# The New Dungeons and Dragons Movie Might Actually be Good? {NO SPOILERS until May 2023} **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [July 21, 2022, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344 "2022-07-21T21:04:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2023, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/201 "2023-04-21T17:21:02Z")
I’d definitely love a lot more Jarnathan. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/202 "2023-04-24T13:19:25Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Perhaps next time they’ll have more nonhumans in the party 1 out of 4 (or 5 if you count the paladin, but I don’t) is plenty for me, thanks. That’s actually 1 more than I have in most of my games. Based on early trailers, I actually thought it was more 2/4, as I thought Rodriguez was supposed to be a Dwarf. Turns out she’s just really short compared to Pine. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/203 "2023-04-24T13:22:14Z")
So the half-elf counts as human? Or 1/2 a point? 😁 ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/204 "2023-04-24T13:25:41Z")
Oh, yeah, I forgot Simon was supposed to be half-elf. 2/4 then. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/205 "2023-04-24T13:27:19Z")
They never really played that up at all, so I’m sure a lot of folks forgot it. Are half-elves so popular that they included it? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/206 "2023-04-24T13:53:52Z")
Oh yeah, definitely. Possibly the most popular race after human and elf. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/207 "2023-04-24T17:59:53Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Is she even a druid? She is. The Powers That Be decided not to have the bard and druid cast spells because they didn’t want every issue getting solved by having three casters in the party. I admit that comes across as extra weird when someone gets injured and they don’t expect the druid to cast a _Cure Wounds_. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/208 "2023-04-24T18:33:23Z")
I must admit, I generally don’t expect a druid to have taken any healing magic either. I know they _can_, but I’ve rarely ever played with one who regularly _did_. Mostly because of the self-healing of their Wildshape ability, they all seem to not think of themselves as party healers. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/209 "2023-04-24T19:45:56Z")
Well, both druids and bards have access to curative magic so it seems negligent for both to stare blankly (or ask the sorcerer who _doesn’t_) but so it goes. More so for the druid since bards have to add it to their spells known and druids just have to pick it out of the bucket each morning. Of course, in the film it wouldn’t have mattered then anyway and was needed for dramatic reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/210 "2023-04-24T21:35:34Z")
I wouldn’t expect a bard or druid to be as good at healing as a cleric, but I would expect them to have at least something. Even if, for thematic reasons, they didn’t want the druid to be seen as a spellcaster-- “Here, eat some of these magic berries” doesn’t look like a spell, but does look very druidic. (it totally is a spell, and the primary spell druids use for healing) ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/211 "2023-04-24T22:21:37Z")
Was anyone really injured other than Michelle Rodriguez in the end, which they specifically called out could not be healed? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2023, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/212 "2023-04-25T02:21:25Z")
No, that’s why I said it wouldn’t have mattered anyway for plot reasons. But it made the moment ring weird if you’re familiar with the classes/game. Imagine if you had a pharmacist, a veterinary assistant and an architect and a fourth person is dying. None of them are a “doctor” but there’s still an obvious 3rd place choice to ask for help based on career. That’s who they turned to. They could have easily had Doric pass out berries in the morning or Edgin use some charm/suggestion magic (and handwave saying it’d never work on Forge since he’d be expecting it) without changing the movie much but the studio obviously decided that it wanted a clear Magic Guy, Owlbear Girl, Fighter Woman and Smooth Leader Guy for audience sake. Even the time the bard _seemed_ to be fascinating the guards with his singing, that turned out to just be an illusion from Simon anyway. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2023, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/213 "2023-04-25T14:12:16Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > No, that’s why I said it wouldn’t have mattered anyway for plot reasons. But it made the moment ring weird if you’re familiar with the classes/game. Imagine if you had a pharmacist, a veterinary assistant and an architect and a fourth person is dying. None of them are a “doctor” but there’s still an obvious 3rd place choice to ask for help based on career. That’s who they turned to. Right, it was the whole asking Simon for help part that made the whole thing feel off, specially since it was completely unnecessary. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/214 "2023-04-26T13:59:12Z")
In case you were wondering there is a video on YouTube that outlines all 60 spells cast in the movie. I tried to include the link but apparently I can’t do that? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/215 "2023-04-26T14:10:35Z")
I think you can add it as an embedded link but directly posting Youtube videos is broken. Supposedly a fix is to add a / at the end of the URL? Haven’t tried it. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/216 "2023-04-26T14:21:07Z")
Looks like adding a / works. > **[All 60 Spells Cast in the Dungeons & Dragons Movie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs9RPxpiVvM%2F)** > > The Dungeons & Dragons movie Honour Among Thieves is out! We’ve chatted a fair bit on the channel about the bard Edgin and his party of fellow adventurers, f... ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2023, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/217 "2023-05-29T03:37:25Z")
Just finished watching this and found it delightful. I went in expecting it to be as bad as the Jeremy Irons movie, which was painful. By contrast, this movie was actually good. I played some limited amount of AD&D in the early '80s as a preteen, but gave it up after a year or two and never watched any of the cartoons or anything. I did, however, get sucked into DDO for about five years in the early 2010s, so a lot of things felt familiar based on that. I agree with a nitpick from the thread; I raised an eyebrow when the bard and druid turned to the sorcerer for healing magic. (She doesn’t look warforged to me…) But I get the studio logic. What a rollicking good time this movie was. EDIT: Oh yeah, and regarding the art discussion, the line drawings in the original Monster Manual (and DM’s Guide and Player’s Handbook) will always hold a special place in my heart. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2023, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/218 "2023-05-29T03:51:27Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Just finished watching this and found it delightful. I went in expecting it to be as bad as the Jeremy Irons movie, which was painful. By contrast, this movie was actually good. Oh, well that was a piece of trash. I don’t blame Jeremy Irons. The director directed him to overact and then chose the most ridiculous takes of his acting to put in the movie. Not his fault. The movie, though, is terrible. Totally the studio and director’s fault. And writer, I suppose. Anyway, this new one was excellent. I’ve now seen 21 movies released in 2023 and this, no joke, is either the best or in the top three. Mind you, many films still to be released. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2023, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/219 "2023-05-29T20:13:37Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I wouldn’t expect a bard or druid to be as good at healing as a cleric, but I would expect them to have at least something. Even if, for thematic reasons, they didn’t want the druid to be seen as a spellcaster-- “Here, eat some of these magic berries” doesn’t look like a spell, but does look very druidic. Yeah, we play druids and bards are back up healers. But yeah, these are high level characters, but other than the bad guys, they dont use many spells. Great fun film. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2023, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344/220 "2023-05-29T21:07:32Z")
I imagine they just didn’t want to complicate things by having four different spell casters (the paladin should have spells too). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-dungeons-and-dragons-movie-might-actually-be-good-no-spoilers-until-may-2023/968344.md?page=12)