Customer Reviews

The Gamers: Dorkness Rising

5 star:		(56)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Unlike many of the reviews currently posted for this film, which concern themselves with the "Red Shoe Diaries," I am actually going to review the film that is actually on this page!

The Gamers: Dorkness Rising is a fantastic feature film with the best of both sides of gaming. We get to have a look at both the fantasy world these people are creating for themselves, as well as follow their lives back in the real world.

Unlike other gaming films this one actually has a real point to it... Of course they are still out to storm the castle and save the damsel in distress (figuratively speaking), but the film is also about the game master publishing his first mod.

Unlike many independent fantasy films which come across as awkward, this one was like a breath of fresh air. It's not just for the people who game, as the writer/director Matt Vancil easily makes the content accessible to anyone who might watch the film! Even my parents, neither of whom game, watched and enjoyed this film... how many people can say that about other gaming films... *cough* Dungeons & Dragons *cough*?

All in all, it's a fun ride from beginning to end with an even balance of life in the real world as well as life inside the fantasy completed with a little surprise in the middle... I wont give it away, but let me just say that "Everything is better with pirates!"

This movie is awesome! It's clearly made by people who love gaming and understand all the little quirks that make the hobby unique. If you like games, dorks, fantasy or even just laughing out loud, you'll love this movie!!!!

This movie is both a fun send-up of gaming and the fantasy genre in general, but also a well-written, well-paced comedy with ingenious gags and wonderful performances by the actors. Despite not having a huge budget or well-know actors, this movie has a lot of heart, and a high amount of professionalism. Check it out; you won't be disappointed.

This is a much better movie than I expected it to be. I laughed until I hurt at times and have watched it repeatedly because it is so very funny. There are some very nice in-jokes for gamers, but they don't detract from the movie as a whole and you don't have to know anything about gaming to enjoy it. Okay, the budget is low and it is not a slick Hollywood production. But it is all the better for that. It's one of those movies that I purchased to support the filmmakers because I want them to keep making hilarious, quirky, fun, genuine, real movies. I am thrilled that it is out in a new edition. Gamers love it because it has fun with the hobby without slamming it. Non-gamers love it because it is not just about gaming. It's about enjoying life and creating and friendship. And it is absolutely hilarious!!!

I had never heard of this film and stumbled across it on an "instant download" pay viewing site. I have been a RPGer and Wargamer for about 30 years so I thought I would give this a look. I expected a low-budget romp that captured many of the idiosyncrasies and minutia of my hobby much the same way as "Fellowship of the Dice" did. I expected to generally like it but nothing too special (as the aforementioned FotD, which I did overall enjoy). When I viewed this I found myself literally laughing my butt off at genuine comedy sequences both RPG specific and humorous in a more generic way. This film had the goods! I was floored! A better comedy than Hollywood has put out in years! Low Budget? Yes. Some hammy and/or poor acting? Yes. Did that detract from my enjoyment of this film? Not in the least. If anything, it added to the flair of realism. Despite its shortcomings most of the acting was actually serviceable or better and one guy "Brother Silence" (Played by Brian Lewis) was a stand-out! The comedy writing was tight and even razor-sharp in several instances. I may sound like I'm gushing but I gave it a second watch a few days later, just to be sure. One other thing, the people involved in the making of this film were obviously having a blast and you can tell. Their fun is felt in the viewing. I loved it! Rarely has a movie come from nowhere and made me feel this way and I am thankful to Dead Gentlemen and Matt Vancil. Now I proudly have this film in my collection. It's fun, it's entertaining and it made me feel good! What more can you ask of a film!

I can't say that it's a brilliant film or anything, but as a gamer myself, I found a lot to like and laugh at. The thing that I liked best was that a person who had little or no experience with D&D, or RPGs in general, might watch this movie and come away from it thinking that gaming was a legitimate hobby with creative and artistic validity. The gamers tend to be silly, and perhaps even sad as people, but in a more realistic and positive fashion than the characters in similar movies. After watching movies like "Gamers," which made people who play D&D look pretty lame and pathetic, this movie was a pleasant and very funny surprise.

Dead Gentlemen Productions started life as a bunch of friends goofing around and making zero-budget movies for their own amusement. However, after the success of their first project, Demon Hunters, in 1999 they got slightly more ambitious for their second, The Gamers, which was released in 2002. The Gamers gained a sort-of sequel, Dorkness Rising, released last year, which was a quantum leap forward in quality.

By the time the team came to make the sequel, their fortunes had increased. The success of their first two films plus another one in the interim (Demon Hunters: Dead Camper Lake) had led to them being able to put substantially more resources into The Gamers: Dorkness Rising. This time the movie is 90 minutes long and features much larger numbers of actors and extras, as well as considerably more impressive effects, costumes, make-up, sets and locations. Also, whilst references in the first movie to the actual game they were playing were deliberately kept generic, this movie is sponsored by several major companies, allowing real gaming products to be used.

