D&D Movie do/don't [Archive] - Wizards Community

D&D Movie do/don't [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
TheGnomishWizard
04-08-04, 03:07 PM Okay, we are all aware that the movie was not a whole lot like D&D (i.e. childish looking dragons, crazy purple guy, etc.). Whether we thought it good or bad as a movie there were a lot of things us gamers didn't get out of it.

So if they make a sequal what would you like to see in it? Iconic characters, a magic item that we are actually familiar with (i.e. flame tongue).

Tell me what you want. Who knows, maybe, just maybe someone with a little power to do something about it will happen upon this list and use it for ideas.
----------------------------------------------------------------
I would like to see some undead personally, some real nice skeletons and zombies.

Some iconic evil races like drow and illithid couldn't hurt.

The characters need more additude. Something you can really go home and have fun impersonating to your friends (nothing says D&D like an unforgettable character).

I didn't buy the elves in the D&D movie. Esspecially that fat one that healed Ridley. I don't know how they might go about doing it but they need their elves to be a little more slender.

The dragons need to look scary. The ones in Reign of Fire are a great example of what a dragon should look like.

No more cheesy bar sceen that resembled a star wars rip off.

I would really like to see a suave bard swashbuckler as a character. The real silver tongue type that parries almost every blow.

But I think the thing I would like to see most if a second movie is ever made would have to be some of the spells. Fireball, haste, magic missle. The ones everyone knows need to be there.
ieattrollsforbreakfast
04-08-04, 03:19 PM I want to see everything you said. Scary monsters, memorable characters and wondrous magic all make a good film. But in order to make it a good film, it should be distinguisable as D&D. So like you said, Fireball, Illithids, Magic Missile and distinguishable dragons.
And finally, I want it to have nothing to do with the first movie AT ALL.
Sulaco
04-08-04, 03:41 PM DO: Make another D&D movie

DON'T: Make it anything like the first one.

That about covers it.
Utumno
04-08-04, 04:10 PM A good wizard battle. With strategy, counterspelling, the works.
Bacon and Eggs
04-08-04, 04:16 PM Rust monsters and Gelatenous Cubes.

Mmmmm.
simen_88
04-08-04, 04:31 PM I would like to see a bigger beholder, under the ground, that does notice people behind it. All-around-vision should count for something.
Ogre4Hire
04-08-04, 05:08 PM Let's make the producers actually read the core books before they make this one, so that we actually have creatures that have the same immunities as they do in the game. As in: STOP FIREBALLING THE GOLD DRAGONS!!! And make the dragons actually tough. I know that you've only got a limited time-frame in a movie, but it is just wrong for a dragon do be going down on the first hit.

Oh, yeah, let's not have any more stupid and annoying sidekicks. And when they try to publish stats for the characters in Dragon, please try to make the level difference between Heroes and Villians at least in the realm of possibility. As opposed to saying that the 3rd level main character was actually able to go up against an 11th level fighter and a 15th level Wizard by himself and somehow manage to avoid a messy and painful death (much less actually ever beat them).

:rant:

And on this one, let's try to make it DUNGEONS and Dragons, not Dragons and a cheesy little dungeon.

Amd there should be more killing things. I mean, what do you spend most of your time doing in your games? Running through sewers and having boring conversations with NPCs? Well, I certainly don't.
Rancorpit
04-08-04, 05:37 PM Perhaps they should use some more famous world, such as Forgotten Realms or Greyhawk, or make up a good one. I mean, the first movie, although horrible, would've been a lot more interesting if it had been, for example, about those jerks fighting against Manshoon instead of that bald guy in stockings, and/or if that city would've been Waterdeep instead of... well, whatever it was.

Also, an ending with some sense wouldn't hurt either. What on Earth was the end scene of the first one all about? They just became some stupid dust and flew away or something.
pkloop
04-08-04, 05:48 PM Great posts everybody!! I agree all around :)
pkloop
04-08-04, 05:51 PM oh...and one more thing Don't set it in Eberron. Yeah I know...I can't help myself :)
Geethree
04-08-04, 06:08 PM DON'T: Suck.
GreyLord
04-08-04, 11:48 PM [quote]

didn't buy the elves in the D&D movie. Esspecially that fat one that healed Ridley. I don't know how they might go about doing it but they need their elves to be a little more slender.

