Genre - Animated/Fantasy
Year Released - 2008
Running Time - 90 minutes
Directed by Will Meugniot (Ultimate Avengers 2)
Written by George Strayton (who has also written a few episodes of the Hercules and Xena television series)
*Based upon the novels written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
Voices Include:
Michael Rosenbaum as Tanis Half-Elven
Fred Tatasciore as Flint the Dwarf
Jason Marsden as Tasslehoff Burrfoot
Rino Romano as Caramon Majere
Kiefer Sutherland as Raistlin Majere
Marc Worden as Sturm Brightblade
Lucy Lawless as Goldmoon
Phil LaMarr as Riverwind [and also as Gilthanas, Tanis' elven cousin]
Michelle Trachtenberg as Tika
and Neil Ross as Fizban the Fabulous
Rating: 4 Skulls
Plot Summary:
Based on the popular novels by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis, this animated epic follows a group of friends whose search for the existence of the ancient gods leads them in the middle of a war against a legion of of monstrous dragons.
Review:
So, just the other day, I was browsing around Netflix, when I came across this film - a film that I never even knew existed, and as a huge fan of the books, I immediately added the film to the top of my Queue, eagerly awaiting its arrival in the mail.
Honestly, I had no expectations for this film, other than the fact I would still love to see a live-action version made [even more-so now!]
The film starts out with an excellent opening sequence and it lays out Krynn's history fairly quickly [thanks to none other than Fizban, the storyteller] Still, the film pales in comparison to the novel that it was based upon - it was more like watching an old episode of the D & D cartoon from the eighties. Still, I will take what I can get, and I was not disappointed in seeing the characters that I loved as a kid brought to animated life.
If you are a fan of the books, and you too have been unaware of this film's existence, then I suggest you give it a shot - I liked it! :-) Even if you have never read the books, but love a good fantasy tale, then check this one out - then do yourself a favor and read the novels!
The novel that the film is based upon
Here's the trailer:
Jason
Jason
Posts
5 comments:
I've never read any of the novels (I've read some of Salvatore's Forbidden Realms), but I'm encouraged to do so based on this. Do you recommend that big "annotated" edition that Weis and Hickman put out?
Ryan,
You cannot go wrong with Salvatore! [I am assuming you are talking about his adventures with the dark elf Drizzt Do'Urden]
If you enjoy Forgotten Realm novels, then you will definitely enjoy the Dragonlance realm [Krynn]
If by the Annotated edition, you mean the hardcover that encapsulates all three of the "Chronicles" novels [Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Winter Night, and Spring Dawning] then yes, go with that one - those three novels are the novels that started the franchise!
[or I am sure that you can just find those three novels separately, in paperback, in any used bookstore. . .]
J
I wanna second that emotion right here and now. the first 3 Dragonlance books are great. After that they're kind of hit and miss.
I saw this animated version a while back, and enjoyed parts of it, but like you said it was mostly just worth it to see the characters come to life.
As for Ryan, I'd have to say in the words of Samuel L. , "Yeah baby, you dig it the most" Check it out.
Thanks for the advice! (But what do they call a quarter-pounder with cheese in the DragonLance novels?)
This certainly sounds like it would have made a better live-action movie than that… thing… that New Line released in 2000.
LB,
Yeah, the thing about the DragonLance novels [and the same goes for the Forgotten Realms as well] is that there are multiple authors attached to their universe, and like you said, some are hit & miss]
I read several of the others, but I primarily stuck with the books written by Weis & Hickman. . .
Ryan, I was hoping that 'those films' would bring about a live-action version of other great fantasy novels - alas, I am still waiting! :-)
J
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