For a long time, game adaptations entered the pantheon of nanars. In recent years, however, things have changed. In the cinema as on a smaller screen, we were able to discover nuggets. Arcane, Pokémon Detective Pikachu, The Last of Us or Uncharted enchanted the spectators, original fans as neophytes. And we don’t even talk to you about the miracle performed by the animated film Super Mario Bros, on our screens since last week. But the announcement of a (new) adaptation of Dungeons & Dragonsthe famous role-playing game, tickled our worries and reminded us of dark times…
Expected as feared, the feature film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Thieves meet you in cinemas from 12 avril 2023. Beginners in role-playing as an expert in natural 20, the film by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein comes out of it with honor.
The good surprise of Dungeons & Dragons
When it comes to adapting a game for the big screen, it’s make or break. After the fiasco of adapting Dungeons & Dragons in 2000, many spectators expect the worst for Thieves Honor. Admittedly, tackling such a monument to pop culture comes with high expectations.
Essential of the genre, the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons has seen its popularity explode in recent years. Series Stranger Things There is certainly a reason for this, Mike and his band experiencing many adventures during their campaigns. Like manga, the RPG has gradually become more democratic and is no longer necessarily reserved for “gros nerds”. The output of Thieves Honor falls, therefore, to peak.
Ready to discover the feature film, frowning, this reboot creates a surprise. Far from being a turnip and being the dreaded catastrophe, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Thieves is positioned as a film of fantasy quite entertaining. The die is cast.
A simple but effective campaign
In a distant and fantastic land, a band of jolly fellows decide to steal a lost and powerful relic from the big bad guys. Inevitably, not everything goes as planned. The narrative scheme of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Thieves is pretty classic but there’s no shame in that if it’s done well. Despite twists and turns and predictable moments, we quickly get caught up in the game and let ourselves be carried away by this absurd adventure.
Without revolutionizing the genre of fantasy, the feature film is enjoyable entertainment. If we do not emerge transcended from the session, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Thieves offers us two nice hours in which we rarely get bored.
Rather endearing although stereotypical, the characters camped by Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith as well as Sophia Lillis manage to persuade us to take part in this funny adventure. All the same, we would have done well without the famous speech recited by the leader of the failures on, precisely, their condition of losers. Humor and self-mockery are part of it and overall, these ingredients are well distilled. Sometimes easy, the valves nevertheless have their little effect. In most cases.
Visual effects lacking in XP
The real storm that hangs over Dungeons & Dragons: Honor of the Dragons is visual. Indeed, the visual effects are completely uneven. Which is really unfortunate.
While certain sets dazzle us and help us immerse ourselves in the universe of the film, the special effects when it comes to the powers of the characters are laughable. Difficult to concentrate on the present moment in this kind of case.
© Paramount Pictures
In 2023, special effects that seem straight out of a decade gone by are hardly acceptable for a feature film. Fortunately, Dungeons & Dragons has other cards in hand. We fall back on fights and fights that send.
Too much and not enough at the same time
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Thieves will certainly find its audience, but in its need to please everyone, the film does not go all the way.
Accessible for neophytes who have never thrown a RPG dice in their life, the subtle nods to the board game in no way interfere with the understanding of the film. Although they will surely go over their heads. However, fans of D&D will perhaps remain unsatisfied, these winks being, precisely, too subtle.
Without being the adaptation of the century, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Thieves achieves the feat of offering a good time to its spectators, whatever their level of role-playing expertise. Despite everything, the feature film is not likely to mark the memories as much as he would like.