This time around the plot is more involved. The dungeon master, Lodge, is trying to write an adventure for official publication, but his party keeps getting killed whilst running it. Power gamer Cass is determined to beat the game no matter what, and the party decides they need two more members to be strong enough to beat the game. Cass' ex, Joanna, joins the group and immediately brings about a change in gameplay, as she is more focused on developing her character then min-maxing her skills. Unable to attract other players (due to the group's 'reputation'), Lodge has an NPC paladin join the party (portrayed as being played by himself during the in-game sequences). The other two players, Gary and Leo, emboldened by the change in group dynamics, decide to play outside their comfort zones, the former by playing a female sorceress and the latter by playing a bard (which attracts howls of derision for the perceived weakness of the bard character class).

The campaign gets underway. The party is charged with locating a magical mask that has been stolen by an evil necromancer. Progress is hampered when Lodge and Joanna's favoured tactic of investigating the situation through dialogue and roleplay is interrupted by Gary vapourising everyone in sight with magic and Leo using his high charisma score to sleep with every woman he comes across, whilst Cass attempts to 'roleplay' his monk by making up totally inane 'wise sayings' on the spot:

"He who stumbles around in darkness with a stick is blind. But he who sticks out in darkness is...flourescent."


Unlike the first movie, the game in the sequel spans several sessions and there are sections inbetween showing how the change in gaming style is spilling over into the characters' real lives. There's also a hilariously random sequence in which the structural conceit of the film (showing the real-life game and events within the game) is applied to a pirates-and-ninjas board game with interesting results. The writer/director keeps a firm lid on things getting too emo or dramatic however, with the focus remaining firmly on the comedy and the characters. The movie's highlight is probably a sequence near the end featuring a very unique kind of 'undead' creature which may rank among the funniest things I have ever seen on screen (and gives the film a single extra-half star below).

The Gamers: Dorkness Rising (****½) is a radical improvement on the original, with stronger production values, a more ambitious script and the presence of more professional actors sustaining the longer running length very well.

As I've written on the review for Galaxy Quest...this is a movie written by someone who loves the genre. It was a laugh out loud, spill drink great time.

Every gaming group has their poor game master, who tries to straddle the line between the story and each of the players and their egos. The look on the GM's face when his story created an unusal but satifying character boon for his NPC was priceless.

Every group has the ego nut who wants to stick with the rules when it suits him but wants to bring out a light saber and a machine gun when he's in a tight spot--and ends up arguing with all the players and the GM.

Then there is the newbie who finds a way to make her character work and because it is her first and only character, refuses to allow that character to die--or the mission to fail. This forces the others in the group to actually finish the campaign--and for the rest of the group to enjoy the game.

The other two players were also priceless. The gender reversal sorcerer was too funny...how many guys (or gals) try their hand at playing the opposite sex and find themselves in the unsavory position of having to play not just a character but a creature that they simply have no idea how they think or feel?

But my favorite "gag" player was the second of these two players...who kept dying. It is the bane of all old time gamers...once a player learns that he can create another character, he loses his edge and the need to survive.

Anyone who has ever gamed will see themselves and others in this movie.

Incredible good time!

I have watched this movie so many times, showing it to friends and family etc, that I should be sick of it. I mean, its independent, its low budget, and yet...I love it!! Funnier every time I watch it! Definitely pick this gem up, whether you are a gamer or not. Even my non-gamer, never-touched-a-d20-in-their-life friends love it!

The Gamers: Dorkness Rising... What can I say?

All I can say is that if you are a gamer (CRPG, RPG or LARP), then this movie is for you. And if you're not a gamer? Well, it's still a great deal of fun.

The acting is certainly not Oscar-worthy, but in the whole element of the movie it adds to the charm. The humour is everywhere, along with some very nice touches (the tribute to Gary Gygax is especially well done, if you can spot it). The cast are very down to earth in their appearance, befitting the fact that they are ordinary people enjoying an ordinary hobby.

The quality of the movie's sound and vision are adequate, but again, it all just adds to the atmosphere that helps to define this movie as being the Dungeons and Dragons movie, written and performed by gamers for gamers.

Not afraid to use terminology specific to one system, they still manage to allow product placement to be a part of the movie, but in a very understandable and utterly fair manner. It also touches on some of the perceived prejudices that some gamers can have about other gamers and deals with that quite well.

All in all the movie is very much driven by an well-thought-out equal balance of character, plot and entertainment (the Bard is amazingly good value-for-money).

On to the DVD itself.

Here we see one of the advantages to technology becoming so much cheaper, allowing people to self-publish. This is a serious gem.

There is just so much packed onto a single DVD that many of the larger companies could do but don't. The number of easter eggs to find on the DVD are about on a par with Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. THe big difference here is that these truly add something special to the experience. That is another advantage about self-publication, they can take risks.

The picture quality is wonderful. Having only previously owned this as a download (naughty me... hold on... wait a moment... that wasn't naughty... DGP said I could download it, the nice guys that they are), it is great to have a physical copy. The extras alone are more than worth the entry price.

In the end it does make scoring this movie quite hard, so I have given it 2 scores.

Score (for non-RP'ers): 4/5 (A few moments could go way over your head, but the main sections of the movie just work so hard and achieve so much more.) The extras, however, can be enjoyed by anyone (over a certain age, in the case of the drinking game...)

Score (for RP'ers): 5/5 (Everything fits together, in the perfect quantities, and with the perfect charm and sentiment). Watch it, love it, lend it to your friends ... then threaten to do unspeakable things to their characters if they don't buy it...