Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

CastorTroy

Trailer from SDCC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiMinixSXII

I never played the game and have only watched the cartoon and the first film.

Potential-Monke

I only started playing D&D 3 years ago, still on my first game as we only play for a few hours a month since covid. I'm liking the look of it. I see it's already taking liberties (Druid/Owlbear) but I don't care, I'm not that hung up on the rules and it always depends on how sound your DM is anyway. It looks to have the right amount of tongue in cheek kinda approach. I'm really looking forward to seeing some live action versions of what we've encountered in our game.

TheIrishGrover

Never played it (years and years ago I tried). So the D&D fans can disregard if they want but that looks like a bit of throw away fun. Not gonna change the world but it looks like a bit of a goof. I like that they are not going with faux "What lies yonder" type vaguely European/British accents.

I also think Hugh Grant is hilarious when he (intentionally) hams it up. (Paddington 2 for example)

pixelburp

That looks like fun. Kinda weird but even though D&D is an existing IP, the film looks like a new idea; maybe it's cos I never played Dungeons & Dragons (never been interested in tabletop games but they seem incredibly popular now in the IT industry for some reason), and have only vague memories of the 80s cartoon. And High Fantasy doesn't really come along very often either.

Chris Pine is definitely the Better Chris for me; handsome yet ageing well, with a more understated talent for comedy and charisma than the now vastly overexposed other Chris, Mr. Pratt. Pine seems better at playing the overconfident, goofy type without calling attention to it? His Steve Trevor just the right mix of wide-eyed naif and capability in the Wonder Woman movies; his Captain Kirk similar, charming, but also felt like someone intensely winging it. His Scottish accent in Outlaw King was also solid. Shít, do I have a man-crush on Chris Pine?

I say this 'cos there is a bang of Guardians of the Galaxy off this trailer, between the rag-tag ensemble of loveable rogues, and rock & roll needle-drops (though that may not be reflective of the final film's soundtrack of course)

TheIrishGrover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119370994#Comment_119370994

but they seem incredibly popular now in the IT industry for some reason

Niska

That does look fun.

Nice to see a Gelatinous Cube and Displacer Beast.

Set in the Forgotten Realms, so may see a Minsc (and Boo) cameo.

FortuneChip

Wouldn't have expected to enjoy a DnD trailer, but that looks pretty decent. Looks like fun, monsters and beasts look a bit interesting, and yeah, could be good

Slydice

This looks like it could really lay into the fun of sitting around a table and having a dice screw you over ... as well as the other side of beating all the odds!

Thinking there could be some hilarious Pine moments as a bard.

JP Liz V1

Filmed in Ireland I believe

Looks fun

Slydice

Wow.. sure enough.. partially Iceland but mostly Ireland from my reading of it..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons_%26_Dragons:_Honor_Among_Thieves

Principal photography commenced in Belfast, Northern Ireland

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2906216/locations

Filming Locations

- Belfast, Northern Ireland

- Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

- Iceland

- Clandeboye Estate, Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland

- Castle Ward Estate, Northern Ireland

JP Liz V1

Poster

pixelburp

New trailer. No question, they are realllllly gunning for that Guardians of the Galaxy energy. Which in of itself is not a bad thing, but we'll see if the final film also transplanted GotG's important X Factor.

https://youtu.be/HGvv-Hhft3U

Slydice

Still looks fun 🙂

The old cartoon was fantastic. This looks like more extreme garbage for adult children.

MisterAnarchy

Looks atrocious, like something Uwe Boll would have made.

This is going to bomb.

Potential-Monke

Hmmm, was hoping the big bad would have been

Spoiler Warning

Glasstaff

but that's mostly because he's been the overall big bad in my campaign. I know nothing of this red woman, so no expectations there. Still looks like a good popcorn film if fantasy is your thing. D&D is never fully serious anyway, at least not in any games I've played, always a layer of fun to it.

