THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
Life is an adventure and we gotta be cautious with the choices we make it to keep the adventure as fun as possible or it can be nothing but risky throughout. That statement couldn’t be anymore obvious when I think about Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
PLOT
Inspired by the infamous tabletop role-playing game created by Gary Gygax & Dave Arneson, the 2023 adaptation follows bard Edgin Darvis who served as a peacekeeping Harper until his wife Zia (Georgia Landers) was killed by a Red Wizard disciple. With the company of barbarian Holga Kilgore, they would turn to the life of thievery to take care of his daughter Kira (Chloe Coleman). They would act on more heists when teaming with amateur sorcerer Simon Aumar and con artist Forge Fitzwilliam. Their last heist would go awry when they would be captured in an attempt to retrieve the Tablet of Reawakening, which Ed would intend to use to resurrect his wife. He and Holga would be captured whereas Simon & Forge are able to escape. Two years after the botched heist, the two would escape the prison of Revel’s End, unbeknownst of being pardoned. When they reach the city-state of Never-winter, Forge is revealed to have become the new lord when its predecessor has fallen mysteriously incapacitated. Although he has taken care of Kira as he promised, he chose to convince her her father’s greed led to his arrest. He would also reveal he’s maintained his alliance with Sofina, the Red Wizard who orchestrated Ed & Holga’s capture. The witch would declare the two to be excited, but they are able to escape from such fate. Once outside, Ed & Holga declare stealing Forge’s fortune and bring Kira home during the annual High Sun Games, that had been recently re-instituted. Once Ed can retrieve the Tablet of Reawakening from Forge, he can prove his innocence to his daughter. Knowing they need all the help they can get, they reunite with Simon who hasn’t improved of his sorcery as of yet. Upon reuniting with him, they also recruit Doric, a shape shifting Druid whose resistance is already against the Lord due to targeting the forest for its resources. When she infiltrates the castle on her own, she discovers the treasure vault to be protected by magical defenses of Mordenkainen. Knowing how difficult it would be to disable with his own magic, Simon suggests retrieving the Helm of Disjunction that can disable every spell. The last people to have seen the relic were Holga’s ancestors. This would lead to Simon using a talisman to ask the undead five questions per corpse. With enough answers throughout the graveyard, the last to have had it was a paladin of Thay named Xenk Yandar who placed it in the Underdark as a vow to keep it safe. When they meet him, he directs them to the subterranean realm. They’re able to cross paths to gain the Helm with the use of the Hither-Thither staff meant to teleport. The protagonists are then able to escape when being pursued by undead Thayans and the obese dragon Themberchaud. Once away from such danger, Xenk choose to depart, believing the journey to not be his. When Simon struggles to master the Helm’s power, the group ends up agreeing to use the staff to enter the vault. This would only lead to them walking into a trap by Sofina who would end up forcing them to participate in the games. Luckily, the protagonists are able to escape the stadium and when they realize Forge was going to flee Neverwinter on a boat with all the treasure. Seeing this, they quickly steal the boat for themselves (including the Tablet of Reawakening) and rescue Kira from Fitzwilliam. Just as they depart, they realize Sofia is about to turn the city-state into an undead army like the Thayans, explaining why Forge re-instituted the games in the first place. When they choose to return, they draw the crowd out by transporting the riches via staff and spread it all over the place by a hot air balloon. This not only prevents Sofina’s spell to go into full effect, but also allows Ed to keep his promise to Xenk on giving back to the people. The Red Wizard would try to retaliate towards the group, but they’re all able to outsmart her in more ways than one: Simon quickly masters the Helm to nullify her time stop spell and Kira uses her amulet of invisibility to sneak up on her and place on anti magic bracelet on her. That allows Doric to kill her in Owlbear form. However, Holga would be fatally injured in the midst of the action. Not wanting to lose one who became to him and Kira, Ed uses the Tablet on her instead of Zia like he wished. After an epic victory, the previous Lord of Neverwinter recovers and declares Ed’s team as heroes of the realm. The film would end with Xenk capturing Forge and sending him to Revel’s End where his pardon would be denied.
