Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

It's OK, but it looks downright brilliant next to the awful fantasy movies and shows we've gotten of late. It goes for a crowd-pleasing, Marvel-like tone, complete with constant quips, a formulaic story, and likeable characters whose arcs won't surprise anyone who's ever seen a movie before. Good practical effects - much appreciated in this day and age. I'd welcome more stories from the D&D world, preferably with a deeper, more LOTR trilogy-like approach - probably too much to ask.

A strong start for Forgotten Realms onscreen. Neither austere fantasy ala Lord of the Rings or dark fantasy ala Game of Thrones, this is more in the action comedy milieu. But compared to the cringey sitcom attempts of Disney’s Willow series this works better because, well, most of the comedy is actually pretty funny. If Forgotten Realms goes on to be a franchise there’s lots they could make up or adapt - Drizzt, Cleric Quintet, Elminster, Baldur’s Gate etc. Fewer superheroes more fantasy I say.

There simply needs to be more fantasy adventure films. These films, generally, are awesome. Even when it’s just the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie in Renn Faire cosplay. This series shows a lot of promise otherwise, especially when this one rolls a… 15 for initiative, a… hey! 18 for practical effects and… perfect 20 for a cameo that makes it a mature arthouse chamber drama for 3 minutes. But anything goes, because it’s a fantasy adventure film, and even the weird ones are welcome.

(GUARDIANS OF THE GYGAXY)

A very average fantasy adventure action comedy etc.