I disagree with your statement that the movie is a disgrace.
After the disappointment of the first movie; admit it, we were all hoping it would be the next LotR; I watched this movie with little expectations and was therefore blown away by it. It wasn't a great movie or even well done, I'm not even sure it was meant to be...well I'm certain it was to the best of their budget. The biggest complaint I heard about the first movie was that it "wasn't D&D", well without a doubt the second movie was.
As I watched 'Wrath of the Dragon God', I realized that I wasn't watching a movie created for a laid back third person experience; I was watching a Dungeons and Dragons game unfolding before me. I just couldn't see the players or hear their snarky comments. The characters on screen could have been in any of the games I've played in. A good group of players, not all the greatest role-players, running through the occasional schlocky storyline with epic consequences, undead for the rogues to not be able to sneak attack, but traps to make them happy, people showing off how cool their spells are, and puzzles that drive everyone nuts (I could hear the actor's voice in the back of my head saying "Can't I just roll a dice to figure this out?").
Personally, I think it redeemed the first movie in a way by working with the established history rather than ignoring it. Like I said, it wasn't great, but then it wasn't just a movie, it was Dungeons and Dragons. It was a movie for gamers. If you're not a gamer, its likely you didn't pick up a lot of the subtle, and not so subtle, ties to Dungeons and Dragons lore. I suppose I can't fault you for that, because the people behind the second movie made those ties important. It is one of only a few a faults to be laid at their feet and a huge loss to those who see continuity errors where others see magic.
(See my reply about the severed arm under "Didn't the mage lady get her arm cut off?" > "Teleportation + Healing Magic".)
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englisher101
15 years ago
If it's a movie for gamers, then maybe it is great. I can't say since I never played D&D.
But the wealth of books based on the D&D worlds have stories and characters so much more interesting than this. I was hoping to find something more along those lines so that was the reason I was disappointed personally.
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Norm_uk
15 years ago
I think that's the problem...it's a movie for gamers instead of being a movie based in one of the worlds in which the game is set...
N.
"Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful"
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karana_geldar
15 years ago
Yeah, it's so bad that we spend hours with our friends on weekends, using our imaginations and going some very quick maths.
Obi-Wan is my hero!
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Norm_uk
14 years ago
"Yeah, it's so bad that we spend hours with our friends on weekends, using our imaginations and going some very quick maths."
I don't think it's bad at all...as someone who has been role playing for nearly two decades I'd be the first to defend it.
But movies work differently to our beloved imaginative hobby...they need different pacing, writing and characterisation. Hence my comments that movies set in game worlds are a great idea - but movies made to please gamers only is not such a great idea - it's never really worked. Even movies based on computer games rarely work well either.
It works both ways too. Some RPGs based on movies and TV shows turn out rubbish because the expectations are different.
What's needed is for someone to study the game world and background, ignore the rules (sadly some games these days are all rules and no depth) and create a script based on that. Some game worlds are extraordinarily deep and consistant and would be amazing settings for movies.
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