THOUGHTS
In all honesty, I didn't know anything about this franchise other than the inspiration it had towards Stranger Things & Adventure Time. It felt good for me to go in blind about the knowledge of such lore because it would be too much pressure to expect perfection. I felt comfortable not knowing much aft first because it's not like we every alien species' name shown in Star Wars. Having said that, having low expectations was all it took for me to enjoy this film overall. The goal for this film was to be fun and the directing team of John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein succeeded in doing just that, which doesn't surprise me since I enjoyed Game Night for being a similar atmosphere while also being fans who display general affection. Patience was clearly done to be dedicated in making this world come to life in respected fashion and it was done in an incredible feat. You start with the costumes and makeup making every character distinguishable. The production design nails the landscape you expect from any fantasy setting. The visual effects are instantly impressive when seeing ferocious beasts like Doric's Owlbear form, the Displacer beast, the treasure chest mimic and the dragon Themberchaud. Even seeing the gelatinous cube was something special of its own. The true triumph I got to give credit to is the practical effects that give true life to every fictional figure the much needed life to keep me onboard with the atmosphere as a whole. The cinematography & editing is well done which kept me hooked with chase/fight sequence. My favorite of which going to the Underdark sequence. I mean the adrenaline rush was at its finest at that point. Although this fantasy world has its dangers, the fun of it kicks in when you realize how arbitrary some things may or may not be. I mean the whole graveyard scene has me falling off my seat with laughter due to how the characters have to use five questions upon each corpse they summon until they end up leaving one with one question left. As I look back, I think the reason the story pays off like a well crafted campaign that teaches viewers to always find a way to be a better version of yourself as you also make up for past mistakes. This theme well discussed with an ensemble I never thought to enjoy. Chris Pine does nail the charm & that Edgin enjoys displaying among peers, but it's only a facade on personal pain. It was his fault he lost his wife due to stealing a Red Wizard's marked treasure. He wanted to provide for his family and it backfired, which kills him inside so much. He spent the whole time believing if he can bring her back, he wouldn't feel that way. Of course he wouldn't realize it so early that he gained the friends who would give him love he deserved. Michelle Rodriguez was on point in making Holga a ferocious warrior, who also had a natural softness she displayed whenever she wanted. She had her heartbreak due to her own dilemma: Being banished by her tribe for marrying an outsider, a kind halfling named Marlamin, who was surprisingly played by Bradley Cooper. Their relationship never lasted she never got older what had happened. She found solace with Ed because they were a reflection to one another on wanting to get their lives back on track. He did the right thing in bringing her back instead of his wife because she became the surrogate mother Kira needed and undoing that bond would make it worse. And that is a decision I find quite admirable. It was a big surprise, but at least now she can continue fighting with honor as she was born to do. I totally enjoyed Justice Smith as Simon because I related to his predicament in having self doubt compared to the ones around him. With his skills not being perfect on the first try, he didn't really push himself enough to reach satisfaction until Ed would give as much encouragement possible. With that being enough to believe in himself, he was able to use the Helm of Disjunction well enough to get the job done. Sophia Lillis was another fine addition to the cast as Doric, who may come off emotionally distant towards singular figures, but has a heart of gold for her people, who chooses to fight until there isn't any enemies left. She kicks the most ass with her powers because it has to be everyone's fantasy on wanting to transform from deer to Owlbear. If we get more of this particular version, I need Owlbear action. It may be hard to keep a straight face when Xenk takes things way too literal, but Regé-Jean Page has us appreciate his presence for maintaining his honor throughout, which helps Ed bring out the best of himself as things went on. That alone is enough for us to want more of him because he could've been very helpful during the climax but at least he found Felix when others didn't. Speaking of which, I just love it when Hugh Grant started playing villains late in his career because it just shows how much range he's had apart from the heartthrob phase. Here, he uses his charm as a distraction of how ambitious Forge really is. He's definitely the stingiest since he was willing to leave an entire city for dead so he can king's treasure all to himself. Pretty fucking dark of a move and it's a shock on how close he was to succeed. Of course the real threat was the one who played for the long haul that was Sofina. Daisy Head kept it straightforward in making her a shrewd individual who had no remorse of how cruel she goes with her goals, which is why it's a relief when Ed thinks fast in stopping her before she succeeds. And on the bright side for us, Doric whooping her ass in Owlbear form was perfect homage to Marvel's The Avengers, where the Hulk did the same to Loki. If this is the trend this franchise takes in the future where villains get decimated by an Owlbear, I'm here for it. This film was an absolute blast to get through, but it couldn’t excuse the issues I picked up on, which I believe anyone would’ve whether or not you’re a D&D fan in advance. For example, it is a good laugh for Ed & Holga to rely on using Chancellor Jarnathan (Clayton Grover) to escape from prison, despite being pardoned as they do it. The takeaway is how the rest of the council are never delayed from the same storm holding up Jarnathan. If they’re using long distance portals to get there without him, that’s just fucked up. It’s a relief Zia had enough time to hide Kira before the Red Wizards attacked but if they knew where Ed lived, wouldn’t they have known they were missing the kid? I never want to root for the villains, but it’s totally on them to not double check the message was sent if they don’t kill the kid. Another missed opportunity on being ahead of the curve is when Sofina chooses to have the protagonists compete in the High Sun Games rather than straight up kill them. And why the hell would anyone leave an amulet of invisibility up for display? That’s a rare jewel and should be put in the back for those rich enough to afford it. Also, why is Ed’s mandolin so formidable whenever he uses it in a fight? If he casted a spell for it to be invincible, please clarify that because there’s no way it should have lasted as long as it did without one. It was a pretty useful for Simon being able to speak with the dead, but why didn’t they use this to bring back Zia and see if she wanted to be resurrected? Had they done that before ever meeting Sofina, Ed wouldn’t be separated from his daughter and would’ve had more peaceful adventures instead. It definitely was a laugh for Simon to make the wrong step on the bridge which causes it to collapse, but I do believe Xenk should’ve just pointed where to take the first step rather than plain exposition you expect everyone to remember. I know it’s one thing to focus on the road, but it’s a whole other ballgame when the guards didn’t see Simon sneak into the carriage heading to the castle. Ignore this, then you’ll still have as much fun as I did. In short, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is an entertaining fantasy film for letting loose with its concept lore without the necessity of knowing everything about it just to enjoy the central story. If you dig fantasy or are a die hard fan of the role play franchise, see this as soon as possible.
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