It was kind of funny when I saw the title of this movie some time back. Is it irony or sarcasm or what? You can say that piqued my interest in watching this movie and seeing what it was about. Even though it felt to me like there was more to the movie; that there were previous instalments and this was a continuation or part of it, I didn't care to check. The title gave that feeling. It seemed like something interesting, or to just pass time.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is a fantasy/adventure film starring Chris Pine as Edgin Darvis, Michelle Rodriguez as Holga Kilgore, Regé-Jean Page as Xenk, Justice Smith as Simon Aumar, Sophia Lillis as Doric, Hugh Grant as Forge Fitzwilliam, and Daisy Head as Sofina. The fantasy heist film was directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, co-writing the screenplay with Michael Gilio from a story by Chris McKay and Gilio.
My assessment of the movie as a connection or part of an instalment happened to prove a point. “Dungeons & Dragons” was a trilogy released between 2000 and 2012. Something I didn't know earlier but the movie title told me more. However, this has no connection with the previous film trilogy. The setting and plot proved it. It presented a storyline independent of the previous films but maintained the essence of “Dungeons & Dragons.”
The movie follows Edgin and a group who started as thieves but ended up with something to contend with and fight for. Edgin served in the Harpers, an order of peacekeepers until the murder of his wife by the disciples of a Red Wizard he arrested. He turned to theft in a bid to make a new life for himself and his daughter, Kira, accompanied by a barbarian, Holga Kilgore. He teams with an amateur sorcerer, Simon Aumar, a con artist Forge Fitzwilliam and his mysterious acquaintance, Sofina.
It was all about that until in one of their raids, Edgin tried to steal a “Tablet of Reawakening” which he could use to bring his wife back to life. This got him and Holga arrested while the others escaped. The duo were imprisoned in frozen Revel’s End. Escaping, they fled to Neverwinter where they discovered former accomplice Forge was Lord due to the demise of the former one. Forge had been taking care of Kira, with Sofina by his side. At this point, one could wonder about the other team members. Is there more to this than it looks?
The fantasy/adventure movie on the premise of heists and thievery brought elements of comedy as well, adding to the adventurous plot. Not too much to overshadow the fantasy and adventure feeling. It was a complementary aspect to the film. Showcasing diverse characters in the group with different abilities; thieving, sorcery, con artistry, combat skills, shapeshifting, and planning, with the comedic feel, it presented an interesting adventurous journey.
The acting was good. Not only for the adventure part, but for the comedy as well. Chris Pine as the lead actor gave a wonderful performance in his role as Edgin. The comedy added a layer to it. I've seen him be a funny guy in a movie before this, so it's something he could do. Michelle Rodriguez was certainly an actress to watch out for. Known for her combat abilities in movies, playing a barbarian here wasn't out of place. She delivered well, and so did others.
The movie brought the feeling of adventure one could possibly expect. For a movie that looked like something to pass the time with, it brought more than that. It gave an interesting adventurous journey, from what should be a heist orchestrated by thieves to something much more meaningful. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves was a good watch, and fans of adventure should enjoy it.
Thank you for reading!
Rating: 80/100
