Dungeons and Dragons

Rating: One star

FANTASY, mysticism and a rip-roaring yarn. If that's what someone is looking for in a film based on the Dungeons and Dragons theme, they will find this paltry effort lacking.

To say this was flimsy and tiresome would be akin to accusing Gone with the Wind of being 'quite a lengthy film'.

What Dungeons and Dragons lacks in excitement it makes up for in stupidity and pointlessness.

Its formulaic plot is based around good and evil. Empress Savina of Izmer (Thora Birch) wants to reform the country so 'Majors' and 'Commoners' are treated equally.

But she is obstructed by Profion (Jeremy Irons) and his evil warrior Damodar (Bruce Payne).

Damodar is without doubt the most entertaining character.

But how does anybody take commands seriously from someone resembling a member of Right Said Fred, whose ears bleed profusely throughout and who issues commands through lips adorned with glow-in-the-dark blue lippie?

Irons is fairly useless in this film, probably the most spirited performance is given by Justin Whalin, better known for playing Jimmy Olson in The New Adventures of Superman, as Ridley Freeborn.

The sets and special effects are excellent at times but this should not detract from the fact that this film is trash.

HC