THE SET-UP
A bard-turned-thief (Chris Pine) leads a group of adventurers on a quest to reunite with his daughter and foil the plans of a corrupt Lord (Hugh Grant). Also stars Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, and Daisy Head. Directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein.
THE DELIVERY
When a film adaptation of Dungeons & Dragons was announced, fan response was initially tepid, given Hollywood’s botched attempts to adapt classic pop culture icons from our youth. The trailer played up the humor in the film, which didn’t raise hopes among hardcore fans, who thought the film would be a comedic misfire that didn’t “get” why people love D&D.
That’s why it was so surprising that Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves wasn’t just good, it was great; a rollicking adventure that honored the source material and brought in new fans. It’s Lord of the Rings with a silly, fun energy, and that’s a compliment. Chris Pine is at his Chris Piniest, and he makes for a thoroughly charming lead as Edgin, a Harper who turned to a life of crime after his wife is killed. After going to prison, he and his partner in crime Holga (Michelle Rodriguez) make a daring escape and set out to reunite with his daughter and find a relic that might bring back his wife.
For his quest, Edgin assembles a motley crew of allies old and new, including a sorcerer (Justice Smith), a paladin (Regé-Jean Page) and a shape-shifting Tiefling druid (Sophia Lillis). For fans of the classic game, there is a lot to like here, as screenwriters and co-directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein incorporate many of the game’s popular elements and creatures. They are also adept enough to not get too immersed in the mythology, choosing instead to keep the story accessible for those unfamiliar with the gameplay.
At a time where fantasy, sci-fi, and even comic book films get darker and more serious, Dungeons & Dragons sets itself apart from the current trends in pop culture cinema by staying light-hearted. The themes and settings may be familiar, but it feels fresh, and the tongue-in-cheek adventurism will remind you of the fantasy films of the 1980s. Admittedly, the jokes are a bit much at times, but it’s always better to err on the side of fun. The ending is surprisingly sentimental, which happens when you craft a good story with characters you care about.
Dungeons & Dragons gets a lot of little things right, and the cast is solid, making for one of the more entertaining films to be released this year. Some may argue that there have been better fantasy films released recently, which may technically be true, but it gets the key elements of fantasy (and the source material) right, and its sum total is greater than its parts. It is an outstanding adventure that surpasses expectations and lives up to its promotional hype, a rare thing these days. It’s a roll of the dice that scores a critical hit (pun intended).
SIGHT AND SOUND
The 4K transfer for Dungeons & Dragons looks fantastic, sporting a high bitrate that presents an image with sharp detail and a filmic look. A light layer of digital grain appears to have been added at times, without affecting the quality of the image. Colors are deep and natural, and there’s a distinct variance in the black and grays in the darker scenes, offering nice detail. Some of the CGI effects in the film were a bit wonky, and the 4K transfer shows that a bit too well, but most blend in quite well with the live action. Paramount has impressed me with the quality of their transfers in recent years, and this is no exception. The bigger your screen, the more you’ll appreciate the quality.
The Dolby Atmos track is impressively bold when it needs to be. Scenes involving lots of dialogue provide a strong presentation through the center channels, with some enveloping surround effects at times. When the action gets rolling, particularly when a dragon or owlbear starts throwing its weight around, there is a healthy amount of low-end. providing a nice, rumbling bass. Overall, an excellent mix that’s a worthy companion to the video.
BONUS FEATURES
Paramount packed six featurettes and a few other bonus features onto the disc, providing a nice look behind-the-scenes at the film’s production. The bonus features included on the disc are:
- “From Dice to Dragons: Honoring the Lore” featurette. Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, and members of the cast and crew discuss the adaptation of the classic board game to the big screen, while honoring the legacy of the game and satisfying fans. Running Time: 11:15
- “Rogues’ Gallery: The Heroes of Dungeons & Dragons” featurette. The cast and crew delve into each of the film’s characters and their motivations. Running Time: 11:24
- “Fantastic Foes” featurette. The villains of Dungeons and Dragons are profiled in this featurette, with a focus on Sofina and the Red Wizards. Actress Daisy Head, who plays Sofina, discusses her character, and Hugh Grant is also featured. Running Time: 7:03
- “The Bestiary” featurette. The film’s myriad creatures are featured here, exploring how they were captured with a mix of practical makeup, masks, and costumes, as well as CGI. It’s one of the better featurettes on the disc, especially for hardcore D&D fans. Running Time: 9:21
- “Forging the Forgotten Realms” featurette. The film’s fantastic sets and location shooting is featured, showing off the film’s outstanding cinematography and set decoration. Spoiler: the castle used in Harry Potter was also used for this film, although the producers explain how they made sure viewers don’t realize it. Running Time: 8:07
- “Broadswords, Battle-axes & Badass Brawls” featurette. The cast and crew discuss the film’s epic stunts and fight scenes. There’s also a look at the weaponry featured in the film, including Michelle Rodriguez’s awesome battleaxe. Running Time: 8:40
- Gag Reel. Missed lines, bloopers, and outtakes are just as entertaining as the film, as this gag reel shows. Running Time: 6:51
- Deleted and Extended Scenes. Six deleted and extended scenes are featured: “Gorg’s Arrival,” “Ice Breaker,” “Harassing Holga,” “Eating Ash,” “Harper’s Sanctuary,” and “Corpse 6.” Total Running Time: 10:35
- Digital Code. A code for a digital version of the film, redeemable through VUDU and iTunes, is included.
4K SPECS
Release Date: May 30, 2023
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 2 hours, 14 minutes
Aspect Ratio:2.39:1
Audio: English Dolby Atmos, English Audio Description, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Itlian 5.1 Dolby Digital, Japanese 5.1 Dolby Digital
Subtitles: English, English for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Cantonese, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Nine additional languages
Label: Paramount
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