8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Awful, but not completely unwatchable., June 8, 2001
This review is from: Rona Jaffe's Mazes & Monsters [VHS] (VHS Tape)
In yet another misguided attempt to save the nation's youth from "things we don't understand but they sure LOOK like trouble," the socially-conscious television executives of the 80's gave us the anti-RPG diatribe "Mazes and Monsters." It's just a shame we couldn't do something of equal value for them in return, like force them to do several hundred push-ups in a tub filled with rotting fish heads and rusty thumbtacks. I bear them no malice because the film was bad (which it most certainly was), but because the theme song was so wretchedly, painfully horrible, after enduring it for just a few brief seconds, the idea of getting a triple root canal on a moving rollercoaster sounds fairly soothing in comparison. I'm still bitter just thinking about it.
Still, disregarding that steaming pile of musical waste product posing as the opening tune (which is replayed off and on throughout the film, I'm sorry to say), there are a few things you could actually recommend this film for. The dialogue, acting, and overall 'story' are terrible enough to generate more laughs than most of the intentional 'comedies' currently playing nowadays, and there's a couple hallucination sequences that feature a surprisingly well-designed creature costume, far better than a [bad] production like this deserved. Be warned, though: the film plods along at a stubbornly slow pace, and most viewers may find their 'fast forward' button has become their new best pal long before the ending credits roll (and since that lousy theme song plays again during those credits, you may want to nominate the 'mute' button as your second best pal).
Final vote? Don't buy this film. Talk a friend into buying it, borrow their copy, then breathe a sigh of relief that it won't be taking up space on YOUR shelf. You may be short one friend afterwards, but at least you'll save a few bucks.
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13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
A Cult Classic.. and not much else! Every RPGer must see it!, October 30, 1999
This review is from: Rona Jaffe's Mazes & Monsters [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Bad acting, a terrible plot, and reality stretched to the brink make this movie a terrible choice for anyone that DOES NOT play roleplaying games. If you do like RPGs, rent this movie with your friends and watch it - you'll laugh yourselves silly, especially at the ending!
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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Campy Halloween Party Fun for MST3K fans!, October 6, 2003
This review is from: Rona Jaffe's Mazes & Monsters [VHS] (VHS Tape)
What I wouldn't give to see what the gang from MST3K could do to this one. You will shriek in horror and howl hysterically! This not-so classic fright-fest starred Tom Hanks well before he had a copious choice of film projects. The plot is dreadfully simple, and simply dreadful. A Fantasy Role-Playing game drives a college dweeb to insanity when the players take it too far for his fragile little psyche to withstand, proving that even the highest of the Hollywood echelon had to just pay the rent sometimes. This mock-worthy made for TV movie aired in 1982 and had audiences wondering why they were watching this crap in the first place. Mazes and Monsters did for Dungeons and Dragons what Reefer Madness did for marijuana. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll kiss 75 minutes of your life good-bye! Get this for your next party with your wittiest friends and have some hearty laughs. You'll be glad you did.
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