Customer Reviews

Dungeons & Dragons: The Movie (A D&D(r) Novel)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I love fantasy and while I don't play the RP game "Dungeons and Dragons", I've read a few of the DragonLance books and couldn't wait to see this movie come out to theaters. I finally got to see it and love it (can't wait to go back and see it again!) and as I predicted, most movie critics hated it. I have this knack for liking movies no one else seems to. But that's all right, because this was still an excellent film. I ran out the next day for the book (I was already suffering withdrawl symptoms from not being able to immediately see it again). I'm not through with it yet, but considering I know how it ends, I thought I could review anyway. :) And I am impressed. IMPRESSED. So many movie novelizations are mere past-tense shadows of the screen play; regurgitated lines and not much else. *cough cough* GALAXY QUEST *cough cough* Neal Barrett Jr. does an outstanding job of making this book actually stand on its own as a really great read. He describes the characters, animates them with his words and gives life to the book in a way most novelizations never manage (DragonHeart is the only other one I can think of that really makes it as a _book_, not a novelization). The characters are real, the scenery becomes real----and it is all-around well-written, an enjoyment to read. He saw the spots of humor in the film and emphasized them in his novel, which is commendable (the story needs the dab of humor that it was given; I'm glad he kept it firmly in place). He even places a point in it----things about honor and deep friendship and fighting for what's right. These things aren't always hit on in a real degree in fantasy books and hardly ever in the movies----the reason I liked D&D as a film and a book. There is a _point_ to this tale and I enjoyed it. If you like fantasy, or just seeing people fight for honor even when they're not quite sure how to succeed, this book (and movie) is for you. Enjoy.

This is fantastic.. it includes scenes that were inexplicably missing from the movie..great character development and vivid storytelling..

Those LOSERS who posted a review of the movie instead of the book need to get a life. I have read the book and many will agree with me.. any areas that you think the movie failed in.. the book does not! And if you loved the movie you will like the book even more.. as it goes into many of the secrets and fleshes out things that were left for granted in the film. Want more Norda and Elwood? it's in there. Want a more serious snails? it's in there. More battles..more action.. more plot.. more about the mythos...its all in there!

I have seen this movie twice and I am going to see it again soon, and it is a must see in the theaters. But anyway, this book is very similar to the movie -same characters: Ridley, Marina, Snails, Norda, you get the picture- and the same plot. In the book there are some parts that weren't in the movie, which was really god. Such as the part when Ridley and Marina were "sucked" into the scroll, in the book they told about what had "happened" when they were in the scroll. (Such as when Ridley "comitted them to finding the rod") The book is really good (I've read both movie novel books and this is the best) There are pictures too (even a picture of Marina, who was my favorite. There wasn't a picture of her in the other book) If you like D&D than go see the movie, after that buy the book(s) if you liked the movie as much as I did.

Neal Barrett, Jr. has written a fantastic book. While it is somewhat slow to start, once the action starts the book becomes breathtaking. Well written characters, especially the vulgar dwarf, and action scenes alone make this worth buying, but with the hilarious comedy and a real sense of magic and vivid scenes of the Battle for Izmer it becomes a classic novelization. I only wish Neal Barrett, Jr. had written the Titan A.E. novelization instead of Steve and Dal Perry.

I haven't read the book and I apologize for putting the movie review in the book comments...I again apologize for causing confusion between the book and the movie

First off PLEASE pay no attention to Richard B Parker & Ezekiel E Russell's reviews of this book. This is not a flame against them but neither of them actually took the time to READ the novel, therefor they have no right to review the book for better or for worse.

With that said if you didnt like the movie there is a very good chance you will like the book. It has a more serious tone, more character developement. You will learn more about the supporting characters Nora & Elwood. There is more action and history. Basically there is just MORE to it! Don't pass up this novel because of what you thought of the movie, give it a chance :)

I actually read the book first and then saw the movie. The movie wasn't all that bad, but still it wasn't good. The book however was fantastic,m with scences that didn't appear in the film. Though both the book and the movie have the same stupid ambiguous ending.

This book surprised me very much. After seeing the movie, I picked this up in a bookstore, read the first chapter, and bought it. This was suprising because I think this book is quite well written and the movie... well, the movie stank like week-old cheese. (Actually, the movie was a very funny comedy :P)

I loved the book! but I must say the author does not capture Ridley as well as I had hoped. There are other parts in the book that were not in the movie, which is helpful to the plot. Sadly much of Snails' comical antics were not put in. Like the part when Ridley and Marina had just come out of the scroll, and Ridley was talking Snails into going along with the whole stealing the ruby bit.... Well its not all in there. Parts I laughed at the most are cut short. Get the book its worth it. It cut down on my Ridley withdrawl. But I just thought someone should warn you. Dont worry the movie will be here soon.

I'm a 20 yr Dungeons and Dragons veteran {I'm 34 yrs old) and I just saw this as a live version of the old Dungeons and Dragons series. At least the cartoon was geared towards Jr/Senior High age viewers. Okay, okay...at the time I enjoyed the cartoon.

But I was expecting an epic style picture...not some ditzy female magic user and some thief that spits and sputters at the very mention on trying something dangerous...none of the thieves EVER acted in this manner. Well, some did after getting in a losing combat situation. Save this one for the Power Ranger's crowd.