/quote]

Hey, that was the ONLY thing I really DID enjoy in the entire movie. Leave the good Doctor alone...

Course he wasn't looking like his usual 4th incarnation, but hey, everyone has a down day!
hiryuu
04-09-04, 12:44 AM Thank you. Would you like a jelly baby?
SnowbearK
04-09-04, 12:55 AM DO: Peter Jackson, 'nuff said.

Don't: let ANYONE named Courtney ANYWHERE near the film, unless said Courtney has feminine plumbing.
Taldrin VonRoden
04-09-04, 05:39 AM DO: Don't do it!

Don't: Do it!

Seriously, please don't undo everything the Lord of the Rings films have done for us fantasy fans. The first movie was just plain stupid. If it were any worse, it MIGHT have been good, in a bad way, if that makes sense.

To me, that film simply added to all of the negative thoughts and ideas that people have about this game that I have played and treasured for over 15 years. It was childish, moronic, and lacked anything close to a story. It is the only movie I have ever seriously considered walking out of. The only reasons I stayed were that I was with a large group of friends (including my g/f at the time... going to her first fantasy film... ouch...) and the fact that it was like a train wreck. I couldn't get my eyes off of it.

My g/f at the time summed it up best, I think. After the movie we were driving home and she simply said, "So, THAT's what you do when you play that game..."

And now, finally, thanks to Peter Jackson and crew, the fantasy genre has gleaned some respect in the mainstream. Do NOT taint that with another bad fantasy film. Please. I beg you.
Incenjucar
04-09-04, 05:57 AM A three hour epic based on the Temple of Elemental Evil wouldn't be too bad, nor a hyper-typical adventure ending with a red dragon who -is- the villain, rather than the flying monkey swarm.

Actually -mention- things in D&D. Have realistic reactions.

No teenagers. Have mid-level characters in their late twenties. People who can actually do something interesting. Seasoned adventurers. Low level characters are only interesting if the movie is long enough for them to gain levels and mature.

Use cliches. Cliches belong. Bulettes. Magic Missiles. The spellcaster with a familiar.

Avoid the things that were hidden from 2e. While Monks and Barbarians are fine, they're not what most people think when they think D&D, and they're far too culture-specific. However, we rather certainly could use a paladin and rogue conflict.

Avoid the cliche of the rogue being a cute female in tight black leather. Actually make the group equally male and female, but without everything being forced in to anti-classical roles (Don't make all the males wusses and all the women butch anymore than you make all the women wusses).

Include the fighter. The poor fighter deserves some fame.

Bat dung. Bat dung is required.
Spongly
04-09-04, 06:21 AM I would argue the opposite of what most people have been saying:

DO: Just try and make a good fantasy film.

DON'T: Try and include too many D&D specific terms just to please gamers - it'll inevitably make the movie as cheesy as the first one, without even the sense of self-deprecating fun to excuse it.
NeutralNeutral
04-09-04, 06:58 AM Id agree that a quality adaptation of, say Jack Vance, Fritz Leiber, or Moorcock would much better than second-rate hackwork directly based on D&D.

But, the "cliches" of D&D are actually less cliched than the cliches of cheesy action pictures... the D&D-ness can help is sort of making the world more "realistic" and internally consistent.

--
Id like to see mages fumble around with spell components.

Id like to see a thief actually pick a lock or disarm a trap. A close-up of the thief poking around with cunning gadgets, jamming mechanisms, etc.

It'd be nice to see the advantages and drawbacks of armour. Eg one character is saved by his armour in one fight...but then has a terrible time swimming/climbing etc. in plate mail later.

Green slime, Oozes, etc. would make a great (& gory) fight scene.

I dont want the BBEG defeated by an innocent kiddie.

I dont want powerful intelligent monsters defeated by stupid tricks.