TheIrishGrover

I think it looks fun. Because I know NOTHING about D&D. But I can ABSOLUTELY understand if seasoned D&D fans would be horrified by this.

I mean it looks like a total no-brainer. I don't think it will be massively successful but hey.

Plus, is that th guy they are harping on about being the next James Bond? The dryb*lls mage?

pixelburp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120148184#Comment_120148184

Heavy scepticism on "fantastic". Most of those old 80s cartoons are propped up by childhood nostalgia alone, 'cos they were nearly all garbage. 😁

And nothing wrong with a little "for all the family" entertainment now and again; that's not to say this looks like it, but superficial entertainment is as old as Hollywood itself.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120156277#Comment_120156277

If you mean the super-serious knight, as played by Regé-Jean Page, then yeah. He has been rumoured to be on the shortlist.

TheIrishGrover

Yeah, that's the guy. Couldn't remember his name.

Yeah, this looks like "And entertaining romp"

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120156348#Comment_120156348

Men have been put to death for lesser statements! Dungeons and Dragons cartoon was brilliant on all levels!

CastorTroy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120158820#Comment_120158820

You just fancied Sheila. Or maybe that was me. Could partially explain liking redheads when I got older. 😏

This looks like fun but as long as it's not at the expense of the plot and the rest of the movie. in other words, as long as it's more Thor Ragnarok and less Thor Love and Thunder.

pixelburp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120158820#Comment_120158820

Search your feelings El Rifle, you know it to be true. 80s cartoons were terrible.

And so may this film! Though it's unlikely to be as bad as the last time a Dungeons and Dragons movie was made...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwRXE3o9kMI

Ham? My dear boy that was the whole hog.

pixelburp

A new trailer for this reveals the writers may have taken inspiration from a now-ancient episodes from The Simpsons for one of its gags...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC6d0YkT0dQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf3xwmXXDH8

gmisk

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dungeons_and_dragons_honor_among_thieves

Reviews good so far!

Niska

Paramount has released a three minute clip - it does look fun:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syU2tunI8eA

Spoiler Warning

It's nice to see a cameo of the original D&D cartoon characters from the earlier 80s.

pixelburp

Ha. Well there's the easter-egg, tip of the hat towards the 80s cartoon; though methinks that group won't live through to the set-piece's end.

McFly85

I do think I’ll enjoy this. The reception it got at sxsw was pretty good considering. Seems to be an all around good time that doesn’t take itself seriously in the slightest, perfect Sunday afternoon viewing.

JP Liz V1

I think Chris Pine and Hugh Grant did some ad lib enhancing the humour from interviews I've seen, I am looking forward to it as Grant is always good as a villain

silliussoddius

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120325649#Comment_120325649

Really , that episode

silverharp

its predicted to be a flop. not least because its being released between Wick and Mario

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120401828#Comment_120401828

Surprised the budget is that high tbh but the reviews might help it a bit...

Shred

I've been cautiously looking forward to this and the reviews do seem good so I think I'll pop along to see it with the family this weekend.

Xofpod

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120419518#Comment_120419518

Same.

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120401828#Comment_120401828

https://variety.com/2023/film/box-office/box-office-dungeons-and-dragons-opening-projection-john-wick-4-1235567908/

Predicting roughly 60m world wide opening which would be pretty decent, good reviews might give it good legs.

I am gonna check it out this weekend.

MisterAnarchy

$150 million budget, yikes !

silverharp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120420528#Comment_120420528

I doubt its going to displace Wick this weekend, my hunch would be families will wait for Mario instead of going to 2 movies so close together. It might have a decent weekend but in the category of films that dont get legs even if those that see it enjoy it.

TheIrishGrover

Getting decent reviews but, yeah, hard to see it competing with JW4. It's one of those "Middling" films (Well, if a budget of 150 million is considered "middling"). You know the type: Not part of a superhero/sci-fi franchise. Advertising seems to be a bit underwhelming. I like the look of this, to be honest. It looks like a goof. Like the cast are having fun and not a cynical cash-in (Which is the vibe I get from that Mario movie. Hey, let's get some celebrity voices, even if they don't suit their character at all.)

