie-goer. However, the creators of this movie have succeeded in doing just that. The rules of the world are introduced seamlessly throughout the movie, without detracting from the plot or slowing down the action. This allows the viewer to fully immerse themselves in the world of the game, without feeling like they're missing out on important information.
Another aspect that Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves successfully captures is the sense of adventure and exploration that is a hallmark of the game. The characters are constantly on the move, searching for clues and following leads to achieve their goals. This sense of adventure is perfectly captured on the big screen, with breathtaking visuals and exciting action sequences that keep the viewer on the edge of their seat.
The VFX in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is truly stunning. The VFX team has done a remarkable job in bringing the world of the game to life. The depictions of the various locations in the movie are breathtaking, with each scene seamlessly blending into the next. The attention to detail in the set design is also commendable, with each location feeling unique and well-crafted.
Compared to what Marvel and DC have been doing recently with their movies, the VFX in this movie is amazing. The visuals are far more intricate and detailed, with a greater sense of realism.
The use of colors in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is noteworthy, with each scene being aesthetically pleasing and visually stunning. The costumes and set designs are intricate and match the tone of the movie perfectly. The lighting and camera angles used in the movie are also spot-on, further enhancing the overall visual appeal of the film. I loved the shape-shifting transition scenes of Doric.
In terms of pacing, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves excels. The film moves along at a perfect pace, never dragging its feet and always keeping the viewer engaged in the story. It's a rare achievement for any film, but especially impressive given the complexity of the game world that the movie is based on.
Despite my initial reservations based on the trailer, I had an absolute blast watching Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. It exceeded all of my expectations and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The film has great rewatch value.
One of the best aspects of the film is its self-contained story. Rather than setting up sequels or franchise potential, the movie wraps up its plot nicely by the end. This is a refreshing change from the current trend in Hollywood, where every movie seems to be focused on setting up a franchise and ends on a cliffhanger. By being a standalone movie, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves can fully explore its characters and story without leaving loose ends for future instalments.
Overall, it's a fantastic movie that I highly recommend to anyone, regardless of their familiarity with the game.
IMDB Blurb
A charming thief and a band of unlikely adventurers embark on an epic quest to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they run afoul of the wrong people.