Dont try to explain every last detail of the world. "Unexplained Vistas" are a good thing.

etc.
bahamut_0
04-09-04, 09:31 AM How about an epic mage battle? Hellballs all around :D
simen_88
04-09-04, 10:01 AM I want to see a blackguard who doesn't wear makeup. And a dragon that doesn't get killed by a simple portcullis. Seriously, the dragon was at least adult, the scales were completely red. That means natural ac 21 and 253 hit points. And a dwarf that doesn't live in the sewers. And elves that doesn't claim that all elves have innate magical abilities. That would be a Ecl +7, minimum. That guy cast true resurrection at will!
Escef
04-09-04, 10:34 AM Originally posted by simen_88
I want to see a blackguard who doesn't wear makeup. And a dragon that doesn't get killed by a simple portcullis. Seriously, the dragon was at least adult, the scales were completely red. That means natural ac 21 and 253 hit points. And a dwarf that doesn't live in the sewers. And elves that doesn't claim that all elves have innate magical abilities. That would be a Ecl +7, minimum. That guy cast true resurrection at will!

Well, lemme see, seeing how the movie was made in the days of 2e and was relesaed when 3e was but a youngin, I'd say there were no blackguards, an adult red dragon had AC -5 (equal to a 25) and 17 hit dice (average 91 hps), and there aren't such things as ECLs. Also, didn't the elf cast a healing spell? I may be recalling things incorrectly, but I don't recall Ridley dieing. Not that some killing off the good guys action wasn't sorely needed. I mean, why stop at Snails?
KBAZZ
04-09-04, 11:48 AM i had level 3 people defeat a 12th level wizard and his 8th level fighter bodyguard using good battle plans. they always ran they got proof of his betral of the king, avioding death from the wizard they just ran, did i say they ran alot. And took the evidence to a local noble who presented it to the king and the wizard was no problem after that
simen_88
04-09-04, 12:56 PM As far as I remember, Ridley fell. A long way. Level 3 rogue could perhaps handle 40 ft, and he was not very tough.
Brom Blackforge
04-09-04, 01:00 PM My vote (as if we get to vote on it) is to use the iconic characters (Regdar, Mialee, etc.) and set it in Greyhawk, like the "Scourge of Worlds" DVD.

I'd be interested in a movie based on one of the classic adventures, like "Temple of Elemental Evil," especially if the alternative is something lame like the first movie.
Teh Lurv
04-09-04, 01:18 PM Do: Read these boards for posts from people who are actually fantasy fans.

Do: Make the D&D movie based off a published campaign world such as FR or DL, and not the Director's homebrewed stuff.

Do: Adapt the movie from a stand alone novel. Imagine how much a movie adapted version of Spellfire would rock.
bahamut_0
04-09-04, 02:14 PM Originally posted by Teh Lurv
Do: Read these boards for posts from people who are actually fantasy fans.

Too true.....
UZI
04-09-04, 03:31 PM It would be easier to just make a new animated series first, make it have nothing to do with the old one from the '80s, use iconics, then launch a new animated movie in a few years. Following on that in about 10 years or so, you could see a live action version that might actually be faithful to da rulez.
bahamut_0
04-09-04, 04:17 PM Originally posted by Brom Blackforge
I'd be interested in a movie based on one of the classic adventures, like "Temple of Elemental Evil," especially if the alternative is something lame like the first movie.

I'd love to see that film be made, as I'm sure a lot of the community would.
Grayson
04-09-04, 04:56 PM Most of all, I'd like to see people use one of the other 938492 threads on the subject, rather than constantly starting new ones

:|
Crypticsigns
04-09-04, 05:26 PM Don't: use Drizzit, as much as he is iconic in his own right i think he gets a little to much butt kissing as it is. don't wanna swell his head anymore.
pestilenceawaits
04-09-04, 06:11 PM I have always thought that a great way to portray a dnd movie would be to go the "princess bride" route. start the movie out with heroic dnd characters fighting some epic battle and when one of them falls to the earth from an evil mage's spell break away to a bunch of guys around a table arguing about whether or not he made his saving throw. then cut back into the fantasy world with the knight jumping back to his feet after it is decided that he just barely made it. the story would have to be well written but it could give a good glimpse into a typical gaming session and tell an exciting fantasy story at the same time.
Crypticsigns
04-09-04, 06:18 PM *Slap* no then its worse than the first.
pestilenceawaits
04-09-04, 06:29 PM You wound me deeply.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
TheGnomishWizard 04-08-04, 03:07 PM	Okay, we are all aware that the movie was not a whole lot like D&D (i.e. childish looking dragons, crazy purple guy, etc.). Whether we thought it good or bad as a movie there were a lot of things us gamers didn't get out of it. So if they make a sequal what would you like to see in it? Iconic characters, a magic item that we are actually familiar with (i.e. flame tongue). Tell me what you want. Who knows, maybe, just maybe someone with a little power to do something about it will happen upon this list and use it for ideas. ---------------------------------------------------------------- I would like to see some undead personally, some real nice skeletons and zombies. Some iconic evil races like drow and illithid couldn't hurt. The characters need more additude. Something you can really go home and have fun impersonating to your friends (nothing says D&D like an unforgettable character). I didn't buy the elves in the D&D movie. Esspecially that fat one that healed Ridley. I don't know how they might go about doing it but they need their elves to be a little more slender. The dragons need to look scary. The ones in Reign of Fire are a great example of what a dragon should look like. No more cheesy bar sceen that resembled a star wars rip off. I would really like to see a suave bard swashbuckler as a character. The real silver tongue type that parries almost every blow. But I think the thing I would like to see most if a second movie is ever made would have to be some of the spells. Fireball, haste, magic missle. The ones everyone knows need to be there.
ieattrollsforbreakfast 04-08-04, 03:19 PM	I want to see everything you said. Scary monsters, memorable characters and wondrous magic all make a good film. But in order to make it a good film, it should be distinguisable as D&D. So like you said, Fireball, Illithids, Magic Missile and distinguishable dragons. And finally, I want it to have nothing to do with the first movie AT ALL.
Sulaco 04-08-04, 03:41 PM	DO: Make another D&D movie DON'T: Make it anything like the first one. That about covers it.
Utumno 04-08-04, 04:10 PM	A good wizard battle. With strategy, counterspelling, the works.
Bacon and Eggs 04-08-04, 04:16 PM	Rust monsters and Gelatenous Cubes. Mmmmm.
simen_88 04-08-04, 04:31 PM	I would like to see a bigger beholder, under the ground, that does notice people behind it. All-around-vision should count for something.
Ogre4Hire 04-08-04, 05:08 PM	Let's make the producers actually read the core books before they make this one, so that we actually have creatures that have the same immunities as they do in the game. As in: STOP FIREBALLING THE GOLD DRAGONS!!! And make the dragons actually tough. I know that you've only got a limited time-frame in a movie, but it is just wrong for a dragon do be going down on the first hit. Oh, yeah, let's not have any more stupid and annoying sidekicks. And when they try to publish stats for the characters in Dragon, please try to make the level difference between Heroes and Villians at least in the realm of possibility. As opposed to saying that the 3rd level main character was actually able to go up against an 11th level fighter and a 15th level Wizard by himself and somehow manage to avoid a messy and painful death (much less actually ever beat them). :rant: And on this one, let's try to make it DUNGEONS and Dragons, not Dragons and a cheesy little dungeon. Amd there should be more killing things. I mean, what do you spend most of your time doing in your games? Running through sewers and having boring conversations with NPCs? Well, I certainly don't.