Once upon a time this would have been one of those films that (maybe) broke even in cinema but good word-of-mouth would have generated huge and long-lasting DVD sales. Which would have resulted in a (Much belated/delayed) cheap sequel which would die.

pixelburp

Yeah, by all accounts reviews are saying it's good; nothing transformative but solid fun so maybe there's a chance it gets some legs through word-of-mouth alone. Not unheard of, even these days. The Jumanji reboot made bank through a solid run from people going "it's fun, give it a try!", while arguably Top Gun: Maverick absolutely dominated the box office through that kind of audience virality.

Something I've seen a number of people remark is that the humour is far less meta in that "hey, we're in a stupid movie, lol!" way that's common now. In that the jokes are interior to the film, not on the exterior.

It’s the jokes aspect that makes me want to give this a miss (in the cinema at least)

seems like a weird route to take for D&D

silverharp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120422773#Comment_120422773

its not in the same camp as Top Gun or Jumangi , this film is niche and D&D is dated nerd culture, it would do ok as a 30-50m dollar film but not as one that needs ~400m to break even, a financial flop is pretty much baked in

MisterAnarchy

Lorne Balfe seems to have done a good job with the soundtrack from a brief listen on Tidal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzTCR8fRD1s

JohnnyChimpo

Saw this a couple of weeks ago and it was excellent, crowd were loving it. Really written and directed with a love of the game. I would recommend people to catch it in cinema. JW4 was also enjoyable but it felt long, whereas DnD skipped along and Hugh Grant was a treat.

Fysh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120422995#Comment_120422995

Could say the exact same about the MCU, being that they are all based on comics. It's less about the IP than the execution and sales pitch, I'd say.

I think you might be significantly underestimating how much more widespread D&D has gotten in recent years - there are some very popular podcasts/ YT video series which are basically real-time campaigns (whether D&D or other settings). Whether that's enough to build momentum when sandwiched between John Wick 4 and the Super Mario Movie is a different and trickier question...

Where I will agree is that there's less scope for this to use any kind of familiarity/nostalgia to pull in an audience, because while there was a cartoon way back when, it doesn't really have any obvious connection other than the name to this film.

silverharp

Mr H Reviews gave it a great review spoiler free

https://youtu.be/DUBkf-Dj3CQ

gmisk

Saw it this morning.

No familiarity with dungeons and dragons but I found it thoroughly enjoyable, some good laughs, fun beasties and the like , solid special effects, kind of by the numbers story wise.

Chris Pine is really on good wise cracking form, Hugh Grant scene stealing as usual.

I hope it does well I would watch more!

Spoiler Warning

The Bradley Cooper cameo was an odd little surprise.

Jarnathan got a bit of a rough time bless him ha.

santana75

It's an enjoyable romp that definitely adheres to the Joseph Campbell school of storytelling. Chris pine us great but Hugh grant steals the movie, dialing the sleeze up to 11

MisterAnarchy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120429113#Comment_120429113

He seems a funny guy Hugh, no bullshit unlike so many modern celebrities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwrEbCA_fT8

CastorTroy

Dunno what it is, but Hugh Grant looks like Sean Maguire in that video.

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120432294#Comment_120432294

The film does seem to have a Krod Mandoon vibe...

Fysh

I ended up catching this today and it was an enjoyable watch. The humour in it was handled well - it felt like it was derived from the characters reacting to events around them, rather than either that tedious "we'll just improv some stuff and work around it" approach or any kind of sketch/meta guff. In terms of the general story and quest it's done well but nothing new, but the characters are fun and entertaining enough to watch that you don't mind.

As mentioned by someone upthread, Hugh Grant is absolutely the MVP of this.

I went to an afternoon screening and there seemed to be a fair amount of family groups along.

Dr Bob

I saw that too...I assume Uni will bail them out.