rjm-geo
Joined May 2011
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Reviews18
rjm-geo's rating
Unfortunately, not being as terrible as it could have been doesn't make it good.
The Dungeons & Dragons tie-in is done in a very light-handed way, almost too light: It's just a generic fantasy movie with some recognizable IP from the original RPG dropped in, mostly for comedic effect. The role-playing game aspect is dropped and unlike, say, Jumanji or Princess Bride, no framing device is provided to bookend the movie with the real world or give it a thematic througline.
So we're left with an McGuffin laden plot similar to Guardians of the Galaxy, mechanically assembled to hit the corporate-mandated plot beats, "you can do it if you believe in yourself", "I love you Dad" etc. Not only the plot construction, the tone, too, feels borrowed from GotG: goofy one minute, trying to be serious the next.
Hugh Grant's acting here is leagues above everyone else, though Justice Smith does a good job as a textbook Paladin, and none of the rest of the cast are bad - they just don't have a lot to worth with for the most part.
Looking back, I don't think any character ever reaches any emotional state more aggravated than "mildly frustrated". No one yells, no one cries, no one gets hurt or even angry. It's an emotionally bloodless movie.
It's mildly entertaining, the production design and special effects are solid, if not inspired. Some scenes look weird though, like the actors talking to each other are digitally composited together from two different soundstages. The story is serviceable. Unfortunately the soundtrack is notably terrible, generic and forgettable - a good soundtrack can elevate a mediocre fantasy movie, but not here.
At the final analysis, its competent but not original enough to be memorable.
The Dungeons & Dragons tie-in is done in a very light-handed way, almost too light: It's just a generic fantasy movie with some recognizable IP from the original RPG dropped in, mostly for comedic effect. The role-playing game aspect is dropped and unlike, say, Jumanji or Princess Bride, no framing device is provided to bookend the movie with the real world or give it a thematic througline.
So we're left with an McGuffin laden plot similar to Guardians of the Galaxy, mechanically assembled to hit the corporate-mandated plot beats, "you can do it if you believe in yourself", "I love you Dad" etc. Not only the plot construction, the tone, too, feels borrowed from GotG: goofy one minute, trying to be serious the next.
Hugh Grant's acting here is leagues above everyone else, though Justice Smith does a good job as a textbook Paladin, and none of the rest of the cast are bad - they just don't have a lot to worth with for the most part.
Looking back, I don't think any character ever reaches any emotional state more aggravated than "mildly frustrated". No one yells, no one cries, no one gets hurt or even angry. It's an emotionally bloodless movie.
It's mildly entertaining, the production design and special effects are solid, if not inspired. Some scenes look weird though, like the actors talking to each other are digitally composited together from two different soundstages. The story is serviceable. Unfortunately the soundtrack is notably terrible, generic and forgettable - a good soundtrack can elevate a mediocre fantasy movie, but not here.
At the final analysis, its competent but not original enough to be memorable.
I can't think of many movies I've seen that I'd only give one star to. I preemptively avoid things I'm not going to like, but this one slipped through as I watched it with friends in the theater when it came out 20 years ago.
The interesting question to me 20 years later is not how bad it was, but why it was so bad.
It's not the fault of the people in front of the camera, all more than talented enough to pull this off. I'm not inclined to blame the people behind the cameras either. The movie is competent enough at a technical level. Though the script, direction, and camerawork were all lackluster, that just makes a film dull, not terrible. No, I think the responsibility for this one is ultimately the Hollywood system as it existed in the 1990s. Studios imposed a lot of requirements on any film which was going to be marketed as an action blockbuster. Chase scenes, big special effects set-pieces, explosions, Sean Connery's name on the marquee, more chase scenes.
The Avengers (TV series) is not action, the draw is the amiable, flirting but non-romantic interaction between the lead couple, the sixties glamour and charm, and lightheartedness mixed in with campy international intrigue.
I'd say that The Avengers (movie) got Micheal Bay-ized except that's being unfair to Bay. He made Pain and Gain after all so we know even he can manage stylish humor, at least of the sardonic variety.
Nope ... this movie is just dead. An assembly-line commercial product with no redeeming qualities. All the interesting and fun things cut out, nothing of value added in.
The interesting question to me 20 years later is not how bad it was, but why it was so bad.
It's not the fault of the people in front of the camera, all more than talented enough to pull this off. I'm not inclined to blame the people behind the cameras either. The movie is competent enough at a technical level. Though the script, direction, and camerawork were all lackluster, that just makes a film dull, not terrible. No, I think the responsibility for this one is ultimately the Hollywood system as it existed in the 1990s. Studios imposed a lot of requirements on any film which was going to be marketed as an action blockbuster. Chase scenes, big special effects set-pieces, explosions, Sean Connery's name on the marquee, more chase scenes.
The Avengers (TV series) is not action, the draw is the amiable, flirting but non-romantic interaction between the lead couple, the sixties glamour and charm, and lightheartedness mixed in with campy international intrigue.
I'd say that The Avengers (movie) got Micheal Bay-ized except that's being unfair to Bay. He made Pain and Gain after all so we know even he can manage stylish humor, at least of the sardonic variety.
Nope ... this movie is just dead. An assembly-line commercial product with no redeeming qualities. All the interesting and fun things cut out, nothing of value added in.