Review: DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES Rolls a Super Fun Fantasy Adventure Film
As a fan of Dungeons & Dragons, and as someone who has enjoyed playing the RPG over the years, I was excited about the upcoming film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves! It’s just such a huge world to play in and there are so many different directions that directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley could have taken the story, and I enjoyed the one that they chose to tell.
The film follows a group of adventurers who are brought together to undertake a dangerous quest to retrieve a lost ancient relic with a specific power that relates to one of the main characters. They find themselves navigating treacherous areas, battling ferocious monsters, and confronting their own inner demons, and learning to work together as a team if they hope to succeed.
What makes the story so much fun is the sense of excitement and wonder that permeates every scene. The film is filled with classic fantasy elements like magic, dragons, and enchanted weapons, and it's very clear that the filmmakers have a deep love and appreciation for the genre and the game, and they succeeded in delivering a movie that wonderfully captures the spirit of Dungeons & Dragons.
I enjoyed the sense of adventure in the story and takes the audience on a thrilling journey through a richly imagined fantasy world, filled with danger and excitement at every turn. From epic battles to narrow escapes, the film is a non-stop fun thrill ride. It has the same kind of tone as the Indiana Jones movies, but it’s set in a fantasy world. It’s just a similar kind of fun.
I also liked the humor that the filmmakers brought to the movie! I have yet to play a Dungeons & Dragons game that isn’t filled with humor, so incorporating that into the movie makes complete sense. The film strikes a good balance between action, adventure, drama, and lighthearted comedy. Even in the midst of intense battles and perilous situations, the film finds time for moments of levity with the smart use of humor.
The humor never feels forced or out of place. It's a natural extension of the characters and the situations they find themselves in. For example, Chris Pine brings a charming wit and sly humor to his role as the leader of the adventuring party. He's quick with a quip and always ready with a clever comeback.
Each member of the party played by Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, and Sophia Lillis, brings their own unique personality to the mix, and all the actors were great in their roles. They also each had an important role to play in the story, it was a true ensemble cast where no one was in the shadow of another character. They all played an equal part in the story and they strengthened and encouraged each other over the course of the film.
My favorite part of the film, though, was the heart of it. It explored themes of friendship, loyalty, and redemption through the relationships between the members of the adventuring party, as they come together to overcome their differences and work towards a common goal.
It’s about the power of friendship and the strength that comes from working together as a team. The characters are all flawed in their own ways, but through their experiences together, they learn to trust and rely on each other, and they develop a deep sense of camaraderie and loyalty that drives them forward.
The film also touches on themes of redemption, as some of the characters are given a chance to atone for past mistakes and find a new sense of purpose through their journey. This adds a layer of depth and complexity to the story.
Over the course of the film, there are moments of genuine emotion and heart. The relationships between the characters are portrayed with honesty and sincerity, and the moments of triumph and tragedy are all the more powerful because of the bonds that have been forged between them.
It's a film that celebrates the human spirit and the connections that bring us together, and it's a reminder that even in the darkest of times, we are never truly alone. The movie isn’t perfect, but it was a lot of fun to watch! I think both fans of D&D and audiences who have never played it will enjoy it!