Rancorpit 04-08-04, 05:37 PM	Perhaps they should use some more famous world, such as Forgotten Realms or Greyhawk, or make up a good one. I mean, the first movie, although horrible, would've been a lot more interesting if it had been, for example, about those jerks fighting against Manshoon instead of that bald guy in stockings, and/or if that city would've been Waterdeep instead of... well, whatever it was. Also, an ending with some sense wouldn't hurt either. What on Earth was the end scene of the first one all about? They just became some stupid dust and flew away or something.
pkloop 04-08-04, 05:48 PM	Great posts everybody!! I agree all around :)
pkloop 04-08-04, 05:51 PM	oh...and one more thing Don't set it in Eberron. Yeah I know...I can't help myself :)
Geethree 04-08-04, 06:08 PM	DON'T: Suck.
GreyLord 04-08-04, 11:48 PM	[quote] didn't buy the elves in the D&D movie. Esspecially that fat one that healed Ridley. I don't know how they might go about doing it but they need their elves to be a little more slender. /quote] Hey, that was the ONLY thing I really DID enjoy in the entire movie. Leave the good Doctor alone... Course he wasn't looking like his usual 4th incarnation, but hey, everyone has a down day!
hiryuu 04-09-04, 12:44 AM	Thank you. Would you like a jelly baby?
SnowbearK 04-09-04, 12:55 AM	DO: Peter Jackson, 'nuff said. Don't: let ANYONE named Courtney ANYWHERE near the film, unless said Courtney has feminine plumbing.
Taldrin VonRoden 04-09-04, 05:39 AM	DO: Don't do it! Don't: Do it! Seriously, please don't undo everything the Lord of the Rings films have done for us fantasy fans. The first movie was just plain stupid. If it were any worse, it MIGHT have been good, in a bad way, if that makes sense. To me, that film simply added to all of the negative thoughts and ideas that people have about this game that I have played and treasured for over 15 years. It was childish, moronic, and lacked anything close to a story. It is the only movie I have ever seriously considered walking out of. The only reasons I stayed were that I was with a large group of friends (including my g/f at the time... going to her first fantasy film... ouch...) and the fact that it was like a train wreck. I couldn't get my eyes off of it. My g/f at the time summed it up best, I think. After the movie we were driving home and she simply said, "So, THAT's what you do when you play that game..." And now, finally, thanks to Peter Jackson and crew, the fantasy genre has gleaned some respect in the mainstream. Do NOT taint that with another bad fantasy film. Please. I beg you.
Incenjucar 04-09-04, 05:57 AM	A three hour epic based on the Temple of Elemental Evil wouldn't be too bad, nor a hyper-typical adventure ending with a red dragon who -is- the villain, rather than the flying monkey swarm. Actually -mention- things in D&D. Have realistic reactions. No teenagers. Have mid-level characters in their late twenties. People who can actually do something interesting. Seasoned adventurers. Low level characters are only interesting if the movie is long enough for them to gain levels and mature. Use cliches. Cliches belong. Bulettes. Magic Missiles. The spellcaster with a familiar. Avoid the things that were hidden from 2e. While Monks and Barbarians are fine, they're not what most people think when they think D&D, and they're far too culture-specific. However, we rather certainly could use a paladin and rogue conflict. Avoid the cliche of the rogue being a cute female in tight black leather. Actually make the group equally male and female, but without everything being forced in to anti-classical roles (Don't make all the males wusses and all the women butch anymore than you make all the women wusses). Include the fighter. The poor fighter deserves some fame. Bat dung. Bat dung is required.
Spongly 04-09-04, 06:21 AM	I would argue the opposite of what most people have been saying: DO: Just try and make a good fantasy film. DON'T: Try and include too many D&D specific terms just to please gamers - it'll inevitably make the movie as cheesy as the first one, without even the sense of self-deprecating fun to excuse it.
NeutralNeutral 04-09-04, 06:58 AM	Id agree that a quality adaptation of, say Jack Vance, Fritz Leiber, or Moorcock would much better than second-rate hackwork directly based on D&D. But, the "cliches" of D&D are actually less cliched than the cliches of cheesy action pictures... the D&D-ness can help is sort of making the world more "realistic" and internally consistent. -- Id like to see mages fumble around with spell components. Id like to see a thief actually pick a lock or disarm a trap. A close-up of the thief poking around with cunning gadgets, jamming mechanisms, etc. It'd be nice to see the advantages and drawbacks of armour. Eg one character is saved by his armour in one fight...but then has a terrible time swimming/climbing etc. in plate mail later. Green slime, Oozes, etc. would make a great (& gory) fight scene. I dont want the BBEG defeated by an innocent kiddie. I dont want powerful intelligent monsters defeated by stupid tricks. Dont try to explain every last detail of the world. "Unexplained Vistas" are a good thing. etc.
bahamut_0 04-09-04, 09:31 AM	How about an epic mage battle? Hellballs all around :D
simen_88 04-09-04, 10:01 AM	I want to see a blackguard who doesn't wear makeup. And a dragon that doesn't get killed by a simple portcullis. Seriously, the dragon was at least adult, the scales were completely red. That means natural ac 21 and 253 hit points. And a dwarf that doesn't live in the sewers. And elves that doesn't claim that all elves have innate magical abilities. That would be a Ecl +7, minimum. That guy cast true resurrection at will!
Escef 04-09-04, 10:34 AM	Originally posted by simen_88 I want to see a blackguard who doesn't wear makeup. And a dragon that doesn't get killed by a simple portcullis. Seriously, the dragon was at least adult, the scales were completely red. That means natural ac 21 and 253 hit points. And a dwarf that doesn't live in the sewers. And elves that doesn't claim that all elves have innate magical abilities. That would be a Ecl +7, minimum. That guy cast true resurrection at will! Well, lemme see, seeing how the movie was made in the days of 2e and was relesaed when 3e was but a youngin, I'd say there were no blackguards, an adult red dragon had AC -5 (equal to a 25) and 17 hit dice (average 91 hps), and there aren't such things as ECLs. Also, didn't the elf cast a healing spell? I may be recalling things incorrectly, but I don't recall Ridley dieing. Not that some killing off the good guys action wasn't sorely needed. I mean, why stop at Snails?
KBAZZ 04-09-04, 11:48 AM	i had level 3 people defeat a 12th level wizard and his 8th level fighter bodyguard using good battle plans. they always ran they got proof of his betral of the king, avioding death from the wizard they just ran, did i say they ran alot. And took the evidence to a local noble who presented it to the king and the wizard was no problem after that
simen_88 04-09-04, 12:56 PM	As far as I remember, Ridley fell. A long way. Level 3 rogue could perhaps handle 40 ft, and he was not very tough.
Brom Blackforge 04-09-04, 01:00 PM	My vote (as if we get to vote on it) is to use the iconic characters (Regdar, Mialee, etc.) and set it in Greyhawk, like the "Scourge of Worlds" DVD. I'd be interested in a movie based on one of the classic adventures, like "Temple of Elemental Evil," especially if the alternative is something lame like the first movie.
Teh Lurv 04-09-04, 01:18 PM	Do: Read these boards for posts from people who are actually fantasy fans. Do: Make the D&D movie based off a published campaign world such as FR or DL, and not the Director's homebrewed stuff. Do: Adapt the movie from a stand alone novel. Imagine how much a movie adapted version of Spellfire would rock.
bahamut_0 04-09-04, 02:14 PM	Originally posted by Teh Lurv Do: Read these boards for posts from people who are actually fantasy fans. Too true.....
UZI 04-09-04, 03:31 PM	It would be easier to just make a new animated series first, make it have nothing to do with the old one from the '80s, use iconics, then launch a new animated movie in a few years. Following on that in about 10 years or so, you could see a live action version that might actually be faithful to da rulez.
bahamut_0 04-09-04, 04:17 PM	Originally posted by Brom Blackforge I'd be interested in a movie based on one of the classic adventures, like "Temple of Elemental Evil," especially if the alternative is something lame like the first movie. I'd love to see that film be made, as I'm sure a lot of the community would.
Grayson 04-09-04, 04:56 PM	Most of all, I'd like to see people use one of the other 938492 threads on the subject, rather than constantly starting new ones :\|
Crypticsigns 04-09-04, 05:26 PM	Don't: use Drizzit, as much as he is iconic in his own right i think he gets a little to much butt kissing as it is. don't wanna swell his head anymore.
pestilenceawaits 04-09-04, 06:11 PM	I have always thought that a great way to portray a dnd movie would be to go the "princess bride" route. start the movie out with heroic dnd characters fighting some epic battle and when one of them falls to the earth from an evil mage's spell break away to a bunch of guys around a table arguing about whether or not he made his saving throw. then cut back into the fantasy world with the knight jumping back to his feet after it is decided that he just barely made it. the story would have to be well written but it could give a good glimpse into a typical gaming session and tell an exciting fantasy story at the same time.
Crypticsigns 04-09-04, 06:18 PM	Slap no then its worse than the first.
pestilenceawaits 04-09-04, 06:29 PM	You wound me deeply.