Dungeons & Dragons (2000)

User Rating:

3.6/10   

Director:

Courtney Solomon

Writers (WGA):

Topper Lilien (written by) &
Carroll Cartwright (written by)

Release Date:

8 December 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Fantasy | Action

Tagline:

This is no game.

Plot:

Profion, a tyrant attempts to overthrow a peaceful kingdom ruled by a tough empress.

Plot Keywords:

Scepter | Mage | Dragon | Council | Dwarf

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Jeremy Irons	...	Profion
Bruce Payne	...	Damodar
Justin Whalin	...	Ridley Freeborn
Marlon Wayans	...	Snails
Robert Miano	...	Azmath
Tomas Havrlik	...	Mage
Thora Birch	...	Empress Savina
Edward Jewesbury	...	Vildan Vildir
Zoe McLellan	...	Marina Pretensa
Lee Arenberg	...	Elwood Gutworthy
Kristen Wilson	...	Norda
Martin Astles	...	Orc #1
Matthew O'Toole	...	Orcs
David O'Kelly	...	Three Eyes
Richard O'Brien	...	Xilus

Also Known As:

Dungeons & Dragons: The Movie (UK) (promotional title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for fantasy action violence.

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA | Czech Republic

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #37857) | Iceland:12 | Malaysia:U | South Korea:12 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Chile:TE | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Singapore:PG | Spain:7 | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Kutná Hora, okres Kutná Hora, Stredoceský, Czech Republic

Company:

Behaviour Worldwide

Trivia:

Marlon Wayans was also starring in Requiem for a Dream (2000) at the same time as shooting this movie. All of his shots had to be filmed out of the movie in a matter of weeks.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: Often, when chanting spells, Profion's lips fail to remotely match the words being chanted.

Quotes:

[Ridley recites an incantation, hoping to decode a scroll]
Ridley: Alanor, salah, bedara!
[Nothing happens. Hands scroll to Marina]
Ridley: Can't blame me for trying. At least I...
[Ridley is sucked into the map]
Snails: Woo hoo! See that there? I knew that boy had talent!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#27.6)" (2002)

One of the worst films of 2000

If there hadn't been a "Battlefield Earth", this movie probably would have gotten my vote for worst movie of 2000. The only way it is (slightly) better than that movie is the (very) occasional good set or effect.

I could write for hours about what's wrong with this movie, but this is what comes to mind immediately

(1) The horrible acting. I honestly can't understand why someone so talented as Jeremy Irons would be going so over the top. It's clear, however, that he isn't enjoying himself in the movie, so maybe he's getting revenge against the movie by acting so terribly

The most annoying performance goes to Marlon Wayans. His shrieking, cowardly character uncomfortably brings up images of stereotypes from the 1930s. At least he doesn't say "Feet, do your stuff!" - though he sure comes close.

(2) The bright, glitterly look of every scene. When you think of sword and sorcery, I think we all think of things rough and with grit. Not here.

(3) The movie constantly rips off from other (better) movies, most notably from the four STAR WARS movies

(4) The characters. Why the hell were the dwarf and elf in this movie? They could easily have been written out without consequence. And the main thief hero is one of the blandest heroes I've ever seen in the movie.

(5) Virtually all the special effects, sets etc. are AWFUL. Sometimes they look even worse than those seen on the Xena and Hercules shows! (Though those two shows at least have the excuse of having lower budgets - and they make up for the cheap effects by having better scripts, characters, and acting!)

(6) And speaking of scripts...thos script is terrible! Mainly it's because the story itself hardly makes any sense!