Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

While I never had an interest in playing Dungeons & Dragons or any other tabletop role-playing game, the lore behind it was fascinating enough to get me to see Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Set in a fantasy world much like in the games, the film sees a party consisting of a bard, a barbarian, a paladin, a sorcerer, and a druid on a quest to defeat a necromantic witch. This film from start to finish is an absolute blast, taking its mythology seriously but also being highly comedic. Having directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, who cowrote alongside Michael Gilio, commit to their trademark over the top comedy certainly helps. The writing is great, giving each of the characters unique personalities and the story well told even if it's a very typical fantasy story. Though combining that with heist comedy tropes definitely gives it some unique leeway to its memorability. With any fantasy based film there is of course the numerous settings and locations that show off its diverse world, and thanks to the combination of practical and CG effects as well as Barry Peterson's cinematography, you get that in spades. Another aspect to make it such a memorable fantasy is the score, all thanks to Lorne Balfe who mixes the fantastical and comedic with fast paced and whimsical. Of course, what is a typical D&D quest without the actors behind the characters to finally flesh them out. Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, and Rege-Jean Page are all excellent in not only the roles they play but capturing really great chemistry. You also have Hugh Grant as a rogue you initially start off liking until showing how his charm hides his true despicableness. Hopefully, even though this film didn't do so well at the box office, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves it will lead to more adaptations from the same franchise and become a cult classic. Over all: 100%

2023 top list so far:

1. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

2. Creed III

3. John Wick: Chapter 4

4. Scream VI

5. M3GAN

6. Cocaine Bear

7. Knock at the Cabin

8. Shazam! Fury of the Gods

9. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania