The Gaming Den

AntonellaBiserka wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 13, 2024 10:15 am

Sounds like the D&D movie captured the spirit of the game well, with fun nods for longtime players. I should go and check it out. Am yet to watch it.

You know, I've been holding back a bit on my opinion of this movie. In part because I couldn't figure it out. But that triggered it. I think I understand why it just... wasn't right for me.

You see. I didn't really like it. It was better than the other ones, but come on FUCKING LOW BAR am I rite?

And it BARELY hurdled that bar in a lot of ways. It had fun moments but it just felt so... uneventful and frustrating and now I know why.

Because it DID capture the spirit of the game.

Or rather. A game.

As in a bad one. Its characters, its plotline, the way events played out. It was a bad game of D&D presented as if it was roaring good fun despite it being painfully obvious that it wasn't.

Most of the characters were wildly ineffective. They hardly ever used or seemed to understand the abilities they had. Which were only ever any good when they seemed to be unique house ruled abilities. They even wrote in character backstories so they were straight up written to be weak ass ineffective loser characters.

They could barely handle any encounters at all and then largely through again unique house ruling and obvious GM charity/low balling. They were OBVIOUSLY not up to playing at the CR/whatever it is these days that they were supposed to/trying to. To a large extent the story had to almost resolve it fucking self.

And nothing. NOTHING felt like something the player characters achieved themselves. Nothing even felt like it mattered.

And five minutes after watching it no one remembers anything but an owlbear and that one melty illusion gag.

This is SO the worst of the worst D&D games I have played. It's fucking painful.

Its like my adventures in Our Favorite Edition But on pain killers and downers instead of steroids and crack.

Because it DID capture the spirit of the game.

Or rather. A game.

As in a bad one

I just wanted to say that I agree with this 100%. This movie blows and if it was the reflection of an actual game group I would never want to play with those people.

People not liking one of my favorite movies of last year?

I am going to like it even harder now.

I feel like it's worth a rewatch at home now. But I guess I didn't buy it when it came out on DVD. I'll have to see if it's streaming or if it's possible to buy movies anywhere any more.

erik wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 16, 2024 5:38 pm

People not liking one of my favorite movies of last year?

I am going to like it even harder now.

That energy I do like.

erik wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 16, 2024 5:38 pm

People not liking one of my favorite movies of last year?

This is what I was talking about for low fucking bars though.

Being better than other movies from 2023 is the standard for liking something harder?

Then I guess there isn't any other choice, after all 2023 is the year that "everyone" agreed the best two movies were fucking Oppenheimer and Barbie for fuck sake.

The year Rebel Moon - Part 1 : Child of Fire was drugged, prodded and released into the wild.

Like harder away, at least it won't be getting an extended Snyder cut for no reason so how badly can you hurt yourself on the soft edges of your chosen bland child safe movie replica?

But then again if that's what you are after, I don't know what the fuck your problem is with Nimona since it came out in 2023 and is about 34 times better... and still not for me.

It is a fuckin low bar, but I did honestly enjoy the movie and have a lot of fun in the watching. I think I've watched it once again at home and still enjoyed it. I don't get out to the movie theatre too much anymore. I think other 2023 movies I saw were Equalizer 3 (this was a piece of garbage movie, whether you liked the others or not, wasn't my pick but went with a friend), 5 Nights at Freddy's (ok movie, wasn't my pick but went with a friend), and Spiderman Across the Spiderverse (my most favorite, a masterpiece). I caught up on some other newish releases from the last few years as well, but those 4 I think were my only 2023 movie theatre viewings, and it's no shame for D&D to come in behind Spiderverse. I think I would put those 2 up in my top against my last 3-4 years of movie theatre watching. Again still a low bar on account of pandemic n' such, but there it is.

The D&D movie was a very fun watch, and re-watch.

D&D was my second favourite 2023 movie. In that John Wick 4 came out that year, and I got that as well.

Ok, watching it again, and another issue I have is how dull and cliched the characters tend to be. Which, ok, they made a joke about it for the Paladin, and that more or less worked. And they had fun with the druid/witch magic fights, and you can have cliches there. But the guy who needs to believe in himself, and the liar who wants to be honest...don't care.

Thaluikhain wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 16, 2024 6:12 pm

erik wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 16, 2024 5:38 pm

People not liking one of my favorite movies of last year?

I am going to like it even harder now.

That energy I do like.

Count me in on that. I could hear the players through the characters so many times, but never like the stare the paladin gave when the bridge trap was tripped.

Why would I watch a movie about someone else's shitty D&D party and lame story when I could be experiencing my own shitty D&D party and lame story? This is what I don't understand about people who consume D&D podcasts.

The production values. The voice talent. Passive viewing enjoyment. Seeing how other people do it. New experiences.

Have to find the right one (I'd recommend VLDL DND), but yeah...though often best watched on TV while doing something else on a computer.

erik wrote: ↑

Sat May 18, 2024 10:06 pm

The production values. The voice talent. Passive viewing enjoyment. Seeing how other people do it. New experiences.

I have REAL movies I can watch! I hit up The Seven Samurai two weeks ago, why the fuck would I waste my time on WOTC's latest misbegotten cash grab?

The Adventurer's Almanac wrote: ↑

Sun May 19, 2024 1:11 am

erik wrote: ↑

Sat May 18, 2024 10:06 pm

The production values. The voice talent. Passive viewing enjoyment. Seeing how other people do it. New experiences.

I have REAL movies I can watch! I hit up The Seven Samurai two weeks ago, why the fuck would I waste my time on WOTC's latest misbegotten cash grab?

Presumably, you know other people who have interacted with the movie and you might be interested in comparing experiences since you're involved in TTRPGs. Like, I'm sure there are other movies that are worth watching, too, but it's like a 90-minute investment of your time which is a lot less than binging Critical Role or other popular versions of other people playing.

I'm not interested in watching other people ACTUALLY playing, but the movie isn't like that; it just feels more like what I experience as a player than more 'serious' fantasy movies, but it was still much better than the Jeremy Irons movie.

Actually, how many people do watch people play D&D (or similar)?

*raises hand*

I've watched some Dimension 20 games. I think their games are more magic tea party/yes-and-Improv than I like when actually playing an RPG, but I think it does make for better watching than an actual crunchy game.

And to be clear, the D&D movie is nothing like watching someone people play TTRPG. It's just a light-comedy fantasy movie set in a familiar and beloved setting which makes good use of its familiarity. When you watch a movie and you recognize something and understand what its relevance and impact is in the world without having it have it spelled out, that is a huge boon on giving an immersive experience. The D&D movie made good use of that. They put in familiar setting elements to enhance the experience for those familiar with the setting, without reducing it to the lowest common denominator, yet still making it accessible for people new to the